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PubMed2003

Enteric pathogens and soil: a short review.

It is known that soil is a recipient of solid wastes able to contain enteric pathogens in high concentrations. Although the role of soil as a reservoir of certain bacterial pathogens is not in question, recent findings show that soil may have a larger role in the transmission of enteric diseases than previously thought. Many of the diseases caused by agents from soil have been well characterized, although enteric diseases and their link to soil have not been so well studied. Gastrointestinal infections are the most common diseases caused by enteric bacteria. Some examples are salmonellosis ( Salmonella sp.), cholera ( Vibrio cholerae), dysentery ( Shigella sp.) and other infections caused by Campylobacter jejuni, Yersinia sp. and Escherichia coli O157:H7 and many other strains. Viruses are the most hazardous and have some of the lowest infectious doses of any of the enteric pathogens. Hepatitis A, hepatitis E, enteric adenoviruses, poliovirus types 1 and 2, multiple strains of echoviruses and coxsackievirus are enteric viruses associated with human wastewater. Among the most commonly detected protozoa in sewage are Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium parvum. This article reviews the existing literature of more than two decades on waste disposal practices that favor the entry of enteric pathogens to soil and the possible consequent role of the soil as a vector and reservoir of enteric pathogens.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Leachates from municipal solid waste disposal sites harbor similar, novel nitrogen-cycling bacterial communities.

High emissions of nitrous oxide (N(2)O) have recently been documented at municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. However, the biodiversity of the bacterial populations involved remains unexplored. In this study, we investigated communities of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and denitrifying bacteria associated with the leachates from three MSW disposal sites by examining the diversity of the ammonia monooxygenase structural gene amoA and the nitrous oxide reductase gene nosZ, respectively. Cloning and phylogenetic analysis of the functional genes revealed novel and similar groups of prokaryotes involved in nitrogen cycling in the leachates with different chemical compositions. All amoA sequences recovered grouped within the Nitrosomonas europaea cluster in the Betaproteobacteria, with the vast majority showed only relatively moderate sequence similarities to known AOB but were exclusively most similar to environmental clones previously retrieved from wastewater treatment plants. All nosZ sequences retrieved did not cluster with any hitherto reported nosZ genes and were only remotely related to recognized denitrifiers from the Gammaproteobacteria and thus could not be affiliated. Significant overlap was found for the three denitrifying nosZ leachate communities. Our study suggests a significant selection of the novel N-cycling groups by the unique environment at these MSW disposal sites.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1989

[Waste management--a necessity for environmental health].

There can be no doubt about the necessity of waste management. Principles thereby are: Avoidance of waste, prevention of problematic substances, reduction of waste, utilization of waste and disposal of waste. As soon as we are in the position to put these principles into practice, is waste no longer a threatening problem for us and our environment.

Containment of Biohazards↗
PubMed2004

Identification of novel eubacteria from spent mushroom compost (SMC) waste by DNA sequence typing: ecological considerations of disposal on agricultural land.

A small study was undertaken to examine the microbiological characteristics of spent mushroom compost (SMC), which is the major waste by-product of the mushroom industry and which is regularly disposed off by application to agricultural land. The primary aim of this study was to examine SMC for the presence of faecal bacterial pathogens, including Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. Secondly it was desirable to quantify bacterial and fungal populations within SMC, and also qualitatively identify the diversity of bacterial populations within SMC, through employment of rDNA PCR and direct sequencing techniques on the culturable microflora. Conventional microbiological analyses of SMC material (n=30) from six commercial operations in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, failed to detect Salmonella spp, Listeria spp. or Campylobacter spp. in any of the SMC material examined. Total aerobic plate counts gave a mean count of log10 7.01 colony forming units (cfu) per gram SMC material (range: log10 6.53-7.52 cfu/g). Fungal counts gave a mean count of log(10) 4.57 cfu per gram SMC material (range: log10 3.93-4.98 cfu/g). From a total of greater than 50 colony picks, a total of 12 bacterial morphotypes were identified and were further examined by employment of partial 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing techniques, yielding several genera and species, including Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella/Enterobacter sp. Microbacterium sp. Paenibacillus lentimorbus, Pseudomonas mevalonii, Sphingobacterium multivorum and Stenotrophomonas sp. This is the first preliminary report on the microbial diversity of SMC waste and demonstrates the presence of several species that have not been previously described in SMC, in addition to two potentially novel species within the genera Microbacterium and Stenotrophomonas. It is thereby important to examine the ecological microbe-microbe and plant-microbe interactions that are occurring between the native bacterial soil flora and those added annually (theoretically estimated at approximately 10(18) cells) through the application of SMC. Such studies would be beneficial in helping to ascertain the ecological consequences involved in the disposal of SMC waste on agricultural land.

Agaricales↗
PubMed1992

Slaughter by-products: problems, preliminary research and possible solutions.

The collection, storage, disposal and processing of slaughterhouse by-products is an important part of veterinary care in regions with intensive animal husbandry and meat production. Transmission of diseases and environmental pollution through an improper and/or incorrect handling of slaughterhouse by-products needs to be prevented. The use of animal by-products as feedstuff could be of economical benefit to slaughterhouses and could add nutritive value to animal feed. As a results of the centralisation and intensification of slaughtering, the amount of slaughter by-products produced at a single location is increasing. Until now, hardly any attention, in practice or in research, has been paid to the collection and disposal of these by-products. There are important socio-economic reasons to increase scientific knowledge about the handling of slaughter by-products. Several animal by-products were contaminated with Salmonella. We also showed that rapid breakdown of amino acids in poultry by-products occurs during storage at 20 degrees C. It is concluded that as far as safety, environmental care and nutritive value of animal by-products is concerned, diversification and separation of slaughter by-product collection, storage, disposal and processing is necessary. Measures at source, the slaughterline, and some technologies are suggested for future use.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed2001

Failed recruitment of southern toads (Bufo terrestris) in a trace element-contaminated breeding habitat: direct and indirect effects that may lead to a local population sink.

We conducted a transplant study in which embryonic southern toads (Bufo terrestris) were held in a site polluted with coal ash (site AB; containing As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Se, and other elements) and a reference site (site R) through hatching and early larval development. To examine the remainder of the larval period, surviving larvae in AB were then transplanted to R and back-transplanted to AB, whereas surviving larvae from R were back-transplanted to R. Survival through early larval development was lower in AB than in R (34% versus 50%). However, site of hatching did not influence traits later in development (larval metabolic rate, larval morphology, duration of larval period, size at metamorphosis, or average hopping distance by metamorphs). Toads that spent the entire larval period in R had high rates of survival (70-94% of individuals transplanted after the embryonic period) regardless of where they spent the embryonic and early larval period. However, toads held in AB for the duration of the larval period suffered 100% mortality. Algal resources were scarce and their trace element concentrations high in AB compared to R, suggesting that mortality of larval toads resulted from a combination of direct toxicity (via sediment- and foodborne exposure) and indirect effects on resource abundance. The study suggests that the widespread practice of disposing of coal ash in open aquatic basins may result in sink habitats for some amphibian populations.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Investigations on mechanical biological treatment of waste in South America: towards more sustainable MSW management strategies.

This work presents an analysis on the suitability of mechanical biological treatment of municipal solid waste in South America, based on two previous experimental investigations carried out in two different countries. The first experiment was performed for determining the mass and volume reduction of MSW in the province of Concepción (Chile). The implemented bench-scale process consisted of a manual classification and separation stage, followed by an in-vessel biological degradation process. The second experiment consisted of a full-scale experiment performed in the city of Estrela (Brazil), where the existing municipal waste management facility was adapted to enhance the materials sorting and separation. Expressed in wet weight composition, 85.5% of the material input in the first experiment was separated for biological degradation. After 27 days of processing, 60% of the initial mass was reduced through degradation and water evaporation. The final fraction destined for landfilling equals 59% of the total input mass, corresponding to about 50% of the initial volume. In the second experiment, the fraction destined to landfill reaches 46.6% of the total input waste mass, whilst also significantly reducing the total volume to be disposed. These results, and the possible recovery of material streams suitable for recycling or for preparing solid recovered fuels, are the main advantages of the studied process.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed2001

Antibiotic resistant bacteria in fish from the Concepción Bay, Chile.

Antibiotic resistant bacteria from commercial demersal and pelagic fish captured in the Concepción Bay, Chile were investigated. Viable counts of antibiotic resistant bacteria isolated from gill and intestinal content samples showed high frequencies of resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin and tetracycline, while the proportion of chloramphenicol resistance was rather low. A high incidence of resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline and nitrofurantoin, as well as almost an absence of resistance to gentamicin, amikacin and cotrimoxazole was found among selected isolates which represented the resistant bacterial population. These strains mainly belonged to Vibrionaceae and Enterobacteriaceae and were predominantly resistant to 3 and 4 antibacterials. Isolates from demersal fish exhibited resistance to as many as 8-10 compounds, whereas those from pelagic fish were resistant to seven or fewer antibiotics. These results suggest that Chilean commercial fishes residing in waters near the disposals of urban sewage might play a role as carriers of antibiotic resistant bacteria prompting a health risk to public health for fish consumers.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Conditioning, thickening, and dewatering: research update/research needs.

The production of sludges that are amenable to beneficial reuse (and thereby merit the term "biosolids") has become a high priority concern in wastewater treatment. Regulations in many countries have become stringent in this regard, and the production of suitable biosolids now influences the selection, design, and operation of upstream processes. Among these are the conditioning, thickening, and dewatering of sludges. This paper briefly reviews current technology trends in these process areas, placing them in the context of overall needs for improved biosolids management. It is foreseen that conditioning, thickening and dewatering processes will need to operate at higher performance and reliability levels to maintain disposal and reuse flexibility. The chemistry of conditioning must be more clearly determined since secondary interactions of the conditioning additives may be important in ways that are not currently recognized.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed1986

Source assessment of hexachlorobenzene from the organic chemical manufacturing industry.

The Office of Solid Waste of the US Environmental Protection Agency determines the hazards of wastes produced by the organic chemical manufacturing industry. Based on these determinations, regulations have been laid down for many wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Additional wastes from this industry will be considered for regulation following further study and evaluation. Among the wastes under study are hexachlorobenzene (HCB)-containing wastes. Although HCB is no longer manufactured in the USA, the US Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that approximately 4130 t are generated annually as a by-product in the production of chlorinated organics and pesticides. Of this total, about 77% (3178 t) is generated from the production of three chlorinated solvents: tetrachloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride and trichloroethylene. All wastewater containing HCB is treated biologically in surface impoundments, resulting in HCB accumulation in the biological sludge. Disposal methods for HCB-containing sludges and distillation bottoms are incineration and landfilling, with 81% (3345 t) being incinerated and 19% (785 t) going to landfills.

Chemical Industry↗
PubMed1980

[Disposal of carcasses from the point of view of Austrian veterinary services (author's transl)].

In Austria five carcass rendering plants are at present in operation, having the following geographical distribution: Unterfrauenhaid-Raiding (Burgenland), Tulln (Lower Austria), Regau (Upper Austria), Lantscha (Styria) and Vienna. Moreover, there are two carcass incincerators in operation, one at Zell am See (Salzburg) and another in St. Johann in Tyrol. In addition, so-called carcass burying lots still exist to some extent. Implementation of carcass disposal and pertinent regulation fall within the responsibility of the federal states (Bundesländer). For the collection and disposal of the carcasses and waste, subject to compulsory handing over, the federal state or the respective carcass-processing institution levies duties or receives some form of recompense. So far, these payments have been primarily made by the communities, or also partly by the private person or body claiming this service. According to the new regulation, the Prime Minster of a Land establishes a cost-covering tariff to disburse the costs of collection, transport and disposal, as well as to provide for the formation of reserves and the amortization. These duties now have to be paid by the owners of the material subject to compulsory delivery (principle of causation).

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Environmental considerations for the disposal of PBB-contaminated animals and wastes.

Accidental contamination of livestock feed in 1973 by polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) led to the destruction of over 30,000 animals in Michigan. Animal carcasses of mostly dairy cattle along with some beef cattle, hogs, sheep and rabbits destroyed under the Federal Food and Drug Administration guidelines were disposed on the land at an environmentally safe site in Kalkaska County, Michigan. The geology and hydrology of the disposal site on state-owned land is considered favorable for the disposal of contaminated carcasses and to prevent any migration of PBBs into ground and surface waters of the area. Materials underneath the site are predominantly sand with layers of silts and clays of glacial origin. The vertical isolation from the surface to the water table is over 90 ft, and the horizontal isolation to the privately owned properties and surface water bodies is well over 1.5 mile in all directions. The site design provides necessary safeguards for minimizing surface water infiltration into disposal trenches and maximizing the protection to the environment. A series of water wells in the direction of flow are established for monitoring groundwater quality for years to come. A 40-acre Gratiot County landfill located near St. Louis, Michigan, has received 269,000 lb of wastes containing 60 to 70% PBBs between 1971 and 1973. PBB wastes are intermixed with general refuse at various depths predominantly in the eastern half of the landfill. Phase I of the hydrogeological investigation shows that the landfill is situated immediately above the groundwater aquifer and a divide. Recently drilled test wells show traces of PBBs in the aquifer in all directions. Additional studies are planned in the near future for corrective measures and monitoring.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Physical injury risk versus risk from hazardous waste remediation: a case history.

This study was conducted to estimate the transportation risks associated with the removal of contaminated soils near the ASARCO copper smelter in Ruston, Washington. Three remediation options involving removal of differing amounts of soil were considered. The risks of death, disabling, and nondisabling injury were estimated. Under the scenario requiring the greatest soil removal, 3.62 disabling injuries, 14.46 possibly disabling injuries, and 0.67 deaths are expected to result from transporting the contaminated soil to an approved hazardous waste disposal facility. If the contaminated soil is not removed, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 2 arsenic-related skin cancers per 1000 lifetimes for exposed persons will occur.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2004

Substance flow analysis of brominated flame retardants and related compounds in waste TV sets in Japan.

We conducted time-series substance flow analysis of two types of brominated flame retardants (BFRs)--polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)--and two types of related compounds--Sb (used with BFRs for flame inhibition) and polybrominated dibenzo dioxins and furans (PBDDs/DFs: unintended byproducts)--in five size categories of waste TV sets in Japan. Two scenarios were created with BFR substitutions and compared to a "business as usual" scenario in order to obtain basic information for strategic product management. The results showed that the use of DecaBDE in rear and front covers of TV sets began in fiscal 1987-1990 and 1993-1996, respectively, and that TBBPA was used to some extent as a substitute for DecaBDE in the 90s. The amount of waste Br in the plastic covers is predicted to increase until at least fiscal 2020 due to the increasing size of TV sets. Although substitution of BFRs with non-BFRs in Japan by 2006 will reduce waste Br, the amount in waste TV sets will not peak until fiscal 2009. The results will help inform decisions in Japan regarding the recovery and disposal of waste TV sets. The methods used would benefit waste managers faced with similar issues in other countries.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A field study of virus removal in septic tank drainfields.

Two field studies were conducted at a research station in Tampa, Florida to assess the removal of bacteriophage PRD1 from wastewater in septic tank drainfields. Infiltration cells were seeded with PRD1 and bromide and the effects of effluent hydraulic loading rate and rainfall on virus removal were monitored. Septic tank effluent samples were collected after passage through 0.6 m of unsaturated fine sand and PRD1 was detected over an average of 67 d. Bacteriophage PRD1 breakthrough was detected at approximately the same time as bromide in all three cells except for the low-load cell (Study 1), where bromide was never detected. Log10 removals of PRD1 were 1.43 and 1.91 for the high-load cells (hydraulic loading rate = 0.063 m/d) and 2.21 for the low-load cell (hydraulic loading rate = 0.032 m/d). Virus attenuation is attributed to dispersion, dilution, and inactivation. Significant increases in PRD1 elution with rainfall were observed in the first 10 d of the study. Approximately 125 mm of rainfall caused a 1.2 log10 increase of PRD1 detected at the 0.6-m depth. Current Florida onsite wastewater disposal standards, which specify a 0.6-m distance from the drainfield to the water table, may not provide sufficient removal of viruses, particularly during the wet season.

Bacteriophages↗
PubMed1979

Control of test substances.

The efficient control of chemicals during a nonclinical laboratory study is of the utmost importance from three main points of view: (1) integrity of the experiment, (2) safety of personnel, and (3) protection of the environment. While the general principles involved in chemical control may be set forth in formal GLPs, detailed problems concerning individual test substances can only be resolved by utilizing the competency and judgment of a researcher who possesses adequate analytical chemical methods. Integrity of an experiment requires knowledge of the identity, purity, and stability of the test substance, as well as its proper handling and storage and a knowledge of its chemical properties. Assurance of homogeneity, stability, and proper concentration of the chemical in the dosage form is also of primary importance. The development and use of adequate analytical chemical procedures for determining the test agent in human samples, air, clothing, and on work surfaces is necessary for the initiation of surveillance procedures to assure safety of personnel from exposure to the test substances. The environment must be protected from hazardous test substances by using adequate disposal techniques for the chemical and all contaminated materials. This usually involves development of wastewater cleanup systems and continuous monitoring of the effluent to prevent discharge of hazardous substances. Incineration is the most useful method for disposal of solids and highly contaminated liquids. Work from our laboratory, done during the past 5 years, provides an illustration of the important principles, problems, and pitfalls encountered in chemical control.

Environmental Exposure↗