Sewage Sludge Sparks Environmental Debate
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Environmentalists are debating with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and some farmers the risks associated with using sewage sludge on farmlands.
A federal environmental officer spurred the discussion when he said on Aug. 6 that sewage sludge spread on farmlands poses no health threat despite containing small amounts of heavy metals. Critics of using sludge, which comes from sewage treatment plants, argue that it could contaminate water, ruin the nutrient balance of soil, or cause levels of heavy metals found in farm products to increase. Alan Rubin of the Environmental Protection Agency, disagrees. He believes that Federal regulations for the use of sludge as fertilizer are overly stringent, and that criticism stems from lack of understanding. Other proponents of using sewage sludge on farms say the practice is better than incinerating it or dumping it in landfills because, if done correctly, the soil is improved and landfill space is saved. If waste is applied properly, pathogens die and heavy metals bind with the soil, they argue. Although Rubin said the EPA has no plans to pass stricter regulations, many states, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island, have imposed their own tougher standards. Edited by Larissa Tis |