What is the approximate phosphate production per person per day?

• A. 0.0048 lbs per person per day
• B. 0.1 lbs per person per day
• C. 0.01 lbs per person per day
• D. 0.5 lbs per person per day

Answer: (A)

Phosphate production per person per day is a small, typical biological waste component. A common estimate is about 2 grams per person each day, which converts to roughly 0.0044 to 0.0048 pounds. The option 0.0048 pounds per person per day aligns with that expected daily excretion when you convert 2 grams to pounds, making it the best match. The other values would correspond to much larger amounts (tens of grams to hundreds of grams per day), well above what a person typically produces.