Summary
This review examines the dual character of sewage sludge recycling on agricultural land: as an economically attractive source of plant nutrients and organic matter, whilst acknowledging significant environmental and health risks from heavy metal bioaccumulation, pathogenic microorganisms, and persistent contaminants. The authors balance the circular economy argument against documented hazards, as suggested by peer-reviewed evidence circa 2015–2019.
UK applicability
The UK has regulated sludge-to-land application under the Quality Protocol and PAS 100, but this review's risk assessment remains pertinent to ongoing policy debate around acceptable contamination thresholds and long-term soil legacy effects in intensive arable regions.
Key measures
Nutrient content of sludge; crop yield responses; accumulation of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants in soil and plant tissues; microbial and chemical contaminant loads
Outcomes reported
The study examined the agronomic value and environmental risks of applying recycled sewage sludge as a fertiliser on cropland, synthesising evidence on nutrient cycling, crop productivity, and contamination pathways.
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