The EPA can't ensure that humans are safe from recycled waste

[Guest guest]

http://www.heraldtribune.com/frontpage/story.cfm?ID=62437

Report cites sludge concerns

The EPA can't ensure that humans are safe from recycled waste.

posted 02/16/02

STAFF REPORT

DESOTO COUNTY -- Just as officials here are backing off efforts to ban

sludge, a federal investigation has found that the stew of recycled human

waste may be more dangerous than previously thought.

The inspector general of the Environmental Protection Agency says the

government can't ensure that humans are safe from the viruses, bacteria and

toxins contained in sludge.

And despite growing safety worries, the EPA has cut money, staff and

oversight since allowing sludge to be used as fertilizer in the 1990s, the

investigation found.

" The agency can neither investigate nor keep track of all of the complaints

of adverse health effects that are reported, " the internal watchdog wrote in

a draft report obtained by The Associated Press.

" There are indications that more research is needed on risks to human health

from pathogens in sludge, " the draft states.

More than 4 million tons of recycled wastewater sewage are spread on rural

and suburban properties across America each year.

In Florida, much of the state's sludge ends up in DeSoto County, where it is

used as fertilizer for citrus crops and cattle fields. After years of

complaints from residents that the sludge was making them sick and polluting

the area, including pristine Horse Creek, the county last year banned the

least-treated sludge, known as Class B.

But the main sludge hauler in the county, Azurix -- a subsidiary of Enron --

sued, claiming the ban usurped federal laws allowing sludge. A federal judge

agreed and overturned the ban.

Azurix and the county are trying to work out a settlement agreement. The two

sides are scheduled to meet Monday to discuss terms of the settlement.

The agreement would allow sludge, but regulate it. Currently DeSoto has no

laws regulating sludge.

Former DeSoto County resident Mari Hollingsworth said the EPA report

verifies what she already knows -- that sludge is dangerous. Two of

Hollingsworth's children were hospitalized after sludge was dumped near her

DeSoto County home, and she has been fighting to ban sludge in DeSoto ever

since.

" I think people are finally starting to realize what's going on, especially

the EPA, " said Hollingsworth, who now lives in Charlotte County. " It's time

to stop pointing fingers and figure out what to do about sludge. I don't

want other families to have to go through what me and my kids lived

through. "

The EPA has asked the National Research Council, a panel of distinguished

scientists, to study any possible health concerns related to sludge

recycling, but has no evidence it is unsafe.

" We have thousands of workers in sewage treatment plants and handling

biosolids all the time, every day. We have tens of thousands, if not

hundreds of thousands, handling raw manure. There is no evidence these

people are any sicker than the general population, " said Mike Cook, the

EPA's director of wastewater and management.

With tougher clean water and air rules and declining landfill space, during

the 1990s the government approved the use of sludge as fertilizer on fields.

It is most commonly spread on rural and suburban properties, especially

farms.

There are two forms of sludge -- the less common is so heavily treated that

it is not believed to contain any detectable poisons. The other and more

common recycled sludge is treated but still contains bacteria, viruses,

toxins and parasites.

The harmful substances can include salmonella, typhoid, dysentery,

hepatitis, rotaviruses and tapeworms.

Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties combined produce more than 6,000

tons of this minimally treated sludge a year. Sarasota sends most of its

sludge to DeSoto. Manatee had been sending its sludge there until November,

when it began disposing of it in Manatee. Charlotte dumps its sludge on a

farm that straddles the Charlotte-DeSoto county line.

The inspector general report comes amid growing concerns among some states,

communities and federal scientists that using sludge as fertilizer may not

be as safe as thought.

Those concerns have prompted several counties in California, Florida and

Virginia and more than 60 towns in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and

Pennsylvania to place restrictions or bans on sludge recycling.

Staff writer Carroll and The Associated Press contributed to this

report.