Don't Hate On Your Poop, It'll Help Make Your Soup

With an ever-increasing population, it seems evident that manufacturers must find new and innovative methods of producing enough food to feed everyone. Farmers all over the world have begun to find new ways of fertilizing their crops in an effective and seemingly sustainable manner: biosolids. These biosolids are literally the byproducts of domestic and commercial sewage treatment. In other words, it is human waste that has been treated repeatedly to remove any toxins and pathogens, which is then used by farmers as fertilizer to grow crops which we will eventually consume, only to start the cycle all over again. Human waste is rich in phosphates which are vital to plant growth, and a Vancouver company is already developing a process by which the phosphates can be extracted, which could turn into an enormous industry in itself. But are biosolids really the best choice to address our needs? Could they be the fuel of the future? As we move towards new and sustainable resources, biosolids might be able to answer all our needs.


Although already treated, biosolids have been often seen to be breeding grounds for bacteria, pathogens and other contaminants that would be taken in by the plants which we would end up consuming. Biosolid treatment plants take great care in ensuring that contaminants are dealt with. The waste is pressurized, heated, and the pH is raised to kill off anything that would eventually be harmful to humans. Groundwater can also be permanently contaminated by leached biosolids. The main concerns about using biosolids as fertilizer are the harmful effects that they could have on our health and the environment. But biosolids have been used as fertilizers for many years now, and scientists cannot provide any evidence of sickness or health issues related to their use.


The positive effects of biosolid fertilization are quite evident in its sustainability. The source of the fertilizer comes from our waste, which would come from consumption of food. The energy continues to be used in a cycle and fuels the agricultural sector in a way that doesn’t use up many resources, but things that were already present and would have ended up in a landfill anyways. In a sense, by using the waste as fertilizer instead of allowing it to sit in a landfill and contribute to our large garbage output, it is a great eco-friendly solution to a large problem modern society has to deal with. And as more and more companies are developing methods to create fuels or sources of energy from biosolids, it seems apparent that they could be used as ways to greatly reduce the carbon footprint agriculture leaves on the environment.

Everything has its pros and cons, and it’s often seen that sacrifices must be made to take full advantage of the pros. The cons of biosolid fertilization are definitely issues that are cause for concern, but have been addressed in the way of sanitation and removal of pathogens. It seems quite evident that the use of biosolid as fertilization is a very good alternative to traditional fertilizers that end up with the same results. The effect biosolids have on the environment is very debateable, but the possibility of leaching into groundwater is also a problem of landfills. If care is taken to ensure the safety of the groundwater, biosolids are a great way to fertilize crops in an eco-friendly manner.


Even with all that biosolid fertilization can offer, people feel that it is disgusting since we eventually eat food that was previously grown in our waste. It’s easy to say the majority of North Americans consider our human waste as disgusting, but if it is contributing to a greater cause, what’s the difference? They’re not directly eating the biosolids, but plants that take the otherwise unused nutrients from our waste and flourish. Who’s to say that simply because it doesn’t conform to the views of society that we shouldn’t be attempting to move towards new innovation? Even at the moment, fertilizers being used right now can come from other waste sources simply because they actually help the growth of plants.


Biosolids, although technically the stuff that we don’t want anymore, seem to be an energy source of the future, being used for phosphates and other compounds, while being used as fertilizers of the present. There are some downsides, but it seems the eco-friendly sustainability of the process is proof that modern society is moving towards new and improved ways of doing things that need to be changed. Although it seems gross, biosolids are simply the first step on the path to a new, more sustainable tomorrow.

Sources:

The Beauty of Biosolids - Environmental Health Perspectives

Biosolids seen as a fertilizer alternative - Southeast Farm Press

Biosolids/Sewage Sludge - Greenworks

From toilet to table: biosolids for fertilizer - Sci Journer

Sewage Sludge, Pros and Cons - Mindfully.org

Commented On:
Kayla Villeda - "Biosolids Anyone?"

Denise Perez - "Next time, think before you flush."

Biotechnology Can't Fix Everything

Let’s face it: we’re probably not the epitome of a healthy living right now. Sure, we all try our best to live healthy lifestyles, but it just doesn’t always work out. Surrounded by fast food restaurants, chocolate bars and the temptation to be a couch potato, it’s a wonder that anyone is in great health. As with any sector of technology, the most successful one deals with what’s happening in the moment. It seems that as society continues to evolve, we need technology to match our new lifestyles. Scientists around the globe are developing and improving methods of treating and dealing with all kinds of problems dealing with the way society has decided to live. Many kinds of diseases and disorders that have been left a mystery are becoming more and more treatable by doctors worldwide. These advances are seen as breakthroughs in the biotechnological field, allowing technology to play a great role in the medical field. Although this is all true, it also seems that technological advances are not necessarily pushing us to change our lifestyles, but rather dealing with the way we already live.



A general technological advance is the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. It uses a large magnet and the hydrogen protons in the human body to create images through the way tissues in the body react with these magnetized protons. Using this system, doctors have managed to diagnose various illnesses without needing surgeries of any kind, including vascular, digestive and respiratory problems. Technology being able to help people with many different kinds of problems is definitely something to appreciate.



Diet is one of the areas in which society has definitely changed. Many people don’t have the time (or the aptitude) to cook food anymore, leading to more store-bought meals and food. Add in the nights out at restaurants and the snack foods between meals and you’ve got the perfect formula for heart disease. It’s known that restaurants want their food to taste the best and please their customers, but it all comes at the cost of salt and fats. Fast food is even worse when it comes to containing fats. Snack can be the worst, being eaten on a whim and full of saturated and trans-fats that you wouldn’t otherwise have taken in. All of these fats will end up leading to clogged arteries, which is a major health concern.

Clogged arteries can be factors leading to many different types of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, strokes and high-blood pressure. Fat deposits gather at one point in the artery, and can reduce their diameter significantly, leading to those problems. Blood clots are also a problem, often being formed at the clogged points and reducing the amount of blood and oxygen movement even more. Sometimes, when arteries are completely clogged, a heart bypass surgery is necessary. This is a type of open heart surgery where blood vessels are taken from other areas of the body (usually the patient’s leg) and the clogged portion is replaced. Although generally successful, it can be sometimes very risky and dangerous for the patient.



There are two new technological advances that have created potentially revolutionary methods of dealing with clogged arteries. Researchers in Israel have developed protein-based injections that can promote the regrowth of blood vessels. This can lead to the elimination of bypass surgery all together. “The growth of new blood vessels happens within a few weeks, showing improved blood circulation,” says Dr. Britta Hardy (ScienceDaily). The new blood vessels are integrated into the circulatory system and have yielded promising results in mice. The second method comes from Sweden, where Helen Fink has used bacteria to synthesize new blood vessels. Acetobacter xylinym is a bacterium that can produce cellulose-based blood vessels compatible with the natural human body’s circulatory system. Fink and her research team have harnessed a natural way of creating completely new blood vessels that are less susceptible to further clotting. Both these advances have lead to new ways of looking at a surgery that still has many risks.



Another advance dealing with blood vessels is the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). A professor of medicine at the University of Ferrerra, Paolo Zamboni’s wife suffered from MS, and he was determined to find a cure. After much research, he discovered a startling trend. 90% of people with MS had blood vessels that drained blood from the brain were reduced in diameter or blocked. These damaged blood vessels lead to iron remaining in the un-drained blood and damaging the barrier between the brain and blood. Immune cells crossing the barrier destroyed the myelin, or protective layer, of the nerve cells. He discovered that by unclogging the veins and having blood drain normally, many of the MS symptoms disappeared. This research is a large step forwards into discovering a possible cure for this vascular disease.



There have been many biotechnological advances involving the systems of the human body over the years that have definitely had a positive impact on the way medical treatment is received by people everywhere. Here in North America, most of these advances are a way of fixing problems that were caused by the way we live. Bypass surgery would be less wide-spread if our diet wasn’t full of bad fats and sugars. As it was asked earlier, is this a good use of our research?

The question of fixing the problem at the root as opposed to fixing the consequence once it arises is always a difficult question. Should researchers around the world be discovering ways to reduce the chances of cardiovascular disease before it becomes too big a problem? Should they be figuring out ways to reduce the amount of pollutants that are creating respiratory illness worldwide?



The truth is, there is only so much that they can do. They can give you all the materials and resources to help reduce the chance of damaging the major systems, but if people don’t want to change their lifestyle for the better, there is nothing else that can be done. Sure, biotechnology has taken us further in providing easy ways of becoming healthier, such as methods of getting fresh vegetables all year. Most of the technological advances involve fixing the consequences of our actions, instead of the problem. Maybe it’s because we can’t see past the issues in our sights, or maybe it’s because we don’t acknowledge the root as a problem. Either way, something is going to have to change.

Although biotechnology has definitely improved over the years, offering advances that cater to the needs of people facing illness, it seems that something still must be changed to completely fix the problem. We need to become more focussed on living healthy lives, whether that is through proper diet or active lifestyles. We can’t depend on technology to fix all of our problems, especially since it was one of the causes of our current situation. Even as technology continues to improve the field of medicine, it is still up to us, as the individuals, to take initiative and improve our quality of life by being the embodiment of healthy living.

Sources:
Advances of MRI - Express Healthcare Management

Bacteria make artificial blood vessel of the future - ScienceDaily

Bypassing Bypass Surgery: New Blood Vessels Grown to Combat Heart Disease - ScienceDaily

New development in heart bypass surgery - Battling for Health

Researcher's labour of love leads to MS breakthrough - Globe and Mail

Comments:
Kayla Villeda - "Understanding Organ Systems Using Technology"

Neelum Akber - "Tech-Bites For Your Heart ♥"