If only you could pawn your excreted waste for money, you’d be rich, right? Well, don’t blow off the idea so fast. A recent study suggests your poop may be worth a dime or two!
New research presented at a recent American Chemical Society meeting, suggests that after testing and treating a several human sewage sites, several rare metals like gold and silver, as well as rare chemical compounds like palladium, and vanadium were found and collected.
The rare particles were discovered by mistake, but the scientists believe they are on to something big. Most of what they found was worth recovering, and has lead them to believe that there is a substantial source of rare metals and chemicals in our sewage systems, large enough that mining could be greatly reduced.
One group of researchers reported in Environmental Science & Technology that up to $13 million worth of metal could be extracted from the excrement of a million Americans. Now that’s a lot of valuable crap!
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So, how exactly is this possible? Well, according to a group of geologists from the U.S. Geological Survey, these elements and metals are found in many of the products we use on our bodies daily.
“There are metals everywhere,” says lead researcher Kathleen Smith, Ph.D., noting they are “in your hair care products, detergents, even nanoparticles that are put in socks to prevent bad odors.”
The chemicals and compounds are entering your body through the usage of everyday products/items once excreted as biosolids (“poop”) they end up in a waste treatment plant that removes the metals/compounds.
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But don’t freak out just yet; your engagement ring will not be made from some recycled pooped out gold. Smith and her team hope recovering the flushed out metals will decrease the need for mining and reduce the unwanted release of metals into the environment. The money could also be used to stimulate local economies.
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