[USCC] Compost made with biosolids

Thu May 22 12:57:17 CDT 2008

Greg:

I'm with you on this one. I've been working in the wastewater business for
over 20 years, I've been around and in it all those years. I've been down
manholes more time that I can count, lift stations, bar screens all those
sorts of places where untreated wastewater has greater potential to cause
disease. If anything, my immune system is stronger now than before I started
20 something years ago. 

I've been doing a little research on the Prions issue. Most of what I found
is inconclusive. That certainly does not mean that we should assume it is
not fact, it does mean that we need more research. I can't say I agree or
disagree with Mrs. Shields because there is a lack of information. 

My primary concern is that someone sounds the alarm without there actually
being a fire. My reasoning is that the biosolids composting provides vital
and thus far safe disposal methods for biosolids. Again, I am not saying
that changes are not warranted, only that we need all of the facts before we
make conclusions.

-----Original Message-----
From: compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com
[mailto:compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com] On Behalf Of Greg Wall
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 4:32 PM
To: compost at mailman.cloudnet.com
Subject: Re: [USCC] Compost made with biosolids

If this premise is true Wastewater operators and sewer line repair folks
aught to be just ate up with CJD.

Next, how would propose we dispose of this material safely?

>>> "Helane Shields" <hshields at worldpath.net> 5/21/2008 2:34 PM >>>

Promoting Class A sewage sludge "biosolids" as an unregulated pathogen free
fertilizer is a fraud on the public.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and waste industry know  there
is no sewage pathogen reduction method which deactivates human and/or animal
prions.     To the contrary, research confirms that  wastewater treatment
reconcentrates the infectious prions in the sewage sludge.

Human victims of Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (CJD) are  shedding infectious
prions into public sewers, to end up in both Class B sewage sludge and Class
A sludge compost.   Between 2 and 25% of the over 4.5 million cases of
Alzheimer's Disease and senile dementia victims in the US are actually
infected with sporadic CJD.  (Manuelidis, et al, 1989; Boller, et al, 1989,
1995; Harrison, 1991; Teixeira, 1995;  Warren, et al, 2005) creating the
reality that many thousands of sCJD victims are shedding infectious prions
into public sewers.

Prions have been found in the blood and urine of CJD victims.  (Gabizon, et
al, 2001; Reichl, et al 2002) .   Undertakers and medical facilities
routinely discharge CJD infected blood and body fluids into public sewers.
(Yale; UC Davis, CDC)

  Prions can cross the intestinal barrier by riding piggyback on ferritin, a
protein normally absorbed by the intestine.  Because ferritin shares
considerable homology across species, these data suggest that
PrPSc-associated proteins, in particular ferritin, may facilitate PrPSc
uptake in the intestine from distant species, leading to a carrier state in
humans.  (Singh, et al 2004)

" . . . enteric infection at early as well as later stages of (CJD) disease,
and regardless of the route of agent entry, implicates potential
environmental spread by fecal matter."  (Radebold, et al 2001)

Class B sewage sludge "biosolids" is expected to be pathogenic.    EPA
allows land applied sludge "biosolids" to contain  fecal coliform up to 2
million CFU/gram.  But the EPA and waste industry promote the use of
"pathogen-free" Class A sludge "biosolids" compost on playgrounds, ball
fields, public parks, and home flower and vegetable gardens 

.       "Pathogen free" is clearly not the case when the Class A sludge
compost can contain infectious human and animal prions.    Not only are
livestock and wildlife at risk from ingesting prion infected soil and
sludge,  but humans, and particularly children,  are especially at risk
because their hand to mouth behavior results in the ingestion of dirt
(Robischon, 1971; LaGoy, 1987; Binder, et al 1986; Gerba, et al 2002 ; CDC,
Callahan,  2004).

The EPA guidelines and disclosures on pathogens in Class A sludge
"biosolids" compost need to be revisited.   And suggesting this
toxic/pathogenic Class A waste be totally unregulated is reckless as
research piles up documenting the amplification and long survival of
infectious human and animal prions in soil.  (CWD prions in soil amplified
700 times, Pedersen, Aiken, 2007)  

Helane Shields, Alton, NH
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_______________________________________
Join us at the US Composting Council's 17th Annual Conference & Trade Show
January 26-29th, 2009 at the Westin Galleria in Houston, TX.
The National forum for those involved in the development and expansion of
the composting and organics recycling industry.
Conference Highlights, Registration forms, Exhibitor information and
Sponsorship Opportunities available at the USCC website:
www.compostingcouncil.org or call the USCC at 631.737.4931
____________________________________________________________________________
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http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost
_______________________________________
This list is a service provided by the US Composting Council (USCC).
(c) Copyright 2004 United States Composting Council - All rights reserved

Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the USCC, the Foundation, or
the Board of Directors.

Non-members of USCC are encouraged to join the Council through its website
at: http://www.compostingcouncil.org/membership.cfm

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