Sludge Watch ==> Michigan Lawsuit - infant death related to paper sludge contaminated water

[maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca]

Nitrate contamination of groundwater and drinking water is a common adverse 
impact from land spreading sewage sludge.    It has been known for many 
years that elevated nitrates cause "blue baby syndrome" (methemoglobinemia) 
-- but this is the first I knew about excess nitrates causing SIDS.

http://extoxnet.orst.edu/faqs/safedrink/sewage.htm
Contamination of Water and Soil by Sewage and Water Treatment Sludge


Contamination of drinking water sources by sewage can occur from raw sewage 
overflow, septic tanks, leaking sewer lines, land application of sludge and 
partially treated waste water. Sewage itself is a complex mixture and can 
contain many types of contaminants. The greatest threats posed to water 
resources arise from contamination by bacteria, nitrates, metals, trace 
quantities of toxic materials, and salts. Seepage overflow into drinking 
water sources can cause disease from the ingestion of microorganisms such as 
E coli, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Hepatitis A, and helminths.

Nitrates and Nitrites


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nitrates and nitrites are a major constituent of fertilizers and have been 
used for many years in lawn treatments. Without the addition of these, crops 
would deplete nitrogen from soil. Unfortunately, when nitrogen fertilizers 
are used, they can get into wells and contaminate them. Nitrates and 
nitrites from these fertilizers also seep into groundwater, especially 
shallow wells (1,2).

The Environmental Protection Agency has set a maximum contaminant level 
(MCL) of 10 mg/L for nitrate and nitrite in public water supplies(3). Users 
of private water supplies should have their water tested annually, 
especially in areas where fertilizers are commonly used. It is estimated 
that 1.5 million people are potentially exposed to nitrates from rural 
domestic wells (3).

Nitrites are cause for concern in infants under 6 months of age and farm 
animals. They affect the blood's ability to carry oxygen. Nitrites get into 
the body when nitrates are ingested, both from food and water, and nitrate 
reducing bacteria in an infant's digestive tract converts the nitrate to 
nitrite. Once the nitrite enters the blood stream and binds to the 
hemoglobin, oxygen cannot be carried, and "blue-baby" syndrome (bluish tint 
to skin due to lack of oxygen) occurs, as well as shortness of breath, 
increased sensitivity to illness, heart attacks, and possibly death by 
asphyxiation. However, as the infant ages, stomach acid becomes stronger, 
and bacteria that cause the conversion of nitrate to nitrite are reduced. 
Older children and adults generally do not have a problem with nitrates  
(1,2).

If nitrates are a concern in your area, it is best to use bottled water for 
the infant's formula. Boiling the water will not make the nitrates go away, 
it will instead cause an increase in the amount of nitrates present (2).

The best way to tell if your water has nitrates is to have it tested by a 
reputable lab. If your water is found to be contaminated, it can be treated 
in a variety of ways, including filtration, distillation, or a system 
similar to a water softener. However, to choose a treatment, a professional 
should be consulted.

For additional information about nitrates/nitrites, the website at North 
Carolina State University's Cooperative Extension Service provides more 
specific information regarding the toxicity and more treatment options for 
nitrite/nitrate problems (see links below).

**************************************************************************************************************************

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11903496&dopt=Abstract
1: Eur J Clin Invest. 2001 Dec;31(12):1083-94. Related Articles, Links


Incidence and geographical distribution of sudden infant death syndrome in 
relation to content of nitrate in drinking water and groundwater levels.

George M, Wiklund L, Aastrup M, Pousette J, Thunholm B, Saldeen T, Wernroth 
L, Zaren B, Holmberg L.

Dept of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Uppsala University Hospital, 
SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.


CONCLUSIONS: The seasonal distribution of SIDS was widely different from the 
south to the north of the country and seems to be associated with 
differences in the groundwater level changes subsequent to precipitation, 
frost penetration, and melting of snow. Use of drinking water with high peak 
concentrations or great variations in nitrate concentration was correlated 
to the incidence of SIDS.

******************************************************************
http://www.sidscenter.org/Downloads/B156%20air%20pollution.htm
"ACCN: SIDS-06057
George M, Wiklund L, Aastrup M, et al.

Incidence and geographical distribution of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in 
relation to content of nitrate in drinking water and groundwater levels.

Eur J Clin Invest  2001 Dec; 31(12):1083-94.



Previous studies indicate that the enteral bacterial urease is inhibited in 
victims of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).  One possible inhibitor of 
this bacterial activity is nitrate.  If ambient pollution by nitrate is 
involved in the etiology of SIDS, only a fraction of the nitrate 
concentration not infrequently found in drinking water would be enough for 
this inhibition.  Occurrence of SIDS (n=636) in Sweden during the period 
1990 through 1996 were analysed regarding geographical and seasonal 
distribution in relation to the nitrate concentration in drinking water and 
changes in the groundwater level.Both the birth rate and the incidence of 
SIDS decreased during the study period.  One quarter of the municipalities 
constituting 11 percent of the population had no cases, the maximum 
incidence when the rest of the country had its lowest incidence, and the 
occurrence of individual deaths was associated with the recharge of 
groundwater, which increases its nitrate content.  The local incidence of 
SIDS was correlated (rs=0.34-0.87) to maximally recorded concentrations of 
nitrate in drinking water.The seasonal distribution of SIDS was widely 
different from the south to the north of the country and seems to be 
associated with differences in the groundwater level changes subsequent to 
precipitation, frost penetration, and melting of snow.  Use of drinking 
water with high peak concentrations or great variations in nitrate 
concentration was correlated to the incidence of SIDS."

***************************************************************************************

http://food.oregonstate.edu/c/nitrite.html

Young infants, due to their small body weight and less-efficient enzyme 
systems, are at more risk. Infants may suffer from acute nitrite toxicity if 
they are fed formula prepared from water containing high (>10ppm) nitrates. 
There is concern that some SIDS cases, particularly in rural areas, should 
be attributed to methemoglobinemia (Amman, 1995).

*******************************************************************

Sent: Monday, August 18, 2003 12:17 PM
Subject: MICHIGAN - VICTIM - TREE FARM SUED - BABY DIES - INDUSTRIAL 
CARDBOARD SLUDGE - EXCESS NITRATES


http://www.detnews.com/2003/metro/0308/13/b07d-243408.htm

Wednesday, August 13, 2003

Nitrates pollute water in 2 counties

Industrial byproduct suspected of leaking into Manistee, Mason wells

By Associated Press



MANISTEE -- High levels of nitrates flowing in underground plumes have found 
their way into the drinking water of several homes in Manistee and Mason 
counties.

The organic contaminant has been detected in excess of the Michigan 
Department of Environmental Quality standard of 10 parts per million in 13 
private wells between the two counties.

Bottled water from the state's Emergency Drinking Water Fund has been 
provided to some residents, and, in seven cases, new wells have been dug to 
lower depths to tap waters from clean aquifers.

"Nitrates at levels over 10 parts per million are of concern to us," said 
Jim Lerg, environmental health manager with the district health department. 
"You wouldn't want to feed this stuff to infants."

Large amounts of nitrate in drinking water are a cause of a disease called 
methemoglobinemia. The blood disorder makes hemoglobin in red blood cells 
less capable of transporting oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

It primarily affects infants under 6 months old.

Because its origin typically lies in sewage disposal systems, runoff from 
barnyards, fertilized fields, and industrial waste, nitrates also can 
indicate the presence of other contaminants.

In Manistee and Mason counties, DEQ officials say fertilizers and industrial 
waste may be to blame.

>From 1986-97, a nitrogen-rich byproduct from cardboard manufacturing at a 
nearby mill was used widely in the area to fertilize garden plots, fields, 
golf courses and nurseries.

In 1999, former Filer Township residents Stephen and Cindy McLintock 
discovered nitrate levels almost three times above the DEQ's allowable level 
as they tried to sell their house.

Her family sued the cardboard mill and a tree farm across the street from 
their house for the premature death of her baby, which they blamed on 
nitrates in the water from overapplication of the sludge.

The case was settled out of court last year, but it prompted further testing 
at former sludge dump sites.