Sludge Watch ==> Off - Site Transport of Sludge Pathogens - Conclusions

[maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca]

Off-site transport of sludge pathogens - study funded by the National 
Science Foundation, Grant No. BES0348455



CONCLUSIONS

"BST  (Bacterial Source tracking)  Methods - PCR-(Polymerase Chain Reaction) 
based BST methods can be used to discriminate between samples originating 
from biosolids and soil with an ARCC (average rate of correct 
classification) of 87.5 - 100%. These methods are sensitive enough to detect 
microorganisms in aerosol samples."

Wind Aerosolization - Average wind speeds exceeding 5 m/s (11.18 miles per 
hour) can aerosolize microorganisms from biosolids that have been 
incorporated into soils by disking. Wind aerosolization was tested under dry 
soil conditions and limited to sandy loams."

"Off-Site Transport - BST methods consistently detected bioaerosols 
originating from biosolids disking at distances

of 170 m (557.6 feet) from the source. Atmospheric conditions during disking 
were moderately to slightly unstable."

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i HAD HOPED YOU OR cAROLINE WOULD WRITE A PARAGRAPH TO ACCOMPANY THE 
CONCLUSIONS, POINTING OUT THE FINDINGS OF RISK contradict the Gerba, Pepper 
assurances in earlier reports of "no risk" . . . .





One of you need to write a supporting paragraph pointing out this 
contradicts sludge scientist Charles Gerba, et al, and confirms the reports 
of respiratory, gastrointestinal, skin lesions and other infections reported 
by neighbors of sludge sites .





hi, girls . . . I think Maureen needs to send this out on sludge watch as it 
appears to contradict Gerba, et al,

http://www.casella.com/neo/v2/story.asp?ID=125

"Because of increased attention paid in recent years to the possibility of 
bioaerosol transmission of infection from biosolids land application, Dr. 
gerba says he and his colleagues have completed "a very careful review of 
the literature" and "we could find no evidence for the aerosol transmission 
by inhalation of enteric bacteria in humans-some evidence that it occurs in 
animals (but I dont hink that data is weak)....Based on aerosol data from 
sewage treatment plants, risk of viral infection are orders of magnitude 
less to workers at biosolids operations than at sewage treatment plants.  
All of the recent results are suggesting that a 100-200 foot buffer is all 
that is needed under most conditions (i.e. less than gale force winds) to 
protect the public from any significant risk."

NO RISK . . . .

PDF] BIOSOLIDS AND BIOAEROSOLS: THE CURRENT SITUATION File Format: PDF/Adobe 
Acrobat - View as HTML
of the literature, it is clear that there is no scientific evidence that 
populations close to biosolids. application sites are at risk from 
bioaerosols ...
www.weao.org/committees/biosolids/ 
pdf/Biosolids_and_bioaerosols_Solinov_Final.pdf - Similar pages


[PDF] jam_2604 310..322 File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
generation of bioaerosols from biosolids land application. Notably, Sorber 
et al. (1984) concluded that little or no risk. Correspondence to: JP 
Brooks, ...
wqc.arizona.edu/publications/brooks_2005.pdf - Similar pages


[PDF] jam_2484 397..405 File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
A study published by Sorber et al. (1984) concluded that. there was little 
to no risk from the land application of. biosolids with respect to 
bioaerosols. ...
wqc.arizona.edu/publications/brooks_2005a.pdf - Similar pages
[ More results from wqc.arizona.edu ]


Mitchell Center Outreach - The Use of Biosolids in Maine: A Review The 
question arises: do biosolids pose a risk if they produce an odor? ... Class 
A or B, maintained at a high pH will have no pathogenic bioaerosols. ...
www.umaine.edu/waterresearch/ outreach/biosolids_section_IV.htm - 70k - 
Cached - Similar pages