CGPH FACULTY: Robert Spear
DATE OF PUBLICATION: January 2015
REGION: Asia
REFERENCE: Carlton EJ, Liu Y, Zhong B, Hubbard A, Spear RC. Associations between Schistosomiasis and the Use of Human Waste as an Agricultural Fertilizer in China.PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015 Jan 15;9(1):e0003444. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003444. eCollection 2015 Jan.
SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: Human waste is used as an agricultural fertilizer in China and elsewhere. Because the eggs of many helminth species can survive in environmental media, reuse of untreated or partially treated human waste, commonly called night soil, may promote transmission of human helminthiases. The use of untreated or partially treated human waste as an agricultural fertilizer may be a barrier to permanent reductions in human helminthiases. This practice warrants further attention by the public health community.
ACCESS: Link to Pubmed