The potential health effects arising from the land treatment of wastewater are examined, and an appraisal of these effects made. The agents, or pollutants, of concern from a health effects viewpoint are divided into the categories of pathogens and toxic substances. Only the former are considered in this volume, the latter to be discussed in a subsequent volume. The pathogens include bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths. These agents form the basis of the main sections of this report. For each agent of concern the types and levels commonly found in municipal wastewater and the efficiency of preapplication treatment (usually stabilization pond) are briefly reviewed. There then follows a discussion of the levels, behavior, and survival of the agent in the medium or route of potential human exposure, i.e., aerosols, surface soil and plants, subsurface soil and groundwater, and animals, as appropriate. Infective dose, risk of infection, and epidemiology are then briefly reviewed. Finally, conclusions and research needs are presented.

"May 1982." Includes bibliographical references (pages 50-58). "EPA-600/1-82-007." Distributed to some depository libraries in microfiche.