NORTH CAROLINA
Letter from Douglas S. Campbell, MD. MPH, Head, Occupational & Environmental Epidemiology Branch of DHHS
to DENR requesting that scientific recommendations be incorporated in land application sludge/biosolids permits. to
protect environment and hunam health. DENR has ignored the recommendations since 2005.
November 29, 2005
Kim H. Colson, P.E., Supervisor
Land Application Unit
Aquifer Protection Unit
Division of Water Quality
1636 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1636
Dear Mr. Colson:
The attached document is a report by the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch (OEEB) titled
“Human Health Risk Evaluation of the Land Application of Sewage Sludge/Biosolids.” As you know, the OEEB has
received a number of health and odor complaints from residents living adjacent to sites where treated sewage sludge
(biosolids) has been applied to land. In addition, the OEEB is aware of nitrate contaminated groundwater at sites
where there has been land application of biosolids. OEEB has reviewed the scientific literature on land application of
biosolids, contacted experts involved in studying the potential health effects of land applied biosolids, and has met
with staff in the Division of Water Quality, in the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR), about permit requirements for biosolids land application.
The attached report makes some recommendations about land application of biosolids including:
The land application rules should include a requirement for monitoring wells around the perimeter of dedicated and
selected non-dedicated land application sites.
Until more data is available to scientifically determine appropriate setback distances, the currently proposed allowable
setback distances should be doubled.
A surveillance program of humans living near application sites should be developed to determine if there are adverse
health effects in humans and animals as a result of land application of biosolids.
There should be adoption of “best practices” for control of odors
Recommend adoption of specific, objective siting evaluation criteria that should be established based on best current
scientific information
Please call me at 919-707-5901 if you would like to discuss the report and these recommendations.
Sincerely,
Douglas S. Campbell, MD. MPH, Head
Occupational & Environmental Epidemiology Branch
OEEB_DENR-letter.html