Cecilia Lalander - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Cecilia Lalander

Research paper thumbnail of Paper vs leaf: Carbon footprint of single-use plates made from renewable materials

Sustainable Production and Consumption

Research paper thumbnail of Willingness among food consumers to recycle human urine as crop fertiliser: Evidence from a multinational survey

Science of The Total Environment

Research paper thumbnail of Feeding live Black Soldier Fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) to laying hens: effects on feed consumption, hen health, hen behavior, and egg quality

Research paper thumbnail of Reduction of Bacteria in Relation to Feeding Regimes When Treating Aquaculture Waste in Fly Larvae Composting

Frontiers in Microbiology

Research paper thumbnail of Process efficiency and ventilation requirement in black soldier fly larvae composting of substrates with high water content

Science of The Total Environment

Research paper thumbnail of Alkaline dehydration of source-separated fresh human urine: Preliminary insights into using different dehydration temperature and media

Science of The Total Environment

Research paper thumbnail of Fatty acid composition of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) – Possibilities and limitations for modification through diet

Research paper thumbnail of Biochar filters as an on-farm treatment to reduce pathogens when irrigating with wastewater-polluted sources

Journal of Environmental Management

Research paper thumbnail of Pathogens in crop production systems irrigated with low-quality water in Bolivia

Journal of Water and Health

In dry areas, the need for irrigation to ensure agricultural production determines the use of all... more In dry areas, the need for irrigation to ensure agricultural production determines the use of all available water sources. However, the water sources used for irrigation are often contaminated by untreated or minimally treated wastewater. Microbial risks from reusing wastewater for vegetable irrigation can be addressed by installing environmental barriers that pathogens must cross to reach humans in the reuse system. Knowledge of pathogen flows inside the system and pathogen removal potential is the first step towards devising a risk management strategy. This study assessed microbe prevalence in farming systems in the Bolivian highlands that use wastewater-polluted sources for irrigation of lettuce. Samples of soil, lettuce and different water sources used in the farming systems were taken during one crop season and concentrations of coliphages, Escherichia coli and helminth eggs were measured. The results showed high spread of these microorganisms throughout the whole system. There...

Research paper thumbnail of Potential of Biochar Filters for Onsite Wastewater Treatment: Effects of Biochar Type, Physical Properties and Operating Conditions

Water

The potential of biochar as a filter medium for onsite wastewater treatment was investigated in f... more The potential of biochar as a filter medium for onsite wastewater treatment was investigated in five sub-studies. Sub-study 1 compared pollutant removal from wastewater using pine-spruce biochar, willow biochar and activated biochar (undefined biomass) filters. Sub-study 2 investigated the effects of particle size (0.7, 1.4 and 2.8 mm) on pollutant removal using pine-spruce biochar filters. In sub-studies 3 and 4, the effects of the hydraulic loading rate (HLR; 32–200 L m−2) and organic loading rates (OLR; 5–20 g biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) m−2) on pollutant removal using pine-spruce biochar filters were investigated, while sub-study 5 compared pollutant removal in pine-spruce biochar filters and in sand. The removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (Tot-N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N), phosphates (PO4-P) and total phosphorus (Tot-P) was monitored in all sub-studies. All types of biochar and all particle sizes of pine-spruce biochar achieved a high degree of remova...

Research paper thumbnail of Alkaline dehydration of anion–exchanged human urine: Volume reduction, nutrient recovery and process optimisation

Water Research

In urine-separating sanitation systems, bacterial urease enzymes can hydrolyse urea to ammonia du... more In urine-separating sanitation systems, bacterial urease enzymes can hydrolyse urea to ammonia during the pipe transport and storage of urine. The present study investigated whether it was possible to reduce the urine volume without losing the nitrogen as ammonia. A method for stabilising the urine prior to dehydration was developed. Briefly, fresh human urine was stabilised by passage through an anion-exchanger, added to an alkaline media (wood ash or alkalised biochar), and dehydrated. Urine dehydration was investigated at three temperatures: 40, 45 and 50 °C. The influence of various factors affecting the dehydration process was modelled and the rate of urine dehydration was optimised. Results indicated that 75% (v/v) of the urine has to pass through the ion-exchanger for alkaline stabilisation of urine to occur. At all investigated temperatures, the dehydrator accomplished >90% volume reduction of ion-exchanged urine, > 70% N retention and 100% recovery of P and K. To realise high degree of nutrient valorisation, this study proposes combining source-separation of human urine with alkaline dehydration.

Research paper thumbnail of What do consumers think about recycling human urine as fertiliser? Perceptions and attitudes of a university community in South India

Water research, Oct 15, 2018

Sanitation systems based on source separation and valorisation of human urine can improve the env... more Sanitation systems based on source separation and valorisation of human urine can improve the environmental sustainability of wastewater management. Yet, the social acceptability of such new, resource-oriented sanitation practices have not been assessed systematically. We attempt to address this research gap by reporting the findings of a survey conducted at a South Indian university that evaluated support for urine recycling among 1252 Indian consumers. We place our findings in the context of the Theory of Planned Behaviour, quantify consumer attitude to urine recycling through an exploratory numerical approach, and identify explanatory factors that shape consumer beliefs and perceptions. Overall, a moderately positive attitude was observed: 68% stated human urine should not be disposed but recycled, 55% considered it as fertiliser, but only 44% would consume food grown using it. While 65% believed using urine as crop fertiliser could pose a health risk, majority (80%) believed it ...

Research paper thumbnail of A comparison in product-value potential in four treatment strategies for food waste and faeces - assessing composting, fly larvae composting and anaerobic digestion

Research paper thumbnail of Farmer attitudes and perceptions to the re–use of fertiliser products from resource–oriented sanitation systems – The case of Vellore, South India

Science of The Total Environment, 2017

Relatively little research has been conducted to date on farmer attitudes towards the use of fert... more Relatively little research has been conducted to date on farmer attitudes towards the use of fertilisers from resource-oriented sanitation systems. This study employed a psycho-sociological approach to identify factors that encourage, or discourage, negative and positive attitudes to human waste recycling among farmers in southern India. A survey involving face-to-face interviews was performed with 120 randomly sampled farmers, taking into account the following factors: gender, age, religion, caste, type of farming, farm size, annual income and farming history. Variations in variables (χ(2) and ANOVA) were considered statistically significant if p-value was <0.05. When asked whether they thought human wastes could be used as fertiliser, of the farmers who expressed an opinion 59% were positive to re-use of urine and 46% to re-use of human faeces. Farmers in Vellore appeared to display what we term, a 'not-in-my-circle' syndrome, as they would prefer their neighbours to use human urine rather than their friends, family and colleagues. The main factors that motivated farmers to respond positively to re-use of urine were improved soil quality and potential cost savings from reduced use of chemical fertilisers. Fear of crop die-off, fear of being ridiculed and uncertainty over consumer marketplace behaviour were significant factors among farmers with a negative attitude. Furthermore, the survey responses indicated that besides socio-demographic factors, other factors such as 'trust' might have to be taken into consideration when planning and implementing nutrient recycling programmes. Early dialogue, continuous interaction and integration of user stakeholders (producers and consumers) in conceptualisation, design and implementation of nutrient recycling programmes are essential to ensure future success and wider adoption.

Research paper thumbnail of A metagenomic analysis displays the diverse microbial community of a vermicomposting system in Uganda

Infection Ecology & Epidemiology, 2016

Background: Vermicomposting is a mesophilic process using earthworms to efficiently and at low co... more Background: Vermicomposting is a mesophilic process using earthworms to efficiently and at low cost process large volumes of organic waste. It has been suggested to not only increase soil fertility but also increase biomass of beneficial bacteria while reducing harmful bacteria. The aim of this study was to set up a strategy to investigate and characterise the viral as well as the bacterial composition of a vermicomposting system. Material and methods: The vermicomposting unit used in this study was placed at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, and was fed with 80% cattle manure and 20% food waste. On Day 172, the compost was terminated and compost samples were collected from three layers of the unit: the top, the middle and the bottom layer. A metagenomic approach was then applied to characterise the viral and bacterial composition of the vermicomposting system. Results and discussion: A high abundance and diversity of bacteria were identified. Proteobacteria was the largest phyla in the compost (mainly Alpha-, Gamma-and Betaproteobacteria), constituting almost 65% of the bacterial reads in the data sets. DNA samples from several possible pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., Enterococcus spp. and Clostridium spp, were detected in the vermicompost, suggesting that there might still be harmful bacteria in the vermicast. Phages constituted the main viral group; apart from phages, mainly insect viruses were identified. The only animal or human virus identified was kobuvirus. In summary, metagenomic analysis was shown to be an efficient technology to characterise the microbial composition of vermicast. The data from this study contribute to a better understanding of the microbes present in this kind of composting system and can help determine measures necessary for safe manure handling.

Research paper thumbnail of Quality of greywater treated in biochar filter and risk assessment of gastroenteritis due to household exposure during maintenance and irrigation

Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Templated DNA-directed nanofabrication

Research paper thumbnail of Vermicomposting as manure management strategy for urban small-holder animal farms – Kampala case study

Waste Management, 2015

Inadequate organic waste management can contribute to the spread of diseases and have negative im... more Inadequate organic waste management can contribute to the spread of diseases and have negative impacts on the environment. Vermicomposting organic waste could have dual beneficial effects by generating an economically viable animal feed protein in the form of worm biomass, while alleviating the negative effects of poor organic waste management. In this study, a low-maintenance vermicomposting system was evaluated as manure and food waste management system for smallholder farmers. A vermicomposting system using the earthworm species Eudrilus eugeniae and treating cow manure and food waste was set up in Kampala, Uganda, and monitored for 172 days. The material degradation and protein production rates were evaluated after 63 days and at the end of the experiment. The material reduction was 45.9% and the waste-to-biomass conversion rate was 3.5% in the vermicomposting process on a total solids basis. A possible increase in the conversion rate could be achieved by increasing the frequency of worm harvesting. Vermicomposting was found to be a viable manure management method in small-scale urban animal agriculture; the return of investment was calculated to be 280% for treating the manure of a 450 kg cow. The vermicompost was not sanitised, although hygiene quality could be improved by introducing a post-stabilisation step in which no fresh material is added. The value of the animal feed protein generated in the process can act as an incentive to improve current manure management strategies.

Research paper thumbnail of Hygienic quality of faeces treated in urine diverting vermicomposting toilets

Waste Management, 2013

On-site sanitation solutions have gained much interest in recent years. One such solution is the ... more On-site sanitation solutions have gained much interest in recent years. One such solution is the urine diverting vermicomposting toilet (UDVT). This study evaluated the hygienic quality of the composted material in six UDVTs in operation in France. Samples were taken from three sampling positions in each toilet, with increasing distance from the fresh material. The concentration of Salmonella spp., Enterococcus spp., thermotolarent coliforms and coliphages were analysed and plotted against a number of variables. The variables found to have the greatest impact was the pH (for Enterococcus spp. and thermotolarent coliforms (TTC)) and time since last maintenance (coliphages). The pH was found to correlate with the material maturity. The current practise of maintenance can cause recontamination of the stabilised material and increase the risk of regrowth of pathogenic microorganisms. A modification in the maintenance procedure, in which a fourth maturation point is introduced, would eliminate this risk. UDVTs were found to be a good on-site sanitation option as the maintenance requirement is small and the system effectively reduced odour and concentration of pathogen and indicator organisms in human waste while keeping the accumulation of material down to a minimum. If the vermicompost is to be used for crops consumed raw, an additional sanitisation step is recommended.

Research paper thumbnail of The Effectiveness and Safety of Vermi- Versus Conventional Composting of Human Feces with Ascaris suum Ova as Model Helminthic Parasites

Journal of Sustainable Development, 2013

Composting toilets have been promoted for management of human waste at remote sites in parks and ... more Composting toilets have been promoted for management of human waste at remote sites in parks and alpine areas of recreation, but they may not be effective for producing a stable and safe end-product. Vermicomposting has been shown to result in a more degraded final product but its effectiveness for pathogen destruction was unclear due to conflicting information in the literature. This study sought to resolve the debate on whether or not vermicomposting could produce a hygenic end-product that would be safe for disposal locally. Vermicomposting was tested for destruction of the model pathogens, helminthic parasites, in an experiment with highly concentrated and viable Ascaris suum (2626±1306 ova/g, 61.6±8.7% viable) inoculated into fecal matter and coir (30:70 ratio) with and without Eisenia fetida worms. After 90 days at 19±3ºC six, eight, and 12 worms were found alive with no significant difference between treatments or through time found in TS% (12-15%), ova concentration and ova viability. A 100 times reduction in the concentration of Escherichia coli resulted from the worm treatment versus the control. Significantly higher nitrate (22 735±4 741 mg/kg NO 3-) and lower pH (pH 4.60±0.01) were found in the treatment as compared to the control (5 078±2 167 mg/kg NO 3-) (pH 6.56±0.30). Despite these improvements in fecal matter processing, vermicomposting was found ineffective at reducing Ascaris suum ova concentration and viability. Decentralized vermicomposting can efficiently stabilize and mature fecal matter; however prior to unrestricted end-product use, an additional sanitation step is necessary.

Research paper thumbnail of Paper vs leaf: Carbon footprint of single-use plates made from renewable materials

Sustainable Production and Consumption

Research paper thumbnail of Willingness among food consumers to recycle human urine as crop fertiliser: Evidence from a multinational survey

Science of The Total Environment

Research paper thumbnail of Feeding live Black Soldier Fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) to laying hens: effects on feed consumption, hen health, hen behavior, and egg quality

Research paper thumbnail of Reduction of Bacteria in Relation to Feeding Regimes When Treating Aquaculture Waste in Fly Larvae Composting

Frontiers in Microbiology

Research paper thumbnail of Process efficiency and ventilation requirement in black soldier fly larvae composting of substrates with high water content

Science of The Total Environment

Research paper thumbnail of Alkaline dehydration of source-separated fresh human urine: Preliminary insights into using different dehydration temperature and media

Science of The Total Environment

Research paper thumbnail of Fatty acid composition of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) – Possibilities and limitations for modification through diet

Research paper thumbnail of Biochar filters as an on-farm treatment to reduce pathogens when irrigating with wastewater-polluted sources

Journal of Environmental Management

Research paper thumbnail of Pathogens in crop production systems irrigated with low-quality water in Bolivia

Journal of Water and Health

In dry areas, the need for irrigation to ensure agricultural production determines the use of all... more In dry areas, the need for irrigation to ensure agricultural production determines the use of all available water sources. However, the water sources used for irrigation are often contaminated by untreated or minimally treated wastewater. Microbial risks from reusing wastewater for vegetable irrigation can be addressed by installing environmental barriers that pathogens must cross to reach humans in the reuse system. Knowledge of pathogen flows inside the system and pathogen removal potential is the first step towards devising a risk management strategy. This study assessed microbe prevalence in farming systems in the Bolivian highlands that use wastewater-polluted sources for irrigation of lettuce. Samples of soil, lettuce and different water sources used in the farming systems were taken during one crop season and concentrations of coliphages, Escherichia coli and helminth eggs were measured. The results showed high spread of these microorganisms throughout the whole system. There...

Research paper thumbnail of Potential of Biochar Filters for Onsite Wastewater Treatment: Effects of Biochar Type, Physical Properties and Operating Conditions

Water

The potential of biochar as a filter medium for onsite wastewater treatment was investigated in f... more The potential of biochar as a filter medium for onsite wastewater treatment was investigated in five sub-studies. Sub-study 1 compared pollutant removal from wastewater using pine-spruce biochar, willow biochar and activated biochar (undefined biomass) filters. Sub-study 2 investigated the effects of particle size (0.7, 1.4 and 2.8 mm) on pollutant removal using pine-spruce biochar filters. In sub-studies 3 and 4, the effects of the hydraulic loading rate (HLR; 32–200 L m−2) and organic loading rates (OLR; 5–20 g biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) m−2) on pollutant removal using pine-spruce biochar filters were investigated, while sub-study 5 compared pollutant removal in pine-spruce biochar filters and in sand. The removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (Tot-N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N), phosphates (PO4-P) and total phosphorus (Tot-P) was monitored in all sub-studies. All types of biochar and all particle sizes of pine-spruce biochar achieved a high degree of remova...

Research paper thumbnail of Alkaline dehydration of anion–exchanged human urine: Volume reduction, nutrient recovery and process optimisation

Water Research

In urine-separating sanitation systems, bacterial urease enzymes can hydrolyse urea to ammonia du... more In urine-separating sanitation systems, bacterial urease enzymes can hydrolyse urea to ammonia during the pipe transport and storage of urine. The present study investigated whether it was possible to reduce the urine volume without losing the nitrogen as ammonia. A method for stabilising the urine prior to dehydration was developed. Briefly, fresh human urine was stabilised by passage through an anion-exchanger, added to an alkaline media (wood ash or alkalised biochar), and dehydrated. Urine dehydration was investigated at three temperatures: 40, 45 and 50 °C. The influence of various factors affecting the dehydration process was modelled and the rate of urine dehydration was optimised. Results indicated that 75% (v/v) of the urine has to pass through the ion-exchanger for alkaline stabilisation of urine to occur. At all investigated temperatures, the dehydrator accomplished >90% volume reduction of ion-exchanged urine, > 70% N retention and 100% recovery of P and K. To realise high degree of nutrient valorisation, this study proposes combining source-separation of human urine with alkaline dehydration.

Research paper thumbnail of What do consumers think about recycling human urine as fertiliser? Perceptions and attitudes of a university community in South India

Water research, Oct 15, 2018

Sanitation systems based on source separation and valorisation of human urine can improve the env... more Sanitation systems based on source separation and valorisation of human urine can improve the environmental sustainability of wastewater management. Yet, the social acceptability of such new, resource-oriented sanitation practices have not been assessed systematically. We attempt to address this research gap by reporting the findings of a survey conducted at a South Indian university that evaluated support for urine recycling among 1252 Indian consumers. We place our findings in the context of the Theory of Planned Behaviour, quantify consumer attitude to urine recycling through an exploratory numerical approach, and identify explanatory factors that shape consumer beliefs and perceptions. Overall, a moderately positive attitude was observed: 68% stated human urine should not be disposed but recycled, 55% considered it as fertiliser, but only 44% would consume food grown using it. While 65% believed using urine as crop fertiliser could pose a health risk, majority (80%) believed it ...

Research paper thumbnail of A comparison in product-value potential in four treatment strategies for food waste and faeces - assessing composting, fly larvae composting and anaerobic digestion

Research paper thumbnail of Farmer attitudes and perceptions to the re–use of fertiliser products from resource–oriented sanitation systems – The case of Vellore, South India

Science of The Total Environment, 2017

Relatively little research has been conducted to date on farmer attitudes towards the use of fert... more Relatively little research has been conducted to date on farmer attitudes towards the use of fertilisers from resource-oriented sanitation systems. This study employed a psycho-sociological approach to identify factors that encourage, or discourage, negative and positive attitudes to human waste recycling among farmers in southern India. A survey involving face-to-face interviews was performed with 120 randomly sampled farmers, taking into account the following factors: gender, age, religion, caste, type of farming, farm size, annual income and farming history. Variations in variables (χ(2) and ANOVA) were considered statistically significant if p-value was <0.05. When asked whether they thought human wastes could be used as fertiliser, of the farmers who expressed an opinion 59% were positive to re-use of urine and 46% to re-use of human faeces. Farmers in Vellore appeared to display what we term, a 'not-in-my-circle' syndrome, as they would prefer their neighbours to use human urine rather than their friends, family and colleagues. The main factors that motivated farmers to respond positively to re-use of urine were improved soil quality and potential cost savings from reduced use of chemical fertilisers. Fear of crop die-off, fear of being ridiculed and uncertainty over consumer marketplace behaviour were significant factors among farmers with a negative attitude. Furthermore, the survey responses indicated that besides socio-demographic factors, other factors such as 'trust' might have to be taken into consideration when planning and implementing nutrient recycling programmes. Early dialogue, continuous interaction and integration of user stakeholders (producers and consumers) in conceptualisation, design and implementation of nutrient recycling programmes are essential to ensure future success and wider adoption.

Research paper thumbnail of A metagenomic analysis displays the diverse microbial community of a vermicomposting system in Uganda

Infection Ecology & Epidemiology, 2016

Background: Vermicomposting is a mesophilic process using earthworms to efficiently and at low co... more Background: Vermicomposting is a mesophilic process using earthworms to efficiently and at low cost process large volumes of organic waste. It has been suggested to not only increase soil fertility but also increase biomass of beneficial bacteria while reducing harmful bacteria. The aim of this study was to set up a strategy to investigate and characterise the viral as well as the bacterial composition of a vermicomposting system. Material and methods: The vermicomposting unit used in this study was placed at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, and was fed with 80% cattle manure and 20% food waste. On Day 172, the compost was terminated and compost samples were collected from three layers of the unit: the top, the middle and the bottom layer. A metagenomic approach was then applied to characterise the viral and bacterial composition of the vermicomposting system. Results and discussion: A high abundance and diversity of bacteria were identified. Proteobacteria was the largest phyla in the compost (mainly Alpha-, Gamma-and Betaproteobacteria), constituting almost 65% of the bacterial reads in the data sets. DNA samples from several possible pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., Enterococcus spp. and Clostridium spp, were detected in the vermicompost, suggesting that there might still be harmful bacteria in the vermicast. Phages constituted the main viral group; apart from phages, mainly insect viruses were identified. The only animal or human virus identified was kobuvirus. In summary, metagenomic analysis was shown to be an efficient technology to characterise the microbial composition of vermicast. The data from this study contribute to a better understanding of the microbes present in this kind of composting system and can help determine measures necessary for safe manure handling.

Research paper thumbnail of Quality of greywater treated in biochar filter and risk assessment of gastroenteritis due to household exposure during maintenance and irrigation

Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Templated DNA-directed nanofabrication

Research paper thumbnail of Vermicomposting as manure management strategy for urban small-holder animal farms – Kampala case study

Waste Management, 2015

Inadequate organic waste management can contribute to the spread of diseases and have negative im... more Inadequate organic waste management can contribute to the spread of diseases and have negative impacts on the environment. Vermicomposting organic waste could have dual beneficial effects by generating an economically viable animal feed protein in the form of worm biomass, while alleviating the negative effects of poor organic waste management. In this study, a low-maintenance vermicomposting system was evaluated as manure and food waste management system for smallholder farmers. A vermicomposting system using the earthworm species Eudrilus eugeniae and treating cow manure and food waste was set up in Kampala, Uganda, and monitored for 172 days. The material degradation and protein production rates were evaluated after 63 days and at the end of the experiment. The material reduction was 45.9% and the waste-to-biomass conversion rate was 3.5% in the vermicomposting process on a total solids basis. A possible increase in the conversion rate could be achieved by increasing the frequency of worm harvesting. Vermicomposting was found to be a viable manure management method in small-scale urban animal agriculture; the return of investment was calculated to be 280% for treating the manure of a 450 kg cow. The vermicompost was not sanitised, although hygiene quality could be improved by introducing a post-stabilisation step in which no fresh material is added. The value of the animal feed protein generated in the process can act as an incentive to improve current manure management strategies.

Research paper thumbnail of Hygienic quality of faeces treated in urine diverting vermicomposting toilets

Waste Management, 2013

On-site sanitation solutions have gained much interest in recent years. One such solution is the ... more On-site sanitation solutions have gained much interest in recent years. One such solution is the urine diverting vermicomposting toilet (UDVT). This study evaluated the hygienic quality of the composted material in six UDVTs in operation in France. Samples were taken from three sampling positions in each toilet, with increasing distance from the fresh material. The concentration of Salmonella spp., Enterococcus spp., thermotolarent coliforms and coliphages were analysed and plotted against a number of variables. The variables found to have the greatest impact was the pH (for Enterococcus spp. and thermotolarent coliforms (TTC)) and time since last maintenance (coliphages). The pH was found to correlate with the material maturity. The current practise of maintenance can cause recontamination of the stabilised material and increase the risk of regrowth of pathogenic microorganisms. A modification in the maintenance procedure, in which a fourth maturation point is introduced, would eliminate this risk. UDVTs were found to be a good on-site sanitation option as the maintenance requirement is small and the system effectively reduced odour and concentration of pathogen and indicator organisms in human waste while keeping the accumulation of material down to a minimum. If the vermicompost is to be used for crops consumed raw, an additional sanitisation step is recommended.

Research paper thumbnail of The Effectiveness and Safety of Vermi- Versus Conventional Composting of Human Feces with Ascaris suum Ova as Model Helminthic Parasites

Journal of Sustainable Development, 2013

Composting toilets have been promoted for management of human waste at remote sites in parks and ... more Composting toilets have been promoted for management of human waste at remote sites in parks and alpine areas of recreation, but they may not be effective for producing a stable and safe end-product. Vermicomposting has been shown to result in a more degraded final product but its effectiveness for pathogen destruction was unclear due to conflicting information in the literature. This study sought to resolve the debate on whether or not vermicomposting could produce a hygenic end-product that would be safe for disposal locally. Vermicomposting was tested for destruction of the model pathogens, helminthic parasites, in an experiment with highly concentrated and viable Ascaris suum (2626±1306 ova/g, 61.6±8.7% viable) inoculated into fecal matter and coir (30:70 ratio) with and without Eisenia fetida worms. After 90 days at 19±3ºC six, eight, and 12 worms were found alive with no significant difference between treatments or through time found in TS% (12-15%), ova concentration and ova viability. A 100 times reduction in the concentration of Escherichia coli resulted from the worm treatment versus the control. Significantly higher nitrate (22 735±4 741 mg/kg NO 3-) and lower pH (pH 4.60±0.01) were found in the treatment as compared to the control (5 078±2 167 mg/kg NO 3-) (pH 6.56±0.30). Despite these improvements in fecal matter processing, vermicomposting was found ineffective at reducing Ascaris suum ova concentration and viability. Decentralized vermicomposting can efficiently stabilize and mature fecal matter; however prior to unrestricted end-product use, an additional sanitation step is necessary.