The Coming Food Shortages: Antibiotics in Manure Proven To Alter Soil Composition, Reduce Crop Yields, and Cause Human Health Issues
Liz Bennett
UndergroundMedic.com
Apr 10, 2014
The practice of dosing livestock with antibiotics combined with putting the same drugs into animal feed is having a profound effect on the soil where the manure is used as fertilizer. We have known for years that antibiotics in livestock has hastened antibiotic resistance but a new study proves just how detrimental the practice can be to our health and our food supply.
Scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München, in a joint study with researchers of Julius Kühn Institute in Braunschweig, have found that the repeated application of manure contaminated with antibiotics lastingly changes the composition of bacteria in the soil.
“After repeated application of manure contaminated with antibiotics, we found a decrease in the bacteria that are important for good soil quality. This means a loss of soil fertility and thus in the long run a decline in crop yields,” said Professor Michael Schloter, head of Research Unit Environmental Genomics at Helmholtz Zentrum München.
“Moreover, the number of microbes living in the soil that are harmful to humans increased under the experimental conditions of the study. The increase in human pathogenic microorganisms in the environment has wide-reaching consequences for human health,” says Professor Schloter.
“We are in continuous contact with these microorganisms, and the probability of contracting an infection increases accordingly. This applies particularly to diseases of the respiratory system and the lungs, as bacteria are spread through the air and inhaled. Moreover, many of the bacteria are resistant to commonly used antibiotics, which often makes treatment more difficult. We must therefore urgently develop a new mindset as regards the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry.” (my emphasis) (source)
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