SLUDGE VICTIMS

E-mail / C-elect: cids@magma.ca
June 1, 2001
To Whom It May Concern:

On May 31, 2001 the Canadian Infectious Diseases Society (CIDS) was approached and asked to state its position on the spreading of sewage sludge on apricultural lands. At that time, the chair-person for the Public Relations Committee of the Society issued the following statement:

"Until further detailed studies regarding the spreading ot sewage sludge are available, the Society would request that a moratorium be placed on such action in the Ottawa area. This would entailthat the sludge be entombed at a sanitary landfill site. The position of the Sociery is that the health of Canadian citizens must be protected against potential infectious agents until there is clear cut evidence that such actions will not lead to any potential public health hazard."

The Society would like to emphasaize that non-decontaminated sewage, waste sludge, and other bio-materials (solid or liquid) pose theoretical risks to human health. This is especially true if this material is placed into contact with the population's immediate environment, foodstuffs such as vegetables and plants for human consumption, or in close proximity to the water supply. Many human pathogens found in such bio-materials can withstand, and survive in, harsh environmental conditions and remain pathogenic to humans and domestic animals for long ptriods of time. Recent outbreaks of bacterial diseases (i.e. E. coli 015 71/H7 in Ontario) and parasitic diseases (i.e. Cryptosporidium parvum in Saskatchewan) show how fragile the barriers are, which currently exist to protect humans from waste-producing disease. Therefore, CUDS remains steadfast that the disposal of all bio-materials be done in a safe and efficient manner, and that studies be undertaken to ensure that current disposal/spreading techniques are safe for the human population. The fact that certain practices "have always been done like this" does not mean that they are necessarily safe in the present-day context.

The Society regrets that the city of Ottawa was specificaly mentioned in the recent position statement, since CIDS has no knowledge that the city of Ottawa's practices regarding bio-materials is any more or less dangerous than any other municipality in Canada. The Society would like to see further assessments of the safety of bio-materials as they are used in Canada, in order to limit their use to what is known to be safe. A moratorium on their use is certainly in order where insufficient data exists regarding safety to the Canadian population.

The Canadian Infectious Disease Society is a non-profit organization, composed ofmedical and scientific professionals involved in the fields of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology. We provide educational, professional, and research support to individuals in these fields.

Further inquirles about th is statement or the Society may be obtained from Mr. Richard McCoy, Executive Director, at the numbers listed on this letterhead, or from Dr. Mark Miller, the President of the Society, at his office in Montreal (514-340-8294).

Mark Miller, NM, FRCPC
President

JUNE 2001 - CANADIAN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SOCIETY CALLS FOR MORATORIUM ON SLUDGE SPREADING