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EFFECTS ON CATTLE FROM EXPOSURE TO SEWAGE SLUDGE
Citation:
Baxter, J., D. Johnson, E. Kienholz, W. Burge, AND W. Cramer. EFFECTS ON CATTLE FROM EXPOSURE TO SEWAGE SLUDGE. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/2-83/012.
Description:
Soils, forages, and cattle grazing on a sludge disposal site were examined for trace metals and persistent organics. Soils at the disposal site had increased concentrations of Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd, and Pb. Forages from sludge applied soils had higher levels of Zn, Cd, Cu, and Ni and lower Pb concentrations than forages from soils that had not received sludge. Cattle grazing on the sludge disposal site were healthy with no signs of pathology. Tissues from these cattle did not show elevated levels of metals or persistent organics when compared with cattle not exposed to sewage sludge. Sewage sludge was added to the diets of cattle to simulate worst case conditions of cattle grazing sludge fertilized pastures. The sludge had no positive or negative effects on cattle health or performance but did act as a diet diluent.