[USCC] Fwd: A Virus, rather than Prions, May be the Cause of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

[epsteinee@comcast.net]

Edo, I and many of my colleagues at USEPA in Cinncinati do not deny the need for more research on the subjects you mentioned.  We also are cognizant of the need to further advance both the biological analytical techniques for wastewater and sludge/biosolids. 

In 2001 USEPA held a workshop on Emerging Infectious Disease agents and issues Associated with Animal Manures, Biosolids and Other Organic By-products. The following were the speakers:
Sally Gutierres USEPA-NRMRL; Dr. Jeffrey Karns, USDA-ARS; William Yanko (LA County Sanitation District, retired); Dr Charles Gerba U. of Arizona; Dr. Mark Sobsey, U. of north Carolina; Dr. Dwight Bowman, Cornell U.; Dr. Roland Fayer, USDA-ARS; Dr. Joseph Eisenberg, School of Public Health, U. California; Dr. Paul Gale Wrc-NSF United kingdom; Dr. Joseph Farrell (USEPA, retired); Alan Godfree, United Kingdom; Dr. Katherine Simonds, Australia; Andrea Vicari, North Carolina State U.

There were 47 participants which represented USDA-APHIS, Centers for Epidimiolgy and Animal Health; Med. Lab. Sci. Dept. and Dept. of Micro. U of NH; CDC-NIOSH; US geol. Survey; U. of Pittsburgh Env. Eng.; USEPA-NERL Microb. and Chem. Exposure Assessment Res. Div.Harvard School of public Health; U. Minn. Dept of Vet. Diag.Medicine; CDC Nat. Center Env. Health; Tulane U. School of Public Health; U. of WA School of Public Health & Community Medicine; U. of Cinn.; The Environ. Agency, UK; U. of Cal.; and many others. You can see and appeciate the depth of knowledge of these individuals.

We discussed the subjects you mentioned as well as those of Jim Bynum. I do not have any intention of answering his comments because of his tone and accusations. We were very concerned with analytical techniques (this is one reason for the revision of EPA Control of pathogens and Vector Attraction in Sewage Sludge, EPA/625/R-92/013, July 2003). We sought to identify better organisms (than Salmonella and Fecal coliform) to be used as indicator organism which could identify potential presence and quantity of pathogens.  Obviously it is not practical or possible to analyze all pathogens. We recognized that one of the best disinifection methods for waste materials is time-temperature. For example pasteurization of milk involves raising the temperature to 63C (145F) for 30 minutes or 73C (162F) for 15 sec.. Are all the pathogens destroyed at these temperatures? No. This is why we regulate the composting temperature and time at 55C (131F) for three to 15 days depending on the proce
 ss in 
order to disinfect the waste. The workshop participants recognized that spore formers can withstand thermophilic temperatures and survive such processes as composting. However we felt that these would not be good indicator organisms. As one who has been deeply involved with fungi, especially Aspergillus fumigatus, I well recognize that this organism survives the thermophilic temperatures associated with composting. This organism is ubiquitous and associated with soil.  It has been found in homes, libraries, schools, playgrounds, hospitals, etc. Most aspergillosis cases have occurred in hospitals or to immuncompromised individuals (e.g. cystic fibrosis) exposed to AF in the environment. We have not seen any cases among workers for AF infections or other pathogenic infections and disease, although there are over 30,000 workers in the industry. Workers are the most exposed individuals and exposed to higher quantities and more frequently. Workers in the wastewater field including
  land 
application of biosolids have not been shown to have a higher rate of infections or diseases that other employees in public works. It has been shown that many new workers at wastewater treatment plants have initially had gastrointestinal problems which disappeared in a short time. Considering that there are probably over 100,000 employees, this tells us that are immune system is pretty good and our hygenic practices are very good.

My whole purpose in presenting the risk aspect which came from the December 4, 2006 issue of time magazine (I suggest interested people read the entire article), is to put our concerns in perspective. I for one would be more comfortable eating crops raised on biosolids providing the 40CFR503 rules are obeyed, than eating organic crops grown on manure. In fact I am very cautious in buying organic foods at local farms using uncomposted manure. I still go to malls where my risk of being shot is much greater than eating food grown on land which biosolids or compost is applied to.  Lets consider one other aspect. Twenty five (25) percent of human waste disposed in the US is through septic systems which does not provide any disinfection. It has been documented that this is the greatest pollutant of our water resources.  Although many of the pumpings (many are not done as they should be) are disposed in wastewater treatment plants, a significant amount is land disposed illegally or 
 with n
o treatment. Lime or composting would be good disinfection and I would much prefer that this would be done. Septic material also contains the highest concentration of pharmaceutical and personal health products including medications disposed down the drain. These materials if sent to a wastewater treatment plant usually end up in a small plant since it is located in a rural area. This small plant has a much lower dilutiontion than medium or large treatment plants. In many cases these small plants discharge their wastewater into small estuaries with have less volume of water. A 20 or 40 mgd wastewater treatment plant discharging its treated water into a large river is much less apt to result in pollution than a plant treating 1 or 2 mgds and discharging its treated water into a small stream. Here again is the aspect of potential risks to the environment and human health.

Now to discuss your specific statements. First of all, many or most of us do not approach the subject with bravado. We recognize that there is considerable lack of medical evidence and we wish there was more financial research support  to people like Higgins, Casson, Reimers and many highly qualified individuals. I recently returned from the WEF Disinfection conference where I was given an award for my past research and activities related to disinfection. We all agreed as to the need of better and more data. But now we have to work with what we have and make every effort to protect human health and the environment with the knowledge we have. EPA has done health risk assessment for pathogens (see the technical documents for the 503) These are old and I do not know specifically what has been done since the 2002 NRC report.

In reference to Pruden et al's article. which studied the antibiotic resistance genes as emerging environmentalntal contaminants. They looked at river sediments, irrigation ditches, dairy lagoons and effluents of wastewater. The result was that dairy lagoon water > irrigation ditch water > urban/agriculturally impacted river sediments. They concluded that scientists and engineers need to address this issue.disputedisp[ute there. But let me point out to you that spinach contamination in California probably resulted fro manure contamination from irrigation ditch water.

I was not able to find Sara Firi's article and I will try to contact her in Minnesota. However, her citation was from a conference in Orlando in 2006. Until a peer review article is published I do not pass judgment on a paper presented at meetings.

I know Higgins and his and colleagues work and it is excellent and am looking to see some of the published results.

Faguy presented an hypothesis on lateral gene transfer between two organisms which he states "it may serve as a model having broad applicability to a number of pathogenic systems". The hypothesis has not been proven yet.

Antibiotic resistance is a major concern for the medical community. As Hjalmarsson, Sjolund and Engstrand in Expert Rev. Mol. Diagn 2002 2(3): 267-272 state "Resistanceence development is a significant clinical problem in Helicobacter pilori and represents the major cause of treatment failure".  I am glad I was treated for this organism several years ago before it developed resistance.  It is one of the most prolific organisms world wide and a major cause of ulcers. Yet it has not been found in biosolids according to researchers at New England Medical. Why I do not know.

My son is Director of Surgical Pathology at John Hopkins Medical Center and assists me very much in putting things in perspective.  Through him I have great faith in the medical profession and research in medicine. We have made enormous strides in medicine in the last few years. Only 89 years ago we lost 50 million persons to a flu epidemic and although we are very much concerned with the potential of a bird flu epidemic, I have faith in the medical profession, our medical agencies, and the pharmaceutical industry in preventing an epidemic of that magnitude again.  The wastewater industry is relatively young and the collection and treatment of human waste since it inception of the cholera epidemic in England has made enormous strides. Wastewater and solids generated and treated have not resulted in major illnesses and documented evidence of health effects. I am an optimist and believe the industry will be able to address the issues you mentioned. Risk, exposure and economics 
 (how m
uch should we pay or willing to pay  to filter out everything discharged into the wastewater). What will it cost to distill 40 to 100 mgd of wastewater?  definitely we need more research and more funds for research. I am glad that I don't have to fight for research grants as colleagues and friends of mine  are having to do. 

I do not intend to continue on this subject.

Eliot 
--
Eliot Epstein 
9071 Fairbanks Lane #1 
Boca Raton, FL 33496 
Tel: 561-852-2592 
Cell: 781-603-7151 
E-mail: epsteinee at comcast.net

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Edo McGowan" <edo_mcgowan at hotmail.com> 

> Participate in the Annual Compost Awareness Week May 6, 2007 to May 12, 2007 
> 
> This year's theme is "The Possibilities are Endless ... Compost!" 
> 
> For more info, go to: http://compostingcouncil.org/section.cfm?id=25 
> 
> Or Call the USCC at 631-737-4931 
> 
> 
> 
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From: "Edo McGowan" <edo_mcgowan at hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [USCC] Fwd: A Virus, rather than Prions,
	May be the Cause of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2007 05:08:24 +0000
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