Read the full article by Jamie Mann (The Ferret).
“Some 643,000 tonnes of sewage sludge has been spread on Scotland’s fields amidst mounting evidence that it contains a cocktail of toxic chemicals, The Ferret can reveal.
Data we obtained from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) via freedom of information details the extent that the substance has been applied in rural areas across the country between 2020 and 2024.
Sewage sludge is the byproduct of domestic and industrial sewage and wastewater, which is treated by Scottish Water and waste and water management firms, during which some contaminants are removed.
The mud-like residue is then given or sold to farmers as a low cost, nutrient-rich fertiliser to spread on agricultural land to help the growth of grass, grains and crops for humans and animals.
But recent studies, including from Scotland’s James Hutton Institute and Scottish Environment LINK, have highlighted several pollutants even in supposedly refined sewage sludge, which were not removed by treatment. They include microplastics, forever chemicals and pharmaceuticals.”…