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BIOLOGICAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPOSTING OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT SLUDGE
Citation:
Clark, C., H. Bjorson, J. Fulton, J. Holland, AND P. Gartside. BIOLOGICAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPOSTING OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT SLUDGE. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/D-83/052.
Description:
Personnel employed at wastewater treatment plant sludge composting operations are exposed to a variety of viable gram-negative bacteria, and fungi as well as microbial products such as endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide (LPS)) in their work environment. This investigation was designed to evaluate by clinical, microbiological and immunological methods the health effects related to exposure to these nonviable substances and viable microorganisms present in dust arising from the composting of sludge. The study was conducted during 1979-81 at sewage sludge composting facilities in Camden (NJ), Philadelphia (PA), Beltsville (MD) and Washington (D.C.).