Citation:

Lindstrom, A., M. Strynar, L. McMillan, AND D. Knappe. Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Biosludge Applications and Perfluoroalkyl Acid Surface Water Contamination in North Carolina. North Carolina Community-Based Environmental Justice Summit, Whitakers, NC, October 17 - 18, 2014.

Impact/Purpose:

The National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division (HEASD) conducts research in support of EPA mission to protect human health and the environment. HEASD research program supports Goal 1 (Clean Air) and Goal 4 (Healthy People) of EPA strategic plan. More specifically, our division conducts research to characterize the movement of pollutants from the source to contact with humans. Our multidisciplinary research program produces Methods, Measurements, and Models to identify relationships between and characterize processes that link source emissions, environmental concentrations, human exposures, and target-tissue dose. The impact of these tools is improved regulatory programs and policies for EPA.

Description:

Implications and Questions- Perfluorinated compounds at high concentrations in sludges, on fields, in surface water in areas receiving sludge applications-Urban and suburban sludges typically disposed of in rural locations, usually marketed as “free fertilizer” because of high levels of plant nutrients- Poor farmers gladly accept “free fertilizer”, but cannot know about all of the pollutants in the sludge – regulations only require testing for 9 metals and nutrients - other persistent pollutants are not measured- Surface application of these wastes can lead to contamination of ground and surface water, agricultural crops and livestock, and the people living in these communities

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