SLUDGE VICTIMS

Purpose: To evaluate the neurobehavioral effects of municipal sewage sludge in a family whose members were exposed for 8 or more years. Municipal sewage sludge, a mixture of household sewage along with industrial waste, is routinely applied as fertilizer to some farms in the USA.

This complex substance poses a significant neurotoxic threat to farmers, their workers, nearby residents, and possibly to the general population through the food supply. Recently, the FDA attempted to allow food grown with such materials to be labeled as "organic", but is now reconsidering due to massive citizen protest. However, such food is still permitted in the general food supply.

[*]Due to the clay under the soil the drainage flowed towards the subject's property. The farmily's livelihood, a herd of 150 cattle, deteriorated to the point where they were given up and the property was abandoned.

Method: Neuropsychological testing of 9 family members.

Results: Based on results of the Neurotoxicity Screening Survey, symptoms consistent with neurotoxicity were found in all who completed the test. The two children born and raised on the farm have been classified by their schools as mildly retarded and having attention-deficit disorders, although there was no family history of these illnesses.

Case 1 was a 56 year old grandmother in prior good health with a B.A. degree. Estimated pre-morbid FSIQ was 114. Current FSIQ was 98, with specific deficits in immediate memory, arithmetic, visual memory and visuo-spatial organization (scaled scores of 8,7,8,9), visual retention (14 errors), verbal fluency (COWAT of 18), Embedded Figures Test (5%tile), Expanded Paired Associate Test (1%tile immediate, 4%tile delayed), Grooved Pegboard Test (
Conclusion: Municipal sewage sludge poses a measurable neurotoxic hazard to nearby residents and farm workers, who need to be informed of possible neurotoxic injury from their exposure, and then monitored using repeated neurobehavioral tests.

1. Singer, R. (1999, January, expected). Neurotoxicity from municipal sewage sludge. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology

*The original abstract has been modified due to new information available to the author. I hope to have finther information about this study available from my web site in the future.