In a 1993 report "HAZARDS FROM PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS IN LAND
DISPOSED SEWAGE SLUDGE" by Timothy Straub, Ian Pepper and Charles Gerba (Reviews
of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Vol. 132), the authors made the following
statements about sludge bioaerosols (pages 71 and 72):
"Many enteric microorganisms can effectively be transmitted by aerosols.... Organisms in
such aerosols can be transmitted by inhalation. . . "
"The number of microorganisms in aerosols depends on the type of sludge disposed, method
of application, and number of microorganisms in the sludge. The greatest amount of aerosol
generation would occur during the application of sludges with a low solids content applied as
slurries during spray application. Dumping of sludges from trucks onto the soil or into trenches
and area fills would also generate aerosols on impact."
"Some aerosoling would occur during the application of sludge. Greater numbers of
pathogenic microorganisms would be aerosoled during disposal of primary rather than treated
sludges."
"If wind velocities at a site are great enough, suspension sludge particles could occur (USEPA,
1986). Most sludges would not be easily resuspended because of their moisture content and
tendency to mat as they dry."
"Dried sludges, however, may be very light and fine in texture and, therefore, easily
resuspended. If dried sludge is not covered at windy sites, winds will attain speeds capable of
suspending the sludge from the working face."
"Aerosols could (also) be transported downwind to exposure areas distant from the disposal
site.
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