WASHINGTON, D.C. – AUGUST 2002 – DIRECTOR OF AMERICAN NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOC. GETS
STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS INFECTION OF HIS SKIN FROM CLASS A SLUDGE/COMPOST – RECOMMENDS
USE OF DUST MASK AND GLOVES WHEN HANDLING CLASS A SLUDGE
http://mailman.cloudnet.com/pipermail/compost/2002-August/004231.html
>>> wquinn@anla.org 08/06/02 03:58PM >>>
I got a Staphylococcus aureus infection of my skin from handling composted sewage sludge ("biosolids") at my home,
so that's enough research for me.
It was easily treated with antibiotics, but it could have been bad news if I had not recognized it as something to see
the doctor about before it got very far. Now that I know about this risk, it is fairly simple to keep it from happening
again by wearing a dust mask and gloves, not scratching any itches while working with it, and washing up well with an
antibacterial soap. Not sure where the PR is on this, but it seems to me that the industry is not being very pro-active
in educating the companies using the product (I was in the landscape business for several years in the 80's and
never heard of any risks with using the product to amend soil on residential landscapes), and the general public is
certainly not aware of it – yet. Which makes this a classic case of a need for an industry to get ahead of the
negative PR curve - educating people about the risks and how to minimize them - or risk a comprehensive regulatory
response that would hurt the industry.
____________________________________
Warren A. Quinn, Esq.
Director of Operations
American Nursery & Landscape Association
1000 Vermont Ave., NW Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005
direct: 202/789-5980, ext 3009
fx: 202/789-1893
email: wquinn@anla.org
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