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Estimation of global recoverable human and animal faecal biomass

Author

Listed:
  • David M. Berendes

    (United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Patricia J. Yang

    (Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Amanda Lai

    (Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • David Hu

    (Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Joe Brown

    (Georgia Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Human and animal faeces present persistent threats to global public health and also opportunities for recovery of resources. We present the first global-scale accounting of recoverable faeces (livestock animal and human) from 2003 to 2030 using country-specific human and animal population estimates and estimated species-specific faeces production by human or animal body mass. We also examine global coverage of domestic livestock animals and sanitation facilities to describe the distribution of onsite versus offsite hazards from animal and human faeces. In 2014, the total mass of faeces was 3.9 × 1012 kg per year, increasing by >52 × 109 kg per year since 2003 and anticipated to reach at least 4.6 × 1012 kg in 2030. Annual global production of faeces from animals (primarily cattle, chickens and sheep) was about four times that from humans. Ratios of animal faeces to human faeces continue to increase (geometric mean of 4.2:1 for 2003 versus 5.0:1 for 2014 versus a projected 6.0:1 for 2030). Low-income populations bear the greatest burden of onsite faeces, mostly from animals in or near the domestic environment. This analysis highlights the challenges of resource recovery from concentrated and dispersed sources of faeces, and the global public health policy needed for safe management of animal faeces.

Suggested Citation

  • David M. Berendes & Patricia J. Yang & Amanda Lai & David Hu & Joe Brown, 2018. "Estimation of global recoverable human and animal faecal biomass," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(11), pages 679-685, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:1:y:2018:i:11:d:10.1038_s41893-018-0167-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-018-0167-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Drew Capone & Zaida Adriano & David Berendes & Oliver Cumming & Robert Dreibelbis & David A Holcomb & Jackie Knee & Ian Ross & Joe Brown, 2019. "A localized sanitation status index as a proxy for fecal contamination in urban Maputo, Mozambique," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(10), pages 1-19, October.
    2. Wei, Zhibiao & Zhuang, Minghao & Hellegers, Petra & Cui, Zhenling & Hoffland, Ellis, 2023. "Towards circular nitrogen use in the agri-food system at village and county level in China," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    3. Margarita Andreas Dareioti & Aikaterini Ioannis Vavouraki & Konstantina Tsigkou & Michael Kornaros, 2021. "Assessment of Single- vs. Two-Stage Process for the Anaerobic Digestion of Liquid Cow Manure and Cheese Whey," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-14, August.
    4. Wang, Zixin & Wang, Tengfei & Si, Buchun & Watson, Jamison & Zhang, Yuanhui, 2021. "Accelerating anaerobic digestion for methane production: Potential role of direct interspecies electron transfer," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).

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