Beware of sewage-sludge compost

[SIP Gro-Tubs]

Jennifer Abram, RN
Wednesday, May 29, 2013


I read the story regarding the Hailey sewer and the sewage sludge issue (“Hailey sewer plant bond could reach $3M,” March 13). I have family in Blaine County but I live in Pittsfield, Ohio. We are fighting the EPA’s “biosolids program,” through which companies are contaminating our lands and our food source with the sludge from wastewater treatment plants.

There is a terrible bacteria called E. coli that does not respond to any antibiotics and is found in sludge from sewage plants. There are also dangerous proteins called “prions” in the sludge, which the February issue of the Federal Register called a “new life form.” They cannot be killed easily and are killing our people. The World Health Organization is now looking into them as a cause of autism, ADD/ADHD, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

The spread of this stuff on fields, golf courses, lawns, etc. is contaminating our water and our crops. The companies that reuse this sludge on our lands are paid to take the sludge away from the sewage plant, but give it away free to unknowing, uninformed farmers and gardeners. The sludge also contains toxic metals and pharmaceuticals.

The fight involves these so-called “soil scientists” who are making millions making compost out of this stuff and selling it at 1,000 percent profit. When you buy any compost, make sure it does not have the word “bio” in it, which means human fecal sludge. The EPA decided to decrease awareness by coining phrases like “bio,” “organic compost” and “biosolids,” all of which are toxic. Why? Cities save money by not incinerating the sludge. It is all about lobbyists and big money.

Here are two eye-opening websites to check out:  HYPERLINK "http://www.sludgefacts.org/" \t "_blank" www.sludgefacts.org and
 HYPERLINK "http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/03/cre-cdc/" \t "_blank" www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/03/cre-cdc/.

Sickness is coming from our water and we’re eating it in our vegetables and fruits grown in this sludge! We need help in stopping this practice. Ask questions. Protect your beautiful community and your children!

Jennifer Abram, RN

[Cole_Robbie]

I worked for a neurosurgeon in 2000 whose specialty of research was prions. He thought they caused mad cow disease and chronic wasting disease. They are proteins that can live in your brain for decades with no symptoms, but then for unknown reasons at some point they will decide to multiply and cause the host a miserable and incurable death within a few days.

[Redbaron]

Don't believe everything you read. That post has so many 1/2 truths and misinformation mixed in with legit concerns that it looses credibility.

Anti-biotic resistant e-coli (pathogen strains) is a product of factory farming livestock. ie CAFO's, not human waste. Also the "prions" are not a "new life form" LOLZ Not everything with "bio" is sludge! LOLZ "Certified Organic" compost CAN'T use human waste so that's simply false. Biosolids are treated sludge. So it depends on the treatment if it is toxic or not. Pretty much the whole article smells (pun intended) of a typical propaganda piece.

Of course that doesn't mean that all biosolids are safe either. There are plenty of "biosolids" that are not properly treated and applied to conventional agriculture. (not certified organic)

The primary reason biosolids are not allowed in organic is because of the other things in sludge besides human waste. Human waste is fine when composted properly. Municipal sludge contains lots of other things besides human waste.

[SIP Gro-Tubs]

Originally Posted by Redbaron

Don't believe everything you read. That post has so many 1/2 truths and misinformation mixed in with legit concerns that it looses credibility.

Anti-biotic resistant e-coli (pathogen strains) is a product of factory farming livestock. ie CAFO's, not human waste. Also the "prions" are not a "new life form" LOLZ Not everything with "bio" is sludge! LOLZ "Certified Organic" compost CAN'T use human waste so that's simply false. Biosolids are treated sludge. So it depends on the treatment if it is toxic or not. Pretty much the whole article smells (pun intended) of a typical propaganda piece.

Of course that doesn't mean that all biosolids are safe either. There are plenty of "biosolids" that are not properly treated and applied to conventional agriculture. (not certified organic)

The primary reason biosolids are not allowed in organic is because of the other things in sludge besides human waste. Human waste is fine when composted properly. Municipal sludge contains lots of other things besides human waste.

Scott

So what is your definition of "Certified Organic Compost"

Who certifies it "Organic"?

Can you certify that all the ingredients used are from a "Organic" source?

The best place to put something that is harmful to the enviroment, and the population, is to sequestor it into a product everyone is wanting.

Next time you go to buy Organic compost, ask the person selling it for a complete "Chemical Analysis" and a "MSDS" sheet of the product.

Good Luck, you'd have a better chance of winnig the Lottery.

Terry

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by SIP Gro-Tubs

Scott

So what is your definition of "Certified Organic Compost"

Who certifies it "Organic"?

USDA has an organic certification program, municipal sludge or biosolids is specifically banned.

[bughunter99]

Originally Posted by Redbaron

Don't believe everything you read. That post has so many 1/2 truths and misinformation mixed in with legit concerns that it looses credibility.

Anti-biotic resistant e-coli (pathogen strains) is a product of factory farming livestock. ie CAFO's, not human waste. Also the "prions" are not a "new life form" LOLZ Not everything with "bio" is sludge! LOLZ "Certified Organic" compost CAN'T use human waste so that's simply false. Biosolids are treated sludge. So it depends on the treatment if it is toxic or not. Pretty much the whole article smells (pun intended) of a typical propaganda piece.

Of course that doesn't mean that all biosolids are safe either. There are plenty of "biosolids" that are not properly treated and applied to conventional agriculture. (not certified organic)

The primary reason biosolids are not allowed in organic is because of the other things in sludge besides human waste. Human waste is fine when composted properly. Municipal sludge contains lots of other things besides human waste.

Actually plenty of humans are carrying around antibiotic resistant ecoli these days. Five-ten years ago it was pretty rare. These days it is in pretty much every hospital of any size in the country. The resistant strains do not cause more virulent, or more deadly disease. Just disease that needs more antibiotics to treat. The really bad strain is not resistant, it just secretes a whole lot of toxin. Ecoli 0157-H7. That one can kill people. Its less likely to be in human sludge than farm waste.

All the clarification aside. I agree the original post is contains a whole lot of inflammatory misinformation.

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by bughunter99

Actually plenty of humans are carrying around antibiotic resistant ecoli these days. Five-ten years ago it was pretty rare. These days it is in pretty much every hospital of any size in the country. The resistant strains do not cause more virulent, or more deadly disease. Just disease that needs more antibiotics to treat. The really bad strain is not resistant, it just secretes a whole lot of toxin. Ecoli 0157-H7. That one can kill people. Its less likely to be in human sludge than farm waste.

All the clarification aside. I agree the original post is contains a whole lot of inflammatory misinformation.

You forget one of the key factors in the change of E-coli. The E-coli has always been found in cattle. It is part of the natural flora of their digestive tracts. But you are correct, it never used to be common in human flora. But there are actually TWO main changes in E-coli. The first is many strains gradually evolved to survive in a more acidic environment, and it also has evolved to be resistant to a wide range of antibiotics.

BOTH these changes are a result of CAFO's. You couldn't devise a better breeding ground for dangerous pathogens if you tried. Cattle eat more grains, which makes their digestive systems more acidic, and they are given antibiotics in constant low doses in their feed. So the previously harmless e-coli in animal waste has become potentially dangerous to us humans.

In years past, our more acidic digestive system handled killing the E-coli from cattle, and if for some reason it didn't, antibiotics worked to get rid of it easily.

Now because of the inhumane and dangerous way we raise animals, we are breeding dangerous strains of E-coli and other pathogens.

In fact in fact, E. coli O104:H4 is resistant to at least 14 different types of antibiotics and highly toxic because it picked up the genes for producing shiva toxins, presumably by horizontal gene transfer!

E. coli on the March

You would have thought us humans would have learned the dangers of CAFOs with the outbreak of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (Mad cow), and learned some humility, but no, We didn't learn a gosh darnoodley thing.

Makes me even more mad because it is getting worse.

But it doesn't have to be that way. There are environmentally friendly alternatives that respect animals key role in BOTH animal AND plant agriculture.

Chaffin Orchards

[bughunter99]

Oh definitely, I agree with all of this completely. My point (which was rather off topic) was that it is not just the misuse of abx in factory farming that is the issue. These bugs are also a result of the complete misuse of abx in humans. Usage when not warranted, improper use when it is.

I disagree in that I do think they learned some plenty from the BSE travesty.
Now there are strict laws and practices in place to prevent this here, in the UK, Japan etc. Sadly though I suspect that these laws were successfully passed in order to protect the almighty dollar. Humans and animal welfare was just a secondary benefit. Because of this I really think that the fastest answer to get those that practice these things to amend them will be to appeal to their pocket book. By getting people on board with first understanding that LABELING must be the law, and strictly enforced. Once labeled, those of us with the means to be discriminatory with what we buy will be able to start having some effect.

Stacy

[Stvrob]

Originally Posted by SIP Gro-Tubs

Jennifer Abram, RN
Wednesday, May 29, 2013


I read the story regarding the Hailey sewer and the sewage sludge issue (“Hailey sewer plant bond could reach $3M,” March 13). I have family in Blaine County but I live in Pittsfield, Ohio. We are fighting the EPA’s “biosolids program,” through which companies are contaminating our lands and our food source with the sludge from wastewater treatment plants.

There is a terrible bacteria called E. coli that does not respond to any antibiotics and is found in sludge from sewage plants. There are also dangerous proteins called “prions” in the sludge, which the February issue of the Federal Register called a “new life form.” They cannot be killed easily and are killing our people. The World Health Organization is now looking into them as a cause of autism, ADD/ADHD, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

The spread of this stuff on fields, golf courses, lawns, etc. is contaminating our water and our crops. The companies that reuse this sludge on our lands are paid to take the sludge away from the sewage plant, but give it away free to unknowing, uninformed farmers and gardeners. The sludge also contains toxic metals and pharmaceuticals.

The fight involves these so-called “soil scientists” who are making millions making compost out of this stuff and selling it at 1,000 percent profit. When you buy any compost, make sure it does not have the word “bio” in it, which means human fecal sludge. The EPA decided to decrease awareness by coining phrases like “bio,” “organic compost” and “biosolids,” all of which are toxic. Why? Cities save money by not incinerating the sludge. It is all about lobbyists and big money.

Here are two eye-opening websites to check out:  HYPERLINK "http://www.sludgefacts.org/" \t "_blank" www.sludgefacts.org and
 HYPERLINK "http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/03/cre-cdc/" \t "_blank" www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/03/cre-cdc/.

Sickness is coming from our water and we’re eating it in our vegetables and fruits grown in this sludge! We need help in stopping this practice. Ask questions. Protect your beautiful community and your children!

Jennifer Abram, RN

You think THAT's bad, wait till you hear what they do with municipal wastewater!

[Master_Gardener]

Just a quick glance, but it would seem that the biggest problem with biosolids is additional contamination in the sludge, not the sludge itself. Having said that, once you mix human waste with toxins it is difficult to unmix them.

In an ideal world, sludge would be disposed of on-site and not mixed with anything toxic. I believe it is used that way in some third world countries and is not a problem for them.

[SIP Gro-Tubs]

Originally Posted by Master_Gardener

Just a quick glance, but it would seem that the biggest problem with biosolids is additional contamination in the sludge, not the sludge itself. Having said that, once you mix human waste with toxins it is difficult to unmix them.

In an ideal world, sludge would be disposed of on-site and not mixed with anything toxic. I believe it is used that way in some third world countries and is not a problem for them.

The inlet pipe to most sewage plants is 4-6' or larger in diameter, square, oblong, or rectangle.

Their is spider work of collection pipes thru-out the city.

Most are hooked to homes, but some to Industrial plants, Hospitals, etc.

How would you propose they seperate all that from the Inlet of the sewage plant?

Terry

[riceke]

Waaaay back before we knew about these things I picked up a load of aged sewage sludge from our small local community. The waste plant employee told me to get the sludge that had set out for a few years in a different area than where the hot stuff was. Anyway I spread it over my vegetable garden and tilled it in. It turned the clay like soil into a ich and mellow soil. I have never had a better garden to this day. Plants were huge and produced more than I have ever had. No diseases. I had volunteer tomatoes popping up every where. I let one grow without staking or gaging and I swear it covered at least a 10' circle with tons of cherry tomatoes. Well another friend told me later only to use the sludge on ornamentals because there were heavy metals (lead, zinc, etc) in the sludge that would manifest itself in the fruit that you eat. So I never used it again. But that was when I was around 22 and am now 68. It doesn't look like it affected me affected me affected me...

[SIP Gro-Tubs]

Originally Posted by riceke

Waaaay back before we knew about these things I picked up a load of aged sewage sludge from our small local community.

What was the population back then, 46 years ago?

In 2010 it was less than 19,000.

What industries were there then, was using the central sewage plant?

The waste plant employee told me to get the sludge that had set out for a few years in a different area than where the hot stuff was.

that was so that your garden wouldn't sprout a tomato plant ever 1/4 sq. inch. The human body can't digest tomato seeds.

Anyway I spread it over my vegetable garden and tilled it in. It turned the clay like soil into a ich and mellow soil. I have never had a better garden to this day. Plants were huge and produced more than I have ever had. No diseases. I had volunteer tomatoes popping up every where. I let one grow without staking or gaging and I swear it covered at least a 10' circle with tons of cherry tomatoes. Well another friend told me later only to use the sludge on ornamentals because there were heavy metals (lead, zinc, etc) in the sludge that would manifest itself in the fruit that you eat.

The sewage plants have Analysis's and MSDS sheets for all thier products, ask them for a current one.

Ur a small community sewer system, what most articles for the BioSolids being unsafe are for large industrill cities that have the industrial waste mixed in with the Bio-Poo.

By the way composting with Humaure is now taking on the new nave of Bio-Poo. Everybody is jumping on the Bio wagon.

Terry Layman



So I never used it again. But that was when I was around 22 and am now 68. It doesn't look like it affected me affected me affected me...

[Stvrob]

I used to use paper mill sludge where I used to garden. That is some dark organic fluffy stuff!

[SIP Gro-Tubs]

Originally Posted by Stvrob

I used to use paper mill sludge where I used to garden. That is some dark organic fluffy stuff!

With all the mini-brewers popping up, go to one and ask what they do with the old mash, makes great compost.

Terry Layman