Health Effects of Land Application of Municipal Sludge

摘要

The potential health effects arising from the land application of muncipal sludge 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. The pathogens include bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths; the toxic substances include organics, trace elements, and nitrates. For each agent of concern the types and levels commonly found in municipal wastewater and sludge are briefly reviewed. 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, follows as appropriate. Infective dose, risk of infection, and epidemiology are then briefly reviewed. Finally, some general conclusions are presented.