Potential polychlorinated biphenyl residues in animal products from application of contaminated sewage sludge to land

Journal Article · · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5477272

Fries, G F

Laboratory studies and field observations involving polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) and related compounds were used in making an assessment of residues in animal products from the application of sewage sludge to agricultural land. Animals can become exposed to PCB's applied to land by three routes: direct ingestion of sewage sludge that adheres to plants during sludge application, ingestion of plants indirectly contaminated by uptake or volatilization from the soil, and ingestion of contaminated soil when grazing. The last route has the greatest realistic potential for producing residues in animal products from a given rate of long-term application of PCB-contaminated sludge to land. Feeding experiments with PCB's indicate that the steady-state milk-fat concentrations are about five times the diet conconcentrations (dry basis) in dairy cattle and that the steady-state body-fat concentration will be similar in non-lactating animals. Soil consumption by grazing dairy cows can be as high as 14% of dry-matter intake when the amount of available forage is low and no supplemental feed is used. This could cause milk-fat residues of 0.7 ppm for each ppm of PCB in surface soil. There is little root absorption and translocation of PCB's to the aerial parts of plants. Plants can become contaminated by volatilization of PCB's from soil and redeposition on the plants if the residue occurs at the soil surface. Field experience with other halogenated hydrocarbons suggest that volatilization and redepostion of PCB's will be less important in determining rates of PCB-containing sludge that can be applied to land than direct animal ingestion of sludge or contaminated soil.

• Research Organization: Pesticide Degradation Lab., Beltsville, MD
• OSTI ID: 5477272
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 11:1; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION
AGRICULTURE
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY FLUIDS
CATTLE
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
DAIRY INDUSTRY
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
FOOD
FOOD CHAINS
FOOD INDUSTRY
GRAZING
GROUND DISPOSAL
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDUSTRY
MAMMALS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MILK
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
RESIDUES
RUMINANTS
SEWAGE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SOILS
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES
VOLATILITY
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES