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Scientists have found that precious metals like gold, silver and platinum can be extracted from sewage to prevent a small fortune being flushed down the toilet. Although the prospect of digging through human excrement hunting for the gleam of gold may seem unpalatable, the figures show it could be a surprisingly lucrative enterprise. An eight year study by the US Geological Survey found that levels of precious metals in faeces was comparable with those found in some commercial mines.
In fact, mining all of Britain’s excretions could produce waste metals which are worth around £510 million a year.
Scientists in the US believe that stripping human excrement of metals would not only provide a lucrative source of income, but would mean that waste could be more safely used as fertiliser.
Some food and drinks also now contain flakes of gold or silver.
The eight-year study, which involved monthly testing of treated sewage samples, found that 1kg of sludge contained about 0.4mg gold, 28mg of silver, 638mg copper and 49mg vanadium.
Some food and drinks also now contain flakes of gold or silver.
An eight year study by the US Geological Survey found that levels of precious metals in faeces was comparable with those found in some commercial mines.