Municipal sewage sludge application on Ohio farms: tissue metal residues and infections

Journal Article · Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1985 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(85)90098-2· OSTI ID:6037626

Reddy, C S; Dorn, C R; Lamphere, D N; Powers, J D

Transmission of infectious agents and translocation of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn from anaerobically digested sludge to the tissues of farm animals grazing on pastures to which sludge was applied (2-10 metric tons per hectare) were studied on eight farms. No significant health risk associated with the possible presence in sludge of Salmonella spp., or of common animal parasites including Nematodirus spp., Strongylus spp., Strongyloides spp., Trichuris spp., Eimeria spp., Ascaris spp., and Ancylostomum spp. was noted. Caudal fold as well as cervical tuberculin testing indicated no conversions from negative to positive following exposure of cattle to sludge. Significantly higher fecal Cd concentrations were detected in samples collected from cattle soon after being placed on sludge-treated pastures compared to preexposure values in the same animals. Significant Cd and Pb accumulations were found in the kidneys of calves grazing sludge-treated pastures compared to control calves. Although older cows grazing sludge-treated pastures had significantly higher blood Pb levels, no metal accumulation was observed in other tissues. Statistically significant accumulations of Cd and Pb in the kidney of calves grazing these pastures for a relatively short period suggest that caution should be exercised to avoid prolonged grazing of cattle on pastures receiving heavy sludge applications, especially with sludges containing high concentrations of heavy metals.

• Research Organization: Ohio State Univ., Columbus
• OSTI ID: 6037626
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Vol. 38:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CADMIUM
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
COPPER
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
ETIOLOGY
LEAD
SEWAGE SLUDGE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
GROUND DISPOSAL
ZINC
AGE DEPENDENCE
CATTLE
FARMS
FECES
GRAZING
OHIO
PARASITES
SALMONELLA
UPTAKE
ANIMALS
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
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DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION V
MAMMALS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
NORTH AMERICA
RUMINANTS
SEWAGE
SLUDGES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
VERTEBRATES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)