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Trace Constituents: Red Herring Hysteria

Join Dr. Alan B. Rubin at the Residuals and Biosolids Management Conference to explore the myth that trace constituents in biosolids pose a threat to public health. Through decades of rigorous study and EPA analysis, it has been shown that these "trace" elements present virtually zero risk to human health and the environment. Learn about the safety of various biosolid management techniques, including land application and incineration, and understand the effectiveness of wastewater treatment facilities as they purify and enhance soil quality.

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Trace Constituents: Red Herring Hysteria

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  1. Alan B. Rubin, Ph.D. Principal Envirostrategies, LLC Residuals and Biosolids Management Conference Trace Constituents: Red Herring Hysteria No public health risk exists, but hype still does Presented by:

  2. Stop Chasing Rainbows • Trace constituents are just that… “Trace” • Decades of study show • No risk to public health • No environmental risk • All biosolid management techniques are safe: • Land-applied • Surface-disposed • Landfilled • Incinerated

  3. Biosolids – Nature’s Wastewater Purifier • Today’s wastewater treatment facilities are “clean water plants” • Biosolids attract and sequester various substances including: • Metals • Organic Compounds • Pathogens • The result? Cleaner wastewater! • Biosolids don’t release pollutants into the soil

  4. How Low Can You Go? • EPA has analyzed dozens of organic compounds • Technology permits analysis at a level far below public health risk or environmental risk • EPA has proposed to make removal credits available for 17 additional trace constituents found in biosolids • By 2009, up to 23 additional trace constituents found in biosolids will most likely be added to this removal credit list

  5. Take two contaminants and call me in the morning • The “new and emerging” compounds being promoted by some as potentially dangerous are neither “new” nor “emerging” • Pharmaceuticals • Personal Care Products • Rigorous testing for direct ingestion and application • Much greater quantities of these “contaminants” are released into our water • Regulatory responsibility lies with the regulators on the “front end” • Life-cycle analysis of these compounds must include study of impacts when they reach wastewater, biosolids

  6. EPA uses Modeling for “Worst Case Scenario” • EPA assumes maximum exposure in its risk assessment models • Even under these extremely unlikely high-exposure scenarios, the public health and environmental risks are extremely low • Realistic exposure levels put risks at virtually zero

  7. 40 CFR 503 Standards 1984-1993 • EPA Baseline – Approximately 350 pollutants in wastewater potentially captured in biosolids • Numerical standards established for ten metals • Determined that 22 organic pollutants in biosolids (including PCBs) were of negligible risk to public health and the environment • State-of-the-art risk assessment • High-quality field data

  8. 40 CFR 503 Standards 1999-2003 • EPA Baseline – Approximately 200 pollutants in wastewater potentially captured in biosolids • Proposed numerical standard for dioxins established • After review of public comment and revision of risk assessment, EPA concluded no need to establish numerical standard for dioxins. • State-of-the-art risk assessment • High-quality field data

  9. 40 CFR 503 Standards 2002 - Present • EPA Baseline – Approximately 803 pollutants in wastewater potentially captured in biosolids • Only 40 pollutants identified for comprehensive risk assessment • Results of the comprehensive risk assessment identified 15 pollutants for further evaluation • State-of-the-art risk assessment • High-quality field data • Third national biosolids survey to analyze concentration data for 15 pollutants

  10. Conclusions • Industrial pretreatment reduces pollutants to insignificant levels • Pollutants are tightly bonded to the biosolids soil matrix • Therefore, the presence of trace pollutants in biosolids present virtually zero exposure or risk to the public and the environment • EPA analysis and regulation of trace pollutants in biosolids will likely be terminated within five years.

  11. Alan B. Rubin, Ph.D. Principal Envirostrategies, LLC rubinhial@cox.net Residuals and Biosolids Management Conference Trace Constituents: Red Herring Hysteria No public health risk exists, but hype still does Presented by:

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