Organic Contaminants from Sewage Sludge Applied to Agricultural Soils. False Alarm Regarding Possible Problems for Food Safety? (8 pp)

2007 ◽  
Vol 14 (S1) ◽  
pp. 53-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Laturnus ◽  
Karin von Arnold ◽  
Christian Grøn
2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (25) ◽  
pp. 26000-26014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciano A. Gomes ◽  
Nuno Gabriel ◽  
Licínio M. Gando-Ferreira ◽  
José C. Góis ◽  
Margarida J. Quina

2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 53-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Trably ◽  
D. Patureau ◽  
J.P. Delgenes

Anaerobically stabilized sewage sludge has potential to partially substitute synthetic fertilizers. The main risk with the recycling of urban sludge on agricultural soils is the accumulation of unwanted products, such as trace metals and organic micropollutants. In this context, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are particularly monitored because of their toxic properties at low concentrations and their high resistance to biological degradation. The aim of the present study was to optimize PAHs removal during anaerobic digestion of contaminated sewage sludge. Thirteen PAHs were monitored in laboratory-scale anaerobic bioreactors under mesophilic (35°C) and thermophilic (55°C) methanogenic conditions. Abiotic losses were statistically significant for the lightest PAHs, such as fluorene, phenanthrene and anthracene. It was shown that PAH removal was due to a specific biological activity. Biological PAHs removal was significantly enhanced by an increase of the temperature from 35°C to 55°C, especially for the heaviest PAHs. Bioaugmentation experiment was also performed by addition of a PAH-adapted bacterial consortium to a non-acclimated reactor. Significant enhancement of PAHs removal was observed. It was finally shown that PAH removal efficiencies and methanogenic performances were closely linked. The rate of biogas production may be used as an indicator of bacterial activity on PAH removal.


2011 ◽  
Vol 356-360 ◽  
pp. 1495-1499
Author(s):  
Jie Yu ◽  
Guo Di Zheng ◽  
Tong Bin Chen

Sludge agriculture application in future will be one of the main sewage sludge disposal ways in China. To ensure safety and environment of sewage sludge agriculture application, except to strengthen the research of sludge heavy metal, pathogen outside the organic contaminants will be one of the focuses of the future research, especially to strengthen the PAHs and NP/NPE. In order to reduce the environmental risks of sludge agriculture application, using biological aerobic fermentation processing technology treatment sludge can effectively reduce the organic contaminants, depress secondary pollution problem, which sewage sludge brings.


2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Werle

Abstract The Sewage Sludge Directive 86/278/EEC was adopted about 30 years ago with a view to encourage sewage sludge reuse in agriculture and to regulate its use. Meanwhile, some EU Member States have adopted stricter standards and management practices than those specified in the Directive. In particular, the majority of Member States has introduced more stringent standards for sludge quality, including stricter limits for most potentially toxic elements, organic contaminants and other elements. In general, untreated sludge is no longer applied and in several Member States it is prohibited. In some cases, stringent standards have resulted in an effective ban on use of sludge in agriculture. Moreover, the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive 91/271/EC should increase EU production of sewage sludge, thus enhancing problems related to sustainable sewage sludge management. Additionally, European legislation prohibits the landfill and water deposits of sewage sludge. The latest trends in the field of sludge management, ie combustion, pyrolysis, gasification and co-combustion, have generated significant scientific interest. This trend is specially strong visible in “new” EU Members countries which have to introduce strong EU Directive in their low system. Here the review the state of knowledge and technology in thermal methods for the utilization of municipal sewage sludge to obtain useful forms of energy such as pyrolysis, gasification, combustion, and co-combustion taking into consideration Poland situation is presented.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Navarro Pedreño ◽  
Ignacio Gómez Lucas ◽  
Jose Martín Soriano Disla

The mineralisation of organic matter (OM) when sewage sludge was used as amendment in 70 contrasting agricultural soils from Spain was analysed. Soils received a single dose of sewage sludge (equivalent to 50t dry weight ha<sup>-1</sup>) and the O<sub>2</sub> consumption was continuously monitored for 30 days using a multiple sensor respirometer in a laboratory experiment. The cumulative O<sub>2</sub> consumption and rates after 8 and 30 days of incubation (O<sub>2 cum</sub> 8d, 30d and O<sub>2 rate</sub> 8d, 30d), the respiratory quotient (RQ), the maximum O<sub>2</sub> rates over the incubation period (O<sub>2 max</sub>) and time from the beginning of the incubation when O<sub>2 max</sub> occurred (T<sub>max</sub>), were determined in both amended and non-amended soils. Sewage sludge application resulted in increased values for O<sub>2 max</sub>, O<sub>2 rate</sub> 8d, and O<sub>2 cum</sub> 30d. Differences were minor for T<sub>max</sub>, RQ 8d and O<sub>2 rate</sub> 30d. A considerable amount of the initial OM applied was mineralised during the first 8 days. Organic matter decomposition (as expressed by O<sub>2 cum</sub> 30d) was favoured in soils with high values of pH, carbonates, soil organic carbon and low values of amorphous Mn. Soils with these characteristics may potentially lose soil C after sewage sludge application.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leire Jauregi ◽  
Lur Epelde ◽  
Itziar Alkorta ◽  
Carlos Garbisu

The application of sewage sludge (SS) to agricultural soil can help meet crop nutrient requirements and enhance soil properties, while reusing an organic by-product. However, SS can be a source of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs), resulting in an increased risk of antibiotic resistance dissemination. We studied the effect of the application of thermally-dried anaerobically-digested SS on (i) soil physicochemical and microbial properties, and (ii) the relative abundance of 85 ARGs and 10 MGE-genes in soil. Soil samples were taken from a variety of SS-amended agricultural fields differing in three factors: dose of application, dosage of application, and elapsed time after the last application. The relative abundance of both ARGs and MGE-genes was higher in SS-amended soils, compared to non-amended soils, particularly in those with a more recent SS application. Some physicochemical parameters (i.e., cation exchange capacity, copper concentration, phosphorus content) were positively correlated with the relative abundance of ARGs and MGE-genes. Sewage sludge application was the key factor to explain the distribution pattern of ARGs and MGE-genes. The 30 most abundant families within the soil prokaryotic community accounted for 66% of the total variation of ARG and MGE-gene relative abundances. Soil prokaryotic α-diversity was negatively correlated with the relative abundance of ARGs and MGE-genes. We concluded that agricultural soils amended with thermally-dried anaerobically-digested sewage sludge showed increased risk of antibiotic resistance dissemination.


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