Environment Agency insider alleges cover-up' over sewage sludge on farmland
Briefly

An insider from the Environment Agency has revealed a cover-up regarding the dangers of spreading sewage sludge on farmland. This practice, presented as soil enrichment, involves collusion between regulators and water companies, lacking oversight and proper testing for hazardous substances. The outdated safe sludge matrix continues to govern the practice, allowing toxins and unregulated chemicals to potentially harm public health and the environment. Critical internal research identifying these dangers has been concealed, while the sludge regime is defended as a benign practice despite significant risks.
Sewage sludge, promoted as a sustainable fertiliser, can carry toxic substances from industrial and domestic waste, posing health and environmental risks.
The sludge regime is still being run under industry guidance, without adequate oversight or testing for dangerous substances.
Voluntary guidance, the safe sludge matrix, remains in use since 1998, created by water companies and accepted by the Environment Agency.
The Environment Agency, while aware of sludge issues, has buried critical research on its dangers and failed to regulate effectively.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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