PUVeP News

XU Kinaadman Research Center Funds New Ecosan Study

The WHO Guidelines for the Safe Use of Excreta in Agriculture suggest that after a dehydration period of six to twelve months, human faeces will not pose any public health danger when used for agricultural purposes. To verify these recommendations under Philippine conditions, Dr. Gina S. Itchon, Dr. Ma Luisa B Tan XU School of Medicine) and Dr. Robert J. Holmer (XU PUVeP), conducted the research “An Observational Study to Determine the Length of Time Necessary to Eradicate Parasitic Ova and Pathogenic Bacteria in Human Excreta Kept in the Storage Vaults of Urine-Diverting Dehydration Toilets in Cagayan de Oro City”.

After six months of data gathering, the following conclusions can be drawn from the results: Microorganisms do not pose a public health threat if human excreta are used in agriculture. However, helminth eggs may still be infective and hence, six months is not adequate to dehydrate the faeces sufficiently. This seems to be especially true in a tropical country like the Philippines where ambient humidity is high during most months of the year. Hence, secondary treatment is necessary to render human excreta safe for agricultural use.

In relation to this recommendation, the Kinaadman Research Center of Xavier University has recently approved the amount of 181,900.00 PhP under its Matteo Ricci Research Award to conduct the follow-up research “A Comparative Study of the Efficacy of Secondary Treatment Methods for Human Excreta Intended for Agricultural Use in Cagayan de Oro City”. The new study, which will start in August 2008 will investigate if different methods of secondary treatment (i.e. vermicomposting, composting, biogas as well as digestion by dung beetles and mango flower beetles) will reduce the number of viable helminth ova eggs below a threshold level that makes human faeces safe for agricultural use.

Back 29.07.2008.