NUISANCES
Neighbors may complain about the distinct and unpleasant smell of biosolids. Recent scientific evidence
indicates that odors can pose a health hazard to individuals who suffer from allergies or who have an
immune-compromised physiology (Schiffman). While early incorporation into the soil diminishes the
potential for negative effects on neighbors, strong odors reportedly remain even after incorporation when
weather is hot and humid. The strength and longevity of the odor on hot, humid days on pastures, where
biosolids are not incorporated, is reportedly substantially greater than at other times. In addition, the
odors associated with pasture applications are reported to be worse than with cropland applications
because biosolids are not incorporated on pastures as they sometimes are on cropland.
Access roads must also be considered when deciding whether to use biosolids. Narrow access roads
which have sharp turns, are rutted, or have soft spots will affect the ability of the supplier to deliver the
biosolids. The weight of the trucks can also damage roads, especially those that are already soft or
rutted. Furthermore, the truck and application equipment traffic may be considered a nuisance. Excessive
noise and dust during deliveries in dry weather can also be nuisances.
ALLAYING FEARS
The application of biosolids on agricultural lands has many critics, and the topic remains a very sensitive
issue due to concerns for public health and environmental quality. Biosolids contain heavy metals,
pathogens, and toxic organic compounds. However, the amounts of these substances contained in the
grade of biosolids applied on farms are substantially less than 25 years ago. In addition, the current
regulatory requirements that govern the use of biosolids have led the scientific community to perceive
associated human health and environmental risks as minimal. Tenenbaum (1997), searching the Medline
database, found no scientific articles claiming that biosolids had caused disease in the United States.
Only Class A and B biosolids may be land applied. Class A biosolids, treated to destroy virtually3 100
percent of all pathogens, may be land applied without any pathogen related site restrictions. Class B are
less treated and can only be applied with site restrictions that effectively meet the level of protection
achieved with Class A biosolids. Both classes are treated to greatly reduce pathogens and odor.
Page conducted an extensive study of waste water and biosolids applications to agricultural lands in
1996. While raising some technical issues and recommending further study of Class B biosolids on
pastures, the report concluded that
There have been no reported outbreaks of infectious disease associated with a population’s
exposure—either directly or through food consumption pathways—to adequately treated
and properly distributed reclaimed water or biosolids applied to agricultural land (p.4)....
While no disposal or reuse option can guarantee complete safety, the use of these materials
in the production of crops for human consumption, when practiced in accordance with
existing federal guidelines and regulations, presents negligible risk to the consumer, to crop
production, and to the environment.... Current technology to remove pollutants from
wastewater, coupled with existing regulations and guidelines governing the use of reclaimed
wastewater and biosolids in crops, are adequate to protect human health and the
environment.... However, the implementation of regulations and guidelines is where
problems are likely to arise (p.13).
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