[USCC] Fecal Coliform testing issues
epsteinee@comcast.net
epsteinee at comcast.net
Fri Oct 20 15:36:38 CDT 2006
Dave,
I agree with you. The product musst undergo curing and meet both stability and maturity tests. In my experience biosolids compost usually requires 30 days of curing. It is best to cure under low aeration of with periodic turning.
Eliot
--
Eliot Epstein
19 Preston Place
North Easton, MA 02356
Tel: 508-238-1631
Cell: 781-603-7151
E-mail: epsteinee at comcast.net
-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Schellinger, David A." <DSchellinger at agcenter.lsu.edu>
> U.S. COMPOSTING COUNCIL 15th ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW
> Wyndham Orlando Resort | Orlando, FL | January 21-24, 2007
> The National forum for those involved in the development and expansion of the
> composting and organics recycling industry
> CONFERENCE PROGRAM, REGISTRATION FORMS, WORKSHOP AGENDAS,
> EXHIBITOR INFORMATION AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE USCC
> WEBSITE: www.compostingcouncil.org OR CALL THE USCC AT 631-737-4931
>
>
> Eliot,
> It sounds to me like the biosolids were not adequately composted if
> sufficient readily available organic constituents were present to allow
> regrowth that quickly. Such a situation points to a need for improved
> process control, to reduce the probability of regrowth in composted
> biosolids.
>
> Dave Schellinger
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: compost-bounces at composter.com
> [mailto:compost-bounces at composter.com] On Behalf Of
> epsteinee at comcast.net
> Sent: Friday, October 20, 2006 8:34 AM
> To: US Composting Council Compost Discussion List
> Subject: Re: [USCC] Fecal Coliform testing issues
>
> U.S. COMPOSTING COUNCIL 15th ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW Wyndham
> Orlando Resort | Orlando, FL | January 21-24, 2007 The National forum
> for those involved in the development and expansion of the composting
> and organics recycling industry CONFERENCE PROGRAM, REGISTRATION FORMS,
> WORKSHOP AGENDAS, EXHIBITOR INFORMATION AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
> ARE AVAILABLE AT THE USCC WEBSITE: www.compostingcouncil.org OR CALL THE
> USCC AT 631-737-4931
>
>
> If a sample had fecal coliform (FC) bacteria when shipped, there could
> be regrowth. When New York City sent their biosolids to Texas and
> Colorado they found that before shippment they met the USEPA fecal
> coliform count of less than 2 million as required cor Class B. When the
> material arrived in the west the count was higher and did not met the
> regulations.
>
> USEPA's regulations 40CFR503 state that the release of a product is
> based on testing before shipment. Therefore one should test the product
> before shipment and avoid a second remote test. The test should be
> reported as MPN. The membrane filter method is not allowed.One needs to
> understand the rational for the 1000 FC regulatory requirement. In 1988
> Yanko for LA County Sanitation Districts conducted a study for USEPA. He
> found that when the FC count was below 1000 MPN per gram total dry
> solids no Salmonella sp. were detected (details in Epstein, 1997 "The
> Science of Composting" pg. 459). Appendix F of the regulations provides
> for sample preparation for fecal coliform and Salmonella sp. bacteria.
>
> I have always advised my clients to test for Salmonella sp. bacteria
> rather than fecal coliform.
>
> Eliot Epstein
> Epstein Environmental Consultants, LLC
>
> --
> Eliot Epstein PhD
> Adjunct Professor of Public Health
> Boston University
> 19 Preston Place
> North Easton, MA 02356
> Tel: 508-238-1631
> Cell: 781-603-7151
> E-mail: epsteinee at comcast.net
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: ALFRED RATTIE
>
> > U.S. COMPOSTING COUNCIL 15th ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW Wyndham
> > Orlando Resort | Orlando, FL | January 21-24, 2007 The National forum
> > for those involved in the development and expansion of the composting
> > and organics recycling industry CONFERENCE PROGRAM, REGISTRATION
> > FORMS, WORKSHOP AGENDAS, EXHIBITOR INFORMATION AND SPONSORSHIP
> > OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE USCC
> > WEBSITE: www.compostingcouncil.org OR CALL THE USCC AT 631-737-4931
> >
> >
> > Some participants of the USCC's STA Program are experiencing a failure
>
> > to meet pathogen reduction (fecal coliform) standards as required by
> > EPA 503 regulations. This, while not a seemingly unusual situation;
> > - does not always occur with a given producer's compost
> > - sometimes occurs only after shipping to a distant STA lab, but not
> > during local lab testing (some producers test twice)
> > - is occurring with both yard trimming and biosolids compost Two
> > examples of recent problems are listed below:
> > **********************************************************************
> > **********
> > **********************************************************************
> > ***
> > 1) I had a series of conversation with an STA lab and several others
> > regarding the fecal regrowth issues. Case in point, a recent analysis
> > showing a fecal count of 1,900 was received. The five windrows that
> > were composited and sampled for this test each passed local lab PFRP
> testing, i.e. fecal coliform analysis.
> > I have documented proof of this. Now we have a set of lab results that
>
> > reflects data that makes this a class 2 product rather than a class 1
> > product that it started out as when it came out of the PFRP process.
> > Again, we have records documenting time and temperature data as well
> > as the local lab fecal colifrom results. What would account for this?
> >
> > 2) I was failing fecal coliform testing when I shipped my compost to
> > an STA lab using the prescribed TMECC practices. This ended when I
> > used a courier service to make an immediate delivery. Is there a
> > regrowth issue associated with shipping and handling?
> > **********************************************************************
> > **********
> > **********************************************************************
> > *** The USCC's STA Program requires participants to pass both pathogen
>
> > and metals testing. We are struggling to understand why these compost
> > producers are experiencing this problem. All input is welcome.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Al Rattie
> > USCC STA Program Administrative/Technical Manager
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
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> _______________________________________________
> Compost maillist - Compost at composter.com
> http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost
>
> This list is a service provided by the US Composting Council.
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
> Ongoing Sponsors of the USCC Discussion list are:
>
> Food Industry Environmental Network (FIEN), a regulatory and policy
> e-mail alert service for environmental, food and agricultural industry
> professionals.
> Contact Jack Cooper 301/384-8287 JLC at fien.com --- www.fien.com
>
> Renewable Carbon Management, LLC with the containerized, in-vessel
> NaturTech Composting System www.composter.com rcm at composter.com
>
> (c) Copyright 2006 United States - All rights reserved
>
> Members posting CC copies to the list and other addresses will have
> their posting privelages suspended. No exceptions!
>
> Opinions expressed represent only the poster and are not necessarily the
> opinion or policy of any organization.
>
> Non-members of USCC are encouraged to join the Council through our
> website at: http://www.compostingcouncil.org/membership.cfm For
> discussion list policies and information regarding subscribing,
> unsubscribing, digest or other options, go
> to:http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost
>
> For additional help in unsubscribing or to report bugs and problems,
> send a message to the List Manager, Jim McNelly, at
> compost-owner at composter.com
> _______________________________________________
> Compost maillist - Compost at composter.com
> http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost
>
> This list is a service provided by the US Composting Council.
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
> Ongoing Sponsors of the USCC Discussion list are:
>
> Food Industry Environmental Network (FIEN), a regulatory and policy e-mail alert
> service for environmental, food and agricultural industry professionals.
> Contact Jack Cooper 301/384-8287 JLC at fien.com --- www.fien.com
>
> Renewable Carbon Management, LLC with the containerized, in-vessel NaturTech
> Composting System www.composter.com rcm at composter.com
>
> (c) Copyright 2006 United States - All rights reserved
>
> Members posting CC copies to the list and other addresses will have their
> posting privelages suspended. No exceptions!
>
> Opinions expressed represent only the poster and are not necessarily the opinion
> or policy of any organization.
>
> Non-members of USCC are encouraged to join the Council through our website at:
> http://www.compostingcouncil.org/membership.cfm For discussion list policies
> and information regarding subscribing, unsubscribing, digest or other options,
> go to:http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost
>
> For additional help in unsubscribing or to report bugs and problems, send a
> message to the List Manager, Jim McNelly, at compost-owner at composter.com
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