Biosolids.

[margaretc]

This is about one of my advisory boards.

The article does make it seem like this is a new thing, but what's really new about it is that people are once again starting to agitate about the whole process of spreading waste on fields. It's been pretty quiet for a couple of decades now, but it is starting to get more attention lately.

Comments

[thedreya]

Very interesting. When first I started reading the article I thought they were referring to the waste matter from agrarian manure pits. I wonder what the comparison between manure pit spray and human biosolids would be in terms of pathogens and effects.

I hope they manage to get a comprehensive study off of the ground. I wonder if it will even be possible to say definitively one way or the other whether symptoms or illnesses are caused by the biosolids.

[margaretc]

It's not just human biosolids (and all of the drugs we all take) but also a fair amount of industrial sewage from Burlington and Alamance County in general. And I don't think we know enough about what's in it - trace heavy metals, industrial solvents...

[margaretc]

And we're trying like crazy to get the study off the ground - UNC is committed to doing it, too. I don't know exactly what the hold-up is, but it will happen someday soon.