Record Display for the EPA National Library Catalog

RECORD NUMBER: 81 OF 247

Main Title Epidemiological Approach for Determining the Significance of Pathogens in Sewage Sludge.
Author Jakubowski, W. ;
CORP Author Health Effects Research Lab., Cincinnati, OH.
Year Published 1985
Report Number EPA/600/D-85/173;
Stock Number PB85-235141
Additional Subjects Epidemiology ; Pathogens ; Public health ; Sludge disposal ; Industrial hygiene ; Design criteria ; Hazardous materials ; Mathematical models ; Sites ; Toxicity ; Composts ; Farms ; Exposure ; Occupational safety and health ; Toxic substances ; Sewage sludge
Holdings
Library Call Number Additional Info Location Last
Modified
Checkout
Status
NTIS  PB85-235141 Some EPA libraries have a fiche copy filed under the call number shown. 07/26/2022
Collation 14p
Abstract
A study of compost workers in four cities indicated only relatively minor effects in workers within 100 m of composting operations. The observed effects may have been due to irritants produced in the composting process (dust, Aspergillus) and not related to the sludge portion of the compost. A prospective epidemiological study concerning the land application of sludge indicated no significant differences in illness and infection rates of people and animals on sludge-applied farms as compared to control farms. However, the human exposure to sludge was very low. The continued use of comprehensive, agent-based prospective epidemiological studies to assess the pathogenic risk of sludge disposal options (with the possible exception of D&M) is not recommended because of design, interpretation and site-specificity problems and because of cost considerations. Disease-based surveillance systems may be of some value in identifying hazardous disposal practices and further investigation into the design and implementation of such systems is recommended. Modeling may be a viable approach for assessing the risk of sludge disposal options but much more work needs to be done to evaluate and validate existing models and to possibly develop alternate models.