Cut metals in sewage sludge to protect soils, scientists urge

Producers of household products will come under pressure to reduce or eliminate zinc and cadmium from their formulations if the Government accepts the recommendations of a scientific committee which has reviewed the impact of metals disposed of to agricultural land via sewage sludge.¹ The report echoes warnings sounded a decade ago that limits on metals in sludge-treated soil may be too high to protect populations of micro-organisms which play a crucial role in maintaining long-term soil fertility.