Environmental Effects of Organic and Inorganic Contaminants in Sewage Sludge [antikvár]

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS IN SEWAGE SLUDGE Proceedings of a Workshop held at Stevenage, May 23-26, 1982 Edited by R. D. DAVIS Water Research Centre, Stevenage, United Kingdom G. HÜCKER Department of the Environment, London, United Kingdom and P. L'HERMITE Commission of the European Communities, Directorate-General for Science, Research and Development, Brussels, Belgium Continuing extension of sewage treatment in Europe is generating more sewage sludge and hence putting more pressure on disposal outlets. Agricultural land is the principal disposal route for sewage sludge and has the advantage of involving the productive use of sludge to improve soil conditions and to supply nutrients for crop growth. At the same time, it is the route most sensitive to problems associated with organic and inorganic contaminants which may occur in sludge in higher concentrations than in soil. Considerable research effort is in progress within the Community to investigate the effects of these contaminants and to ensure that soil fertility, crops, livestock and the human food chain are properly protected where sewage sludge is used on agricultural land. Adverse health effects could arise from the presence of some organic micropollutants in the food supply. Organic compounds can be toxic to mammals and many of them are carcinogenic and mutagenic. They are, however, only present in significant quantities in sludges derived from certain quantities and are greatly diluted in normal sludge disposal operations. They are therefore only a potential risk in certain limited areas. In these areas, monitoring of sludge and disposal sites is a prudent precaution. Polyhalogenated compounds and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons should be regarded as the most important groups to be analysed and standardization of analytical and experimental methods, particularly in crop growth, is highly desirable. It was the aim of the Workshop, the Proceedings of which are presented here, to provide a forum for the exchange of recent research results and ideas on this important subject.