Keeping An Eye On Biosolids

Friday, January 30, 2015

If you are what you consume, then biosolids is what we consume! The benefits of biosolids land application, such as plant biomass increases, improved soil tilth, and sustainable nutrient recycling, are many and well documented; however, biosolids managers are also keeping an eye on emerging issues related to biosolids. SYLVIS’s John Lavery was in Ottawa this week facilitating a workshop sponsored by the Canadian Water Network’s Canadian Municipal Water Consortium (CMWC) on validating the state of knowledge of emerging substances of concern (ESOCs) and pathogens in biosolids, and, importantly, their potential for impacts on the environment and human health. The growing body of evidence collected over more than 40 years, including the extremely broad and detailed literature review conducted for the CMWC by academic researchers at Ryerson University, demonstrates that human health is not put at risk as a result of agricultural land application of biosolids (Clarke and Smith, 2011; McCarthy and Loyo, 2014). Evidence-based analysis and review continue to reassure the science community that the beneficial effects of biosolids use are ongoing and that all risks are able to be evaluated and managed. Regular testing of soils, biosolids, and water ensure that environmental quality standards are being met and that regulatory limits are being adhered to.

Some of the research into this issue includes:

It is comforting to know that as our society evolves, research into how we manage our residuals and what they contain also evolves. The latest reviews encompass chemicals and ways to assess their impact that are emergent in terms of our broad knowledge of biosolids. While it is not reasonable to label anything “absolutely safe”, it is important that the science community continues to develop more evidence-based information that reaffirms the beneficial use of biosolids. 

If you’re interested in learning about how SYLVIS is keeping an eye on developments in this arena, please contact us at info@sylvis.com.

References

Clarke, B.O., and S.R. Smith. 2011. Review of “emerging” organic contaminants in biosolids and assessment of international research priorities for the agricultural use of biosolids. Environment International 37(1): 226–247.

McCarthy, L., and J. Loyo. 2014. Risks Associated with Application of Municipal Biosolids to Agricultural Lands in a Canadian Context - DRAFT. Ryerson University, Ottawa, ON.

Walters, E., K. McClellan, and R.U. Halden. 2010. Occurrence and loss over three years of 72 pharmaceuticals and personal care products from biosolids–soil mixtures in outdoor mesocosms. Water Research 44(20): 6011–6020.