Hi,

Here is an interesting fact about the economic benefit of urine, and it's
not about fertiliser value this time. Through my neighbour, who is pregnant,
I learnt about this scheme that is operating in the Netherlands (and some
other countries I believe): Urine from pregnant women between 6 and 16 weeks
of pregnancy is collected weekly in green plastic bottles (see photos
attached). From their urine, the hormone hCG is extracted and this hormon is
used as part of fertility treatment for other women who have problems with
ovulation (hence the scheme is called Mothers for Mothers in Dutch. Website:
www.moedersvoormoeders.nl (website is in Dutch)).

I was told that this urine collection for this particular hormone has
already been going on for decades. There was a time when the hormone was
then manufactured synthetically but it was found that the fertility
improvements were not as good as with the natural hormone, so they went back
to extracting it from urine instead.

The pregnant women who are participating have to collect their urine in
these 1.5 L bottles (one bottle per day, and there is a small amount of some
chemical in each bottle to stabilise the urine and prevent degradation of
the hormone) and once a week, the 7 bottles are picked up by a driver (van)
who takes it to the processing plant (I don't know the details of that
plant). Apparently, 30% of pregnant women in my town (Ede) are taking part
in this scheme (it only works between week 6 and 16 because after that, the
level of hCG is too low again). They don't get any payment but get two
presents as a reward (children's plate and cutlery).

What I found interesting about this scheme:
a) urine as a valuable resource is being recognised by pharmaceutical
companies
b) the companies don't pay for the urine in cash but women participate
anyway because they want to help other mothers
c) there is a system set up to collect the urine on a weekly basis
d) just another example of how urine can be valuable

I thought this was an interesting bit of trivia about urine (something to be
added to my lecture notes...).

Regards,
Elisabeth

Elisabeth von Muench
UNESCO-IHE
Delft, The Netherlands

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