Research Reports:

  "Health Survey of Residents Living Near Farm Fields Permitted to Receive Biosolids, Sadik Khuder, PhD; Sheryl A. Milz, PhD; Michael Bisesi, PhD; Robert Vincent, PhD; Wendy McNulty, MS; Kevin Czajkowski, PhD, Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, Vol. 62, No. 1, 2007.
Abstract: The authors studied the health status of residents living in Wood County, OH, near farm fields that were permitted to receive biosolids. They mailed a health survey to 607 households and received completed surveys from 437 people exposed to biosolids (living on or within 1 mile of the fields where application was permitted) and from 176 people not exposed to biosolids (living more than 1 mile from the fields where application was permitted). The authors allowed for up to 6 surveys per household. Results revealed that some reported health-related symptoms were statistically significantly elevated among the exposed residents, including excessive secretion of tears, abdominal bloating, jaundice, skin ulcer, dehydration, weight loss, and general weakness. The frequency of reported occurrence of bronchitis, upper respiratory infection, and giardiasis were also statistically significantly elevated. The findings suggest an increased risk for certain respiratory, gastrointestinal, and other diseases among residents living near farm fields on which the use of biosolids was permitted. However, further studies are needed to address the limitations cited in this study. (Click here for article)

  "Organizations Respond Quickly to Evidence of Coliform Reactivation, Steve Spicer, WE&T, Dec. 2006.
Summary: According to a recent Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF; Alexandria, Va.) study, fecal coliform counts can increase dramatically in anaerobically digested biosolids, but the reason is unclear.  
Commentary: Waste industry study shows significant pathogen regrowth in treated sewage sludge . . . . let's not forget, US EPA ALLOWS 2 million colony forming units of fecal coliform per gram of total solids , dry weight, in land applied Class B sewage sludge "biosolids" . . . . on the other hand, Class A sludge is supposed to have pathogens "below detectable levels" . . . and the waste industry and US EPA promote Class A sludge "biosolids" as being "virtually pathogen-free" . (Click here for article)

  "Human Health Risk Evaluation of Land Application of Sewage Sludge/Biosolids", Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch NC Health Department NC, November 2005.
Commentary: The NC DHHS, Division of Public Health, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch presented the NC Division of Water Quality with a paper prepared and reviewed by all divisions of NC government on December 29, 2005. None of the recommendations or considerations were included in the new land application regulations called the 2T in 2006. In fact, all recommendations were "blown off," in a letter by DWQ and given very little discussion or review. (Added 4/27/2008)

  "The Dirty Work of Promoting “Recycling” of America’s Sewage Sludge, CAROLINE SNYDER, PHD, Oct/Dec 2005.
Abstract: Serious illnesses, including deaths, and adverse environmental impacts have been linked to land application of sewage sludge. EPA and the wastewater treatment industry have worked with Congress to fund wastewater trade associations to promote land application, supporting industry-friendly scientists and discouraging independent research, to prevent local governments from restricting land application and to thwart litigation against municipalities and the industry.   Published INT J OCCUP ENVIRON HEALTH 2005;11:415–427  (Click here for reprint)

  "Endotoxin Exposure and Symptoms in Wastewater Treatment Workers",Lidwien A.M. Smit, MSc, Suzanne Spaan, MSc, and Dick Heederik, March 2005
Background Wastewater treatment workers can be exposed to biological and chemical agents resulting in work-related health effects. The aim of this study was to investigate work-related symptoms in these workers. Methods Questionnaire data of 468 employees from 67 sewage treatment plants is evaluated. Personal endotoxin exposure (8 hr measurements; n¼460) was measured in a sample of workers in three different periods over 1 year. 
Results: Endotoxin exposure ranged from 0.6 to 2093 endotoxin units (EU)/m3, the geometric mean exposure was low (27 EU/m3). Factor analysis yielded three clusters of correlated symptoms: ‘‘lower respiratory and skin symptoms,’’ ‘‘flu-like and systemic symptoms,’’ and ‘‘upper respiratory symptoms.’’ Symptoms appeared to be more prevalent in workers exposed to endotoxin levels higher than 50 EU/m3. A significant dose-response relationship was found for ‘‘lower respiratory and skin symptoms’’ and ‘‘flu-like and systemic symptoms’’ (P<0.05). 
Conclusions: Wastewater treatment workers reported a wide range of symptoms that may be work-related. Microbial exposures such as endotoxin seem to play a causal role.   Published AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE 48:30–39 (2005)  Posted Sept 6, 2005  (Click here for reprint)

  "Biosolid Colloid-Mediated Transport of Copper, Zinc, and Lead in Waste-Amended Soils", A. D. Karathanasis*, D. M. C. Johnson and C. J. Matocha, Journal of Environmental Quality, August, 2005
Abstract: Increasing land applications of biosolid wastes as soil amendments have raised concerns about potential toxic effects of associated metals on the environment. This study investigated the ability of biosolid colloids to transport metals associated with organic waste amendments through subsurface soil environments with leaching experiments involving undisturbed soil monoliths. Biosolid colloids were fractionated from a lime-stabilized, an aerobically digested, and a poultry manure organic waste and applied onto the monoliths at a rate of 0.7 cm/h. Eluents were monitored for Cu, Zn, Pb, and colloid concentrations over 16 to 24 pore volumes of leaching. Mass-balance calculations indicated significantly higher (up to 77 times) metal elutions in association with the biosolid colloids in both total and soluble fractions over the control treatments. Eluted metal loads varied with metal, colloid, and soil type, following the sequences Zn = Cu > Pb, and ADB > PMB > LSB colloids. Colloid and metal elution was enhanced by decreasing pH and colloid size, and increasing soil macroporosity and organic matter content. Breakthrough curves were mostly irregular, showing several maxima and minima as a result of preferential macropore flow and multiple clogging and flushing cycles. Soil- and colloid-metal sorption affinities were not reliable predictors of metal attenuation/elution loads, underscoring the dynamic nature of transport processes. The findings demonstrate the important role of biosolid colloids as contaminant carriers and the significant risk they pose, if unaccounted, for soil and ground water contamination in areas receiving heavy applications of biosolid waste amendments.  Published in J Environ Qual 34:1153-1164 (2005)  Posted Aug 5, 2005
http://www.rednova.com/modules/news/tools.php?tool=print&id=199188

  "A High-Level Disinfection Standard for Land Applying Sewage Sludges (Biosolids)", David K. Gattie and David L. Lewis, Environ Health Perspect, February 2004
Abstract: Complaints associated with land-applied sewage sludges primarily involve irritation of the skin, mucous membranes, and the respiratory tract accompanied by opportunistic infections. Volatile emissions and organic dusts appear to be the main source of irritation. Occasionally, chronic gastrointestinal problems are reported by affected residents who have private wells. To prevent acute health effects, we recommend that the current system of classifying sludges based on indicator pathogen levels (Class A and Class B) be replaced with a single high-level disinfection standard and that methods used to treat sludges be improved to reduce levels of irritant chemicals, especially endotoxins. A national opinion survey of individuals impacted by or concerned about the safety of land-application practices indicated that most did not consider the practice inherently unsafe but that they lacked confidence in research supported by federal and state agencies. Key words: biosolids, sewage sludge. Environ Health Perspect 112:126–131 (2004). doi:10.1289/ehp.6207 available via http://dx.doi.org/. 
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2003/6207/6207.pdf

"Considerations for Dairy Farms Regarding Use of Sewage Sludges, Sludge Products and Septage", Cornell Waste Management Institute, Nov 2003. 
http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/Sludge/Dairysludgesummary.pdf 6 page summary
http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/Sludge/Dairysludge.pdf  23-page report
"This document is intended to help dairy farmers and their advisors make informed decisions regarding the use of sewage sludges, sludge-based products and septage and to outline measures that can reduce the risks that may be associated with application on dairy farms."