[USCC] Does composting rid of chemicals in manure?

[Will Brinton]

Gary-

did anyone reply to your concern?

I just reviewed a research paper from the Institute of Hygiene and 
Public Health, Bonn, Germany. It concludes that many antibiotics in 
manure do survive in soil (after manure application) for up to 90 days, 
and are therefore "relatively stable". It is now well known   that these 
could be uptaked by plants, and passed along the food chain. Others are 
reported to have degraded rapidly. Composting should be assumed to be 
similar to soil and possibly better (i.e.composting is not necessarily 
faster in biodegradation).

Interestingly, in the EU  annually about 15,000 tons of antibiotics are 
administered to humans and animals, the non-metabolized fraction of 
which will find its way via excretion into the environment (mostly 
biosolids and released wastewater, and of course manures). I am sure the 
quantities used are probably higher in the USA for animals, and I am not 
sure for humans. Your concern should be pursued until more information 
on composting is obtained. See also the early forerunner paper (before 
use of antibiotics got really intense):

Vogtman, H.; W. Obrist, K. Hauser, H. P. P f i r t e r a n d F. 
Augstburger, 1978. Compost Science/Land Utilization. "Cornposting and 
Plant Growth: Use o f c h i c k e n  M a n u r e  c o n t a i n i n g  a 
n t i b i o t i c s "
 
Will Brinton

Gary Bright wrote:
> Today I was asked this question from a watch-dog agency in Michigan;
> "How do you treat the 168 chemicals in the manure and the growth hormones
> and antibiotics" ?
>
>
>   
-- 
Woods End Laboratories
- Bioenergy &  Biocompost Testing -
Mt Vernon ME 04352
www.woodsend.org