EPA Myths promoted to sell or give away sludge / biosolids

                                                        EPA MYTHS

                      MYTHS PROMOTED TO SELL OR GIVE AWAY SLUDGE

              “A common misconception is that science and research are about facts.”
                   (Chris Griffith, editor, British Food Journal 2006 Vol 108 Issue 8)

Myth # 1, Environmental regulations protect human health and the environment
A Short History Lesson, TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS FROM EPA TO YOUR TABLE

For the most part Federal Laws such as the Solid Waste Act are intended to protect public health and the environment from

sewage sludge (a solid waste) that is a hazardous waste if it contains chemicals or disease causing organisms that could cause

illness or death. Congress has determined that land disposal facilities are not capable of containing hazardous waste and that

landfill and surface disposal should be the least favored method of disposal. EPA has determined in its regulation that disposal

on private land is the most favored disposal method even though it finds that the pollutants in sludge could cause death, disease,

cancer and other assorted health effects (503.9(t)). To further put the public and environment at risk, EPA has help create a myth

that Biosolids is something other than sludge and can be safely sold as an unlabeled fertilizer or soil amendment.

No risk

assessment was included for chemicals, disease causing organisms or cancer causing heavy metals.

http://thewatchers.us/myths/number-1-laws.html

MYTH # 2, Composted Sewage Sludge (biosolids) is a Safe and Sustainable Organic Soil Amendment!
A Short History Lesson, Genotoxic Contaminated Compost from EPA to Your Lawn and Garden

Sewage sludge compost is a biologically active solid waste composed of biofilms that include active and inactive bacteria, viruses,

worms parasites as well as chemicals and the residue of treated sewage which includes nutrients and moisture (biosolids). The

heat of composting removes moisture which dries (desiccates) bacteria causing them to go inactive (dormant). Studies have

shown that bacteria may be reactivated up to one year after composting with the addition of moisture. Composted Class A sludge

may also contain elevated levels of heavy toxic metals that would prevent it from being disposed of in a Part 503 surface disposal

site. You may be exposed to unknown levels of chemicals, metals, and disease causing organisms which also may be taken up in

vegetables.

http://thewatchers.us/myths/number-2-compost.html

MYTH # 3, Coliforms Are Non-pathogenic Indicators of Sewage Fecal Pollution in Food, Water and Sludge
A short History Lesson, Disease Causing Organisms in Your Food and Water Courtesy of EPA
For several years, I have wondered about the public claims by experts that:

1) the presence of coliform only indicate the possibility that disease causing

organisms may be present in food or water;

2) fecal coliform is a better indication of animal and human fecal contamination; and

3) the presence of E. coli confirmed animal and human fecal contamination.

My research has lead me to confirm, based on biology text books, studies, and government

documents, that the experts have either been lying to us or have no idea that the claims

are based on 30 primary pathogenic members of the Enterobacteriacea family. Bacteriologists

have split the Enterobacteriacea family into three groups based on temperature:

1) E.coli is the primary member with optimum growth at 37°C (98.6°F);

2) those that have optimum growth at 35°C (95°F) are called coliform:

3) those with thermotolerant (heat resistant) genes that only show some minor biological

activity at 44.5-46°C (114.8°F) are called fecal coliform

http://thewatchers.us/myths/number-3-coliform.html