#136 - Risk Assessment Impossible #137 - BIOHAZARDOUS SLUDGE #138 - Sewage sludge (Biosolids) is a potential killer
D. Strauch in his 1991 paper, "Survial of pathogenic micro-organisms and parasite in extreta, manure and sewage sludge" reported that two groups of researchers had found that pathogenic disease organisms will be taken up inside the food crops." "Salmonella has survived in forest stands between 424 and 820 days" " most pathogenic agents can survive the treatment process" and the sewage treatment process causes some of the pathogenic disease organisms to be absorbed or enclosed in faecal particles during the treatment process." (1991)
Lewis found, "The water repellent lubricants such as silicon and petroleum products cover the pathogens and prevent them from being found by standard test methods. It was only when he dissolved the lubricants with acetone or other solvents, that the pathogens showed up in tests." "The problem of pathogen detection in sludge, according to Lewis, "is that the sewage treatment process changes the outside crust of the aggregates in sludge and only the pathogens on the outside of the aggregates are measured by standard tests." He says that most of the microbes are trapped inside the aggregates.
According to microbiologists, some bacteria form an endospore, a cell type developed from the vegetative bacterial cell through a sequence of morphological changes. Although the vegetative cell of bacteria is usually killed by heat and disinfectant, the endospore is resistant to agents that kill the vegetative cell (heating, drying, freezing, chemicals, and radiation). Nester, Roberts, Pearsall and McCarthy (1978) www.deadlydeceit.com/DD7.html
TOXIC EXTRACTS OF SLUDGE KILL WITHOUT LEAVING A TRACE Both treated and control animals exhibited signs of discomfort immediately after dosing. These signs were manifest as frequent examinations of the injection site and increased activity. However, fifteen to Jhirty minutes after dosing, the Boston sludge-treated animals began to show signs of effects on the central nervous system. Orientation was affected to some degree in all groups as animals rotated repeatedly ii) both clockwise or counter- clockwise directions; one animal (dosed at 32.9 mg/kg) turned over continuously for a period of four to six minutes. Additionally, motor coordination and gait were adversely affected by the Boston sludge extract in nearly all the animals. Animals dosed with Dallas sludge extract showed few of the signs of toxicity of the Boston sludge extract groups and were more nearly like control animals
No gross lesions were observed in any animals which could be associated with the test materials. Additionally, no treatment effects were seen in gross or relative organ weights. www.deadlydeceit.com/AcuteToxicity.html
Interactions of pathogens and irritant chemicals in land-applied sewage sludges (biosolids). A prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus infections of the skin and respiratory tract was found. Approximately 1 in 4 of 54 individuals were infected, including 2 mortalities[deaths] (septicaemia, pneumonia). www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12097151
J Water Health 03 (2005) 249-257
Induction of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium into the viable but nonculturable state following chlorination of wastewater James D. Oliver, Maya Dagher and Karl Linden Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA, Tel: 704-687-8516, Fax: 267-327-2083, E-mail: [email protected]
Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA, Tel: 704-687-8516, Fax: 267-327-2083, E-mail: [email protected]
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708- 0287, USA
ABSTRACT We examined the effects of chlorine disinfection on Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium in secondary-treated wastewater to determine whether such treatment might induce these bacteria into the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state. In this state, cells lose culturability but retain viability and the potential to revert to the metabolically active and infectious state. To examine the effects of chlorination on cells in different physiological states, cells from the logarithmic and stationary phases, or nutrient starved, or grown in natural wastewater, were studied. Isogenic cells with and without plasmids were also examined. Whereas a mixture of free and combined chlorine, as occurs under typical wastewater disinfection, was found to be rapidly lethal to most cells, regardless of their physiological state or plasmid content, c. 104 of the original 106 cells ml-1 did survive in the VBNC state. While we were not successful in resuscitating these cells to the culturable state, the presence of such nonculturable cells in treated wastewater offers a potential public health hazard.
McGowan's Note---assuming the following---28406 mL in a cubic foot and 27 cubic feet per ton---on the average, then a ton of sludge contains, using the above author's findings--- 7,669,680,000 viable but non culturable E. coli. But they did not look at persisters. Also assuming that many discharges from hospitals have enough antibiotics in the effluent to cause resistance, the level of persisters may go up a 1000 fold. These combined results may see a very serious, but previously undiscussed issue on the risks of land applied sewer sludge.
In a recent meeting of our task-group, one of the members, a wastewater engineer, raised the question relating to land application of composted biosolids. Composting raises the level of manipulation of biosolids to that of a manufactured product, often incorporating green- waste, i.e., trimmings from various forms of vegetation. The essence of the question related to the survival of pathogens, hence the underlying issue of surviving MDRB. The question went something like this---"If Staphyloccus aureus were found dead, did that mean that the problem was solved?" The corollary--- was it dead or merely in the viable but non-culturable (VNC) state? Was it a classic persister? (see below). Further, this says nothing for uptake of released naked DNA. Additionally, during the above noted meeting, I had mentioned that there is now strong medical evidence that about ½ of the non-hospital but community acquired skin infections in the Greater Los Angeles area are now MRSA. MRSA stands for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Multi antibiotic-resistance happens because small lengths of DNA, called transposons can carry a variety of antibiotic resistance or virulence genes, are able to move from the bacterial chromosome to plasmid or to a virus DNA (think phage) which can then be freely exchanged between bacteria.
Harmless gut and soil bacteria have become reservoirs for multi resistance plasmids which may be gained from pathogens or where there are other commensals that contained the shared genetic information.
For example, Levy found that the resistance in gut bacteria of cattle moved to gut bacteria of mice having access to the same area, then from the mice to pigs, chickens, and flies. He notes a Dutch study that followed bacteria from animals to the human food chain and entered the consumer’s kitchen. In other cited examples, he noted the distinct relationship between MDRB in animals and thence to humans attending them, even though the humans used no antibiotics or ate the animals. Levy’s work is not new. (Levy SB, MD. The Antibiotic Paradox. New York, Plenum Press 1997). Rusin and Gerba have written on the transfer of pathogens from common household surfaces via finger to mouth. Others have discussed dust as a carrier of viable pathogens. Gerba has written extensively on the movement of pathogens in sediment, their protection for long periods within sediments and the re-transport of viable pathogens. The NRC in its 2002 report admonished EPA to look at off-site movement and resistance. There is no evidence that this re-analysis has taken place, yet the World Health Organization has raised the subject of resistance to a Global crisis.
Thus the current U.S. EPA Class B biosolids with its allowed fecal coliform counts of 2 X10/6 per gram may actually constitute a large aliquot when containing MDRB and applied to areas with soil and water movement and animal or vector access. These bacteria are thus able to colonize animals, including humans, through ingestion. There are indications within the literature of E. coli O157:H7 being to travel up the vascular system in lettuce thus obviating attempts to wash surfaces. Since lettuce is eaten raw, the risk should be clear to most readers. Once ingested, the shiga containing plasmids may be transferable to normal flora, thence later to pathogenic bacteria found in humans or animals, making later treatment with particular antibiotics ineffective. Additionally, one finds that there is a remultiplication of bacterial numbers within standing sludge, biosolids or compost (see Hassen below). Thus, the current Part 503 limits on biosolid marker organisms may have little bearing on the ultimate numbers.
During composting, the mesophiles (these function at normal body temperatures) can transfer genetic information to thermophiles (these operate above the lethal fever temperatures). The archaea, which are extreme thermophiles (these can take temperatures above the boiling point of water), are recognized as a separate third domain of life together with the bacteria and eucarya. Transfer of plasmids to bacteria from archaea, has been demonstrated. Thus, in theory, it may be possible to develop a MDRB that can survive temperatures found within composting.
Furthermore, there is experimental evidence that even when disrupted by radiation, these ancient organisms can reassemble. This, from a theoretical perspective, then raises questions of the eventual failure of pasteurization.Hassen, et al found that , gram-positive bacteria, especially micrococcus, spores of bacilli, and fungal propagules survived, and reached high concentrations in compost. Not only that, "the appearance of gram-negative rods (opportunistic pathogens) during the cooling phase may represent a serious risk for the sanitary quality of the finished product intended for agronomic reuse." (Bioresour Technol 2001 Dec;80(3):217-25)
Quantitative detection of enteroviruses in activated sludge by cell culture and real-time RT- PCR using paramagnetic capturing D. Pusch, St. Ihle, I. Graeber, J. M. López-Pila and M. Lebuhn Federal Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Department II 2.4. Microbiology and Parasitology, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin,D-14195, Germany, Phone: +49-30-89031394, Fax: +49- 30-89031830, E-mail: [email protected]
Federal Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Department II 2.4. Microbiology and Parasitology, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin,D-14195, Germany, Phone: +49-30-89031394, Fax: +49- 30-89031830, E-mail: [email protected]
Federal Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Department II 2.4. Microbiology and Parasitology, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin,D-14195, Germany, Phone: +49-30-89031394, Fax: +49- 30-89031830, E-mail: [email protected]
Federal Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Department II 2.4. Microbiology and Parasitology, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin,D-14195, Germany, Phone: +49-30-89031394, Fax: +49- 30-89031830, E-mail: [email protected]
Technical University of Munich, Institute of Water Quality Control and Waste Management, Am Coulombwall, Garching,D-85748, Germany, E-mail: [email protected]
ABSTRACT We have compared in extracts of activated sludge the number of enteroviruses detectable with buffalo green monkey (BGM) cell-cultures versus the number of enteroviral genomes determined by reverse-transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). In order to find conditions adequate for quantifying enteroviral RNA isolated from (waste)water we have investigated affinity capture of RNA with polystyrene beads (Dynabeads). The capture efficiency strongly depended on the genomic region chosen for the affinity binding. Capture of the RNA by its 3'-tail was most efficient (almost 100%); other regions within the genome yielded variable but lower results. Indirect capture (first hybridization of the RNA to the oligonucleotides, then attachment of the duplex molecules to the beads) was much more efficient than direct capture (attachment of the oligonucleotides to the beads first, then binding of the RNA), and resulted in RNA capture of maximally 60-80%. At least partly, this was due to incomplete hybridization of the RNA to the complementary oligonucleotides. No correlation was found between the number of cytopathic effects (CPE) determined by cell culture and the number of genomes quantified by RT-qPCR; RT-qPCR values were consistently much higher than the number of CPE. This points to overestimation of infectious enteroviruses by RT-qPCR and/or underestimation by the cell culture approach. ++++++++++++++++++= New England Journal of Medicine Volume 353:1245-1251 September 22, 2005 Number 12
Staphylococcus aureus Sepsis and the Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome in Children
Patricia V. Adem, M.D., Christopher P. Montgomery, M.D., Aliya N. Husain, M.D., Tracy K. Koogler, M.D., Valerie Arangelovich, M.D., Michel Humilier, M.D., Susan Boyle-Vavra, Ph.D., and Robert S. Daum, M.D. SUMMARY Staphylococcus aureus has increasingly been recognized as a cause of severe invasive illness. We describe three children who died at our institution after rapidly progressive clinical deterioration from this infection, with necrotizing pneumonia and multiple-organ-system involvement. The identification of bilateral adrenal hemorrhage at autopsy was characteristic of the Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome, a constellation of findings usually associated with fulminant meningococcemia. The close genetic relationship among the three responsible isolates of S. aureus, one susceptible to methicillin and two resistant to methicillin, underscores the close relationship between virulent methicillin-susceptible S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates now circulating in the community.
Sometimes it seems like the National Resource Defense Counsel (NRDC) is actually working for the EPA. NRDC agreed not to sue EPA if ocean dumping was stopped and sludge was put on land as a fertilizer. It parrots the EPA line that livestock waste is more dangerous than sludge and it blames the states.
How States Fail to Prevent Pollution from Livestock Waste 23] In 1993, cryptosporidium, a pathogen found in Milwaukee's drinking water, made 400,000 people sick and led to the deaths of more than 100 people. A suspected cause was dairy manure.[24] http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/factor/cons.asp
.Health departments do investigate when large numbers of people are effected as was the case in 1993, when Milwaukee suffered through a Cryptosporidium plague. Over 400,000 people were infected, 4000 were hospitalized and over 100 individuals died. Initially, the outbreak was blamed on cattle manure contaminating the water supply system. However, it would take over three years before the health department identified the source of the infection. It was a human strain of Cryptosporidium. http://www.organicconsumers.org/Toxic/toxicpoison.cfm
Cost of illness in the 1993 waterborne Cryptosporidium outbreak, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
To assess the total medical costs and productivity losses associated with the 1993 waterborne outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, including the average cost per person with mild, moderate, and severe illness, we conducted a retrospective cost-of- illness analysis using data from 11 hospitals in the greater Milwaukee area and epidemiologic data collected during the outbreak. The total cost of outbreak-associated illness was 96.2 million US dollars: 31.7 million US dollars in medical costs and 64.6 million US dollars in productivity losses. The average total costs for persons with mild, moderate, and severe illness were 116 US dollars, 47 US dollars, and 7,808 US dollars, respectively. The potentially high cost of waterborne disease outbreaks should be considered in economic decisions regarding the safety of public drinking water supplies. Emerg Infect Dis. 2003 Apr;9(4): 426-31 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12702221&dopt=Citation
It is strange, but there is no cost included for the 400+ dead people.