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CONCERNS/ISSUES OF USEPA'S ORD PATHOGEN EQUIVALENCY COMMITTEE
Citation:
Smith* Jr., J E. CONCERNS/ISSUES OF USEPA'S ORD PATHOGEN EQUIVALENCY COMMITTEE. Presented at Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference Pre-Conference Workshop on National Biosolids Issues: Pathogens and Stability: Concerns of Pathogens, Chicago, IL, 9/28/2002.
Description:
USEPA/ORD's emphasis is on protection of public health and good science. EPA's approach of minimizing health risks of land application by reducing pathogens below the detection limit via Class A treatment or Class B treatment followed by natural attenuation is discussed. The June 2001 Emerging Pathogens Workshop identified bacterial, viral, and parasitic organisms of concern including E. coli 0l57:H7, Listeria, Aeromonas, Caliciviruses, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Taenia saginata. A bustance of some concern is endotoxic, which is often present at land application sites and associated with Gram-negative bacteria. It can elicit a variety of inflammatory responses in susceptible individuals. Issues and concerns with current Class A and B alternatives and vector attraction reduction options include, for example, the allowance of a Class A or Class B designation based only on the testing for certain microorganisms rather than the requirement for treatment of all sludges prior to application. Research needs identified at the June 2001 Workshop and in the 2002 NRC Report are very similar including the need for standardized and validate microbiological procedures and a formal microbiological risk assessment with newly developed procedures.