Historical Review of United States (US) Guidance and Regulations For Sludge Disinfection and Stabilization including a Future Projection

摘要

This paper discusses the evolution of the current US sewage sludge disinfection and vector attraction reduction regulations including their bases, associated practices and the limitations of those practices. It further discusses the criteria employed in demonstrating equivalency of a process to a Process to Significantly Reduce Pathogens (PSRP) or a Process to Further Reduce Pathogens (PFRP). The US’s current regulations are designed to protect human health by minimizing the contact of humans with pathogenic microorganisms likely present in fecal material. Two types of disinfection processes are typically employed. Processes like pasteurization are employed to reduce pathogens below their analytical detection limits, while processes like mesophilic anaerobic digestion are combined with public access and crop harvesting restrictions to insure adequate reduction of any pathogens present. An effort is made in the paper to discuss what future regulations for controlling pathogens in sludge and its attractiveness to vectors may look like.