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Fri Oct 12 15:41:10 EDT 2007
bonus for agriculture in Ottawa. But we are not out of the woods yet.
Research conducted by Cornell and Guelph universities indicates that we may
have been consuming metals which permeated the crops from fields that were
spread with sludge in previous years. Now isn't that a scary thought.
I hate to bring up Walkerton, but it sure came to mind when I heard about
this. I wish Dr. Cushman and his "experts" would explore that study and
inform us how to protect ourselves as consumers, instead of brushing off the
warnings about sewage sludge as alarmist. We deserve some hard facts on what
is in the local crops from sludge-laden lands.
Gardeners in the area should also be cautious with garden soil, because I
gather that sewage sludge has been mixed in with the soil and could cause
health problems. We also know that one of the first uses of raw sewage is to
spread it on sod farms.
New home buyers should be leery of the sod being laid in front of their home
this spring. I find it curious that the city is looking at banning
pesticides, yet they have no problem with the fact that those new, luscious
lawns where babies play may contain dangerous pollutants.
The environmental committee made a good start with its decision to ban the
practice of spreading raw sewage on agricultural lands. Can we count on them
to go the full route and take the necessary steps to protect us from the
harm that could result from its current biosolids program? We should expect
no less.
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><EM>An article from the Ottawa Sun that =
will=20
interest Sludge Watch members ...</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2>------------------------------------</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>April 14, 2002 </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><STRONG><FONT size=3D4>Playing with our =
health</FONT></STRONG><BR>By CLAUDETTE CAIN -- Ottawa Sun</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><BR>"Be it resolved that the =
environmental services=20
committee recommend that council approve that the city seek tenders for =
the=20
disposal of biosolids, through land filling, composting the biosolids =
material=20
and or other options, rather than applying the material on agricultural =
lands."=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>"CARRIED." </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>WOW!!! They did it -- a city committee =
actually put=20
the kibosh on the spreading of sludge on our agricultural lands. =
Hopefully, this=20
is the end of a long battle to protect human health and eliminate one =
more=20
environmental risk. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>About 20,000 tons of raw sewage is =
usually spread=20
on 27 farm sites in Ottawa. The practice is so popular here that the =
demand from=20
farmers for biosolids surpasses supply. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The staff report acknowledged that =
current=20
wastewater treatment does not completely eliminate pathogens or all of =
the=20
pollutants in the raw sewage, which includes waste from industry. Yet, =
our=20
medical officer of health, who hired "experts" to conduct a scientific =
review of=20
the safety of spreading biosolids, recommended that the practice =
continue even=20
though there is disagreement among scientists and research on the =
subject is=20
ongoing and inconclusive. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I don't get it. Dr. Cushman is the same =
one who is=20
hell-bent for leather to protect us from second-hand smoke, yet he's =
willing to=20
play Russian roulette over the issue of spreading biosolids because of =
"a lack=20
of compelling evidence of risk." I'd say it's time to get your =
priorities=20
straight, Doc. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Luckily, the committee members were =
able to hear=20
for themselves how the spreading has affected real people in our =
community.=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Members of one family suffered from =
diarrhea,=20
headaches, dry eyes and loss of appetite, and had to send a lawyer's =
letter to=20
our public health department, only to be told their investigation =
"identified no=20
health hazard." </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Personal testimony from several others, =
who=20
continue to suffer serious consequences from the spreading of human =
waste,=20
raised more than a few eyebrows at the committee meeting. Our public =
health=20
officials must have been aware of all these health incidents, yet only =
one was=20
briefly documented in the staff report. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Bravo to members of council who showed =
compassion=20
for residents, with their vote against forging ahead with the program =
this=20
spring. To err on the side of caution is wise when the health of =
individuals is=20
at stake. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>From this point on, food grown here =
will be sludge=20
free. That's indeed a bonus for agriculture in Ottawa. But we are not =
out of the=20
woods yet. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Research conducted by Cornell and =
Guelph=20
universities indicates that we may have been consuming metals which =
permeated=20
the crops from fields that were spread with sludge in previous years. =
Now isn't=20
that a scary thought. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I hate to bring up Walkerton, but it =
sure came to=20
mind when I heard about this. I wish Dr. Cushman and his "experts" would =
explore=20
that study and inform us how to protect ourselves as consumers, instead =
of=20
brushing off the warnings about sewage sludge as alarmist. We deserve =
some hard=20
facts on what is in the local crops from sludge-laden lands. =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Gardeners in the area should also be =
cautious with=20
garden soil, because I gather that sewage sludge has been mixed in with =
the soil=20
and could cause health problems. We also know that one of the first uses =
of raw=20
sewage is to spread it on sod farms. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>New home buyers should be leery of the =
sod being=20
laid in front of their home this spring. I find it curious that the city =
is=20
looking at banning pesticides, yet they have no problem with the fact =
that those=20
new, luscious lawns where babies play may contain dangerous pollutants.=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The environmental committee made a good =
start with=20
its decision to ban the practice of spreading raw sewage on agricultural =
lands.=20
Can we count on them to go the full route and take the necessary steps =
to=20
protect us from the harm that could result from its current biosolids =
program?=20
We should expect no less. <BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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