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Landspreading of sludge from pulp and paper mills: Potential risks from dioxins and furans to terrestrial wildlife

Conference ·
OSTI ID:40051
;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States)
  2. Abt Associates, Bethesda, MD (United States)

Landspreading is a method of sludge disposal which fertilizes and conditions the soil. This analysis of landspreading of sludges from pulp and paper mills considered four application sites: pasture, cropland, areas of silviculture and mine reclamation. Exposure of wildlife to TCDD and TCDF was predicted to result from dietary ingestion of contaminated prey that have bioaccumulated and/or bioconcentrated dioxins and furans. Doses of TCDD and TCDF to wildlife were calculated using a pharmacokinetic model. These estimates of exposure were contrasted with hazard data estimates for birds and mammals. It was found that paper and pulp sludge land-application may lead to risks to terrestrial wildlife. Species which consume large amounts of food in a limited contaminated area, such as shrews, were predicted to be the most exposed and the most at risk.

OSTI ID:
40051
Report Number(s):
CONF-9410273--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English