Assessing the Fate of Emerging Pathogens in Biosolids

Since regulation 40 CFR Part 503 was developed, a number of pathogenic microorganisms have emerged as being of potential public health concern. However, data on their fate in biosolids treatment processing and their ability to survive and be transported in the environment after land application is lacking. Thus the specific objectives of this research were to: 1) assess the fate of several emerging pathogens (e.g., adenoviruses, hepatitis A virus, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria, and Cryptosporidium) during Class A and Class B biosolids treatment processes; 2) based on the results of 1, assess the fate and transport of the most significant organisms in biosolids applied to soil columns; and 3) assess the potential for selected pathogens to survive and be transported at a field site. Published by WERF. 166 pages. Online PDF. (2007)

Originally funded as WERF project 01-HHE-3.