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| Format: | Preprint |
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2023
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| Online-Zugang: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.06461 |
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| _version_ | 1866916312678137856 |
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| author | Starck, Thomas Fardet, Tanguy Esculier, Fabien |
| author_facet | Starck, Thomas Fardet, Tanguy Esculier, Fabien |
| contents | Phosphorus (P) is an essential constituent of life but large P losses from agroecosystems and sanitation systems are a major source of eutrophication in water bodies.These losses are doubly detrimental as P in human excretions can be used for crop fertilization.Through a unique dataset of 20,000 French WasteWater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) operational measurements over two decades and a P mass balance, we assess the fate of human excretions and their agricultural potential.Despite 75% of French WWTPs sludge being spread on crops, only 50% of the excreted P makes it back to agroecosystems. This is among the highest rate in Western countries where assessments have been made.Meanwhile, another 35% of the excreted P ends up in surface waters or the environment through WWTP discharge, individual autonomous systems diffuse losses, and sewers leaks.The remaining 15% is incinerated or sent to landfills.Moreover, while WWTP removal efficiency increased in the 2000s, reaching an 80% national average, it has been followed by a decade of stagnation in every French basin.The final removal efficiency for each basin, from 65% to 85%, closely matches whether the area was defined as P-sensitive in the European directive.Our results suggest that recycling all P in excretions could help supply 7 to 34% of French food supply without changing the current food system.Reshaping agricultural systems (shifting to more plant-based diets, decreasing P losses and food waste) would enable to go even further on the road to food sufficiency. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2310_06461 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Phosphorus recycling from human excreta in French agroecosystems and potential for food self-sufficiency Starck, Thomas Fardet, Tanguy Esculier, Fabien Physics and Society Phosphorus (P) is an essential constituent of life but large P losses from agroecosystems and sanitation systems are a major source of eutrophication in water bodies.These losses are doubly detrimental as P in human excretions can be used for crop fertilization.Through a unique dataset of 20,000 French WasteWater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) operational measurements over two decades and a P mass balance, we assess the fate of human excretions and their agricultural potential.Despite 75% of French WWTPs sludge being spread on crops, only 50% of the excreted P makes it back to agroecosystems. This is among the highest rate in Western countries where assessments have been made.Meanwhile, another 35% of the excreted P ends up in surface waters or the environment through WWTP discharge, individual autonomous systems diffuse losses, and sewers leaks.The remaining 15% is incinerated or sent to landfills.Moreover, while WWTP removal efficiency increased in the 2000s, reaching an 80% national average, it has been followed by a decade of stagnation in every French basin.The final removal efficiency for each basin, from 65% to 85%, closely matches whether the area was defined as P-sensitive in the European directive.Our results suggest that recycling all P in excretions could help supply 7 to 34% of French food supply without changing the current food system.Reshaping agricultural systems (shifting to more plant-based diets, decreasing P losses and food waste) would enable to go even further on the road to food sufficiency. |
| title | Phosphorus recycling from human excreta in French agroecosystems and potential for food self-sufficiency |
| topic | Physics and Society |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.06461 |