EPA's Biosolids Technology Fact Sheet Use of Composting for Biosolids Management

EPA states it is safe, BUT THERE ARE: DISADVANTAGES
http://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/combioman.pdf

The disadvantages are that it may cause death, disease, cancer, etc.,

  • Odor production at the composting site.

        must also be controlled

  • Potential environmental impacts may result from both composting operations and use of the compost product


  • Composting is not a sterilization process and a properly composted product maintains an active population of
       beneficial microorganisms that compete against the pathogenic members. Under some conditions ,explosive
       regrowth of pathogenic microorganisms is possible.

  • Dispersion of secondary pathogens such as Aspergillus fumigatus, particulate matter,other airborne allergens

  • While healthy individuals may not be affected, immunocompromised individuals may be at risk.

  • The spores of A. fumigatus counts at composting facilities are high, and-- persons handling composted biosolids
  • being exposed to these spores is also high (Epstein, 1998).

  • These organisms can potentially invade a normal, healthy human being and produce illness or debilitation

  • Lack of consistency in product quality with reference to metals, stability, and maturity.

  • Dust and airborne particles from a composting operation may affect air quality. The impact to adjacent areas
    may need to be mitigated and  permitted to protect area ecology and water quality, run-off from application sites
       must be controlled. The potential nitrogen and phosphorus rich run-off (or leachate) can cause algal growth in
       surface water and render groundwater unfit for human consumption.

  • Organic dust (such as pollen) is another nuisance that must be controlled at composting operations. These
       contaminants are primarily a concern to workers at the composting facilities and are generally not present in
       quantities that would cause reactions in most individuals that are not exposed outside of the facilities.

  • It should be noted that the most plant-available form of nitrogen in biosolids (ammonium ion (NH4 )) is converted
       to nitrate (NO3 -) by the composting process.

  • Improper use of biosolids can result in the contamination of water resources with leached nitrogen, because
       nitrate is more mobile than ammonium, and is taken up less easily by plants