Environmental Protection Agency biosolids

A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) study of 165 sludges showed nickel concentrations ranging from 2 to 3520mg/kg (dry basis).18 Nickel toxicity may develop in plants from application of municipal wastewater biosolids on acid soils. Nickel reduces yields for a variety of crops including oats, mustard, turnips, and cabbage. 

U.S. EPA (1995). A Guide to the Biosolids Risk Assessment for the EPA Part 503 Rule. EPA832-B-93-005. United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Waste Management, Washington, D.C. 

In recent years, improper disposal of various waste materials has posed serious threats to surface and groundwater supplies and developed into a global scale soil and water pollution problem [1], Heavy metals account for much of the contamination found at hazardous waste sites in the United States, and have been detected in the soil and groundwater at approximately 65% of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Superfund sites [2], Dramatic increases in land application of agricultural and municipal biosolids have accentuated the problem. In spite of their beneficial contributions as nutrient sources and soil conditioners, these amendments, if not monitored, pose a considerable environmental risk because of their high heavy-metal concentrations [3],... 

EPA. 2001a. Ammonia-N in water and biosolids by ion-selective electrode potentiometry with preliminary distillation. Method 1689. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, DC. EPA-821-R-01-012. 

EPA (1999) Biosolids generation, use and disposal in the United States. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste, Report No EPA530-R99-009... 

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