We fund $200,000 of biosolids research every year

Existing risk assessments and new research continue to show low risk to human health and the environment from using biosolids as a soil conditioner and fertilizer. To build upon this data NW Biosolids and King County, in partnership with the University of Washington and Kennedy/Jenks consultants, conducted a risk analysis on compounds from pharmaceuticals and personal care products, called “trace organics” or “microconstituents”. The risk assessment found that the tiny tiny amounts of these chemicals in biosolids will not cause negative health effects (Kennedy/Jenks, 2015). In fact, you would have to have direct contact with biosolids for more lifetimes than you would ever live before getting the equivalent of one daily dose.

In the face of climate change, biofuels can provide new green fuels to help power our cars and economies. Ethanol made from biofuel crops such as switchgrass can be an alternative fuel for cars, homes, and other uses. But biofuels are made from plants, and sometimes plants need to be fertilized. Synthetic fertilizer requires a lot of energy to create, while making biosolids often produces renewable energy. The University of Washington found that using biosolids instead of synthetic fertilizer reduced the energy costs of switchgrass production and was a climate friendly option.

Anyone who’s been to Eastern Washington has seen dust funnels dotting the landscape. Does using biosolids as a fertilizer and soil builder help reduce erosion in this windy area? Farmers think so, but Washington State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service have a new experiment to find out for sure. Stay tuned for their results!