How Much Gold is in Our Poop?

TL;DR

Human poop contains dangerous microbes, but it also consists of beneficial microbes, undigested plant matter, protein, fats, and other substances. If we can safely remove the dangerous microbes, there are numerous opportunities for reusing and benefiting from our poop.

Transcript

In addition to being stinky and gross, human poop  contains dangerous microbes that kill hundreds of   thousands of people each year. So it's no wonder  that we generally try to get rid of our poops as   fast as possible. But those dangerous microbes  are just a tiny part of our poops; our collective   sewage also contains lots of resources that – ... Read More

Key Insights

• 💩 Human poop primarily consists of beneficial bacteria, undigested plant matter, protein, fats, and other substances.
• 💩 Pathogenic microbes comprise only a small fraction of our overall poop.
• 💩 If we can safely remove the dangerous pathogens, there are numerous opportunities for reusing different components of poop.
• 🫢 Sewage treatment plants are already utilizing the gas produced by good bacteria as an energy source.
• 💩 Protein from poop can be used as fertilizer for crops.
• 🌱 Undigested plant matter mixed with clay can serve as a building material.
• 💗 Fly larvae can consume fats in treated sewage, growing into nutrient-dense insect nuggets for animal feed.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why do healthy people's poop contain negligible amounts of dangerous microbes?

The dangerous microbes, such as E.coli and salmonella, are generally present in the poop of people with gastrointestinal problems. In healthy individuals, these pathogens are essentially non-existent.

Q: What is the main component of our poop?

Approximately half of our poop is composed of beneficial bacteria that reside in the colon. These bacteria break down food components like fiber, complex carbohydrates, and protein.

Q: What happens to the remaining bacteria after each bowel movement?

About a third of the colon bacteria is expelled with each bowel movement, but the remaining bacteria reproduce quickly to continue producing more poop.

Q: What are some potential uses for different components of poop?

Sewage treatment plants are already using the gas produced by good bacteria as a new energy source. Companies are also utilizing the protein in poop as fertilizer for crops. In addition, undigested plant matter has been found to be a suitable building block when mixed with clay.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Human poop contains dangerous microbes that can cause illness, but these pathogens are only present in the feces of people with gastrointestinal problems.

• Approximately half of our poop consists of beneficial bacteria that break down food components.

• Other slices of the poop pie include undigested plant matter, protein, fats, and various indigestible substances.