‘You are what you eat’ can be a comforting adage if you know more about the foods you eat and where they come from. Can these wise words from the past apply to sewage sludge used as a fertilizer on the land that grows our food and feeds our livestock?

Sewage sludge, or biosolids, is everything that goes down the drain of industries, businesses, homes and hospitals to a waste water treatment plant. Our natural human byproducts mix with the heavy metals, chemicals, pathogens and poisons at the waste water treatment plant, where it is heated, treated with chemicals and squeezed to extract the liquids from the solids. Water from the treatment plants is returned to the community and sometimes used to irrigate crops. Although waste water treatment plants were never intended to create fertilizer, half of the 7 million tons of sewage sludge created in America is land applied to farm fields, parks, golf courses and sold as bagged fertilizer.

Pennsylvania, one of the top sludged states, not only disposes of sludge waste from our own towns and cities but also imports sewage sludge from New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. Berks, Lancaster and York counties are some of Pennsylvania’s most fertile farm communities but also our largest sludged communities. Regardless of your home location, your food is coming from land that can legally use sewage sludge as a fertilizer. The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, legally allows sludge to be used as a ‘fertilizer option’, but is it safe? Where does your food come from?

World-wide, scientific studies and citizens groups – who are not funded by the sludge industry – are questioning the safety and sanity of pouring our modern waste on our food source. In fact, there are no scientific studies that prove the practice of pouring the heavy metals, pathogens and poisons found in sewage sludge on our food source is safe for human consumption. Studies include:

University of California scientists reported in January, 2009 studies concerning California’s sevenfold increase in autism, reaching the conclusion that the increase is most likely due to environmental exposures.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in April 2006, found 75% of the antiseptic soap ingredient, Triclocarban, survived the waste water treatment process. Scientist Helden stated, “We end up spreading a known reproductive toxicant on the soil where we grow our food.”

Imperial College of London and University of Birmingham released studies in September 2008, linking the spread of Salmonella and E. coli 0157, ” ….in vegetables if they are fertilized with contaminated manure, irrigated with contaminated water, or if they come in contact with contaminated products during cutting, washing and packing.”

Cornell Waste Management Institute traced the heavy metals uptake and concentrations in vegetables and animal grain crops grown in sludged fields. Studies noted concentrations of known toxic heavy metals, including Dioxin, in human food supplies including vegetables, milk and meat.

In fact, there are no scientific studies that prove the practice of pouring the heavy metals, pathogens and poisons found in sewage sludge on our food source is safe for human consumption.

Farms throughout America, including Georgia, Vermont, Washington and Missouri, have been destroyed by the toxic pollutants in sludge. The farmers often encounter financial ruin. In some cases, such as United States vs. Cooper, the farmer was charged and imprisoned for improper disposal of Class B sludge. In other cases, such as Georgia farmer Andy McElmurray, the guaranteed safe sludge caused the death of his land and lifestyle. With the filtered information and constant reassurance of safety or the sludge, McElmurray had no idea that the sludge contained levels of arsenic, toxic heavy metals and PCBs two to 2,500 times federal health standards. His cows died a slow and painful death while he searched for an answer, finally finding the free and ‘safe’ fertilizer was the cause of the problem. Even years after halting sludge application, his farm is still too toxic to support plants and livestock. In McElmurray’s court case, McElmurray vs. USDA, Judge Alaimo stated, “Senior EPA officials took extraordinary steps to quash dissent and any questioning of the EPA’s biosolids program.”

Some exciting and innovative approaches to sewage sludge disposal have finally started settling into the American problem-solving mindset. Following the lead of countries like Sweden and Germany, who have used sludge as an alternative fuel source for over 30 years, cities throughout America are re-evaluating sewage as a toxic ‘fertilizer’ and turning it into a renewable resource.

According to Dr. Caroline Snyder, founder of Citizens for a Sludge-Free Land and investigative scientist, “There are more cost-effective and environmentally friendlier ways to manage the tons of sludge that are generated daily by the nation’s wastewater treatment plants. Currently, between 40% and 60% of wastewater treatment costs are devoted to sludge management. Existing, new, and emerging technologies as well as more cost-effective technologies exist that use sludge as a biomass feedstock for generating renewable energy.

“For example, in St. Paul, MN, three low emission fluidized bed incinerators, using the Von Roll technology, treat the city’s sludge at an annual energy savings of over a million dollars. In Rochester, NH, landfill methane, that otherwise would contribute to global warming, is piped to Durham to power the University of New Hampshire campus. In Greensboro, NC, landfill methane helps power a cotton mill. In Stranford, FL a gasification system uses sludge to produce syngas.”

Throughout the nation, people are learning more about our food sources and the industries and bureaucracies that have shifted our focus away from the family farm. As political views catch up with the ethical and moral community opinions, the science that supports healthy living, lifestyles and choices becomes evident. Common sense leads us to question the practice of pouring our modern waste on our food source. Reclaiming responsibility for our food supply and community leads us to make America healthy and safe for all citizens.

Until the practice of using sewage sludge as fertilizer is stopped, protect your family’s food and water source:
1) Buy USDA organic – no sludge allowed!
2) Ask the local farmer where you buy produce if they use sludge or biosolids.
3) Buy from food companies like Delmonte and Heinz who pledge to be sludge-free.
4) Contact your favorite food suppliers and tell them of your concerns.
5) Educate yourself - www.usludgefree.org – and get involved.

United Sludge-Free Alliance is excited to participate at the Pennsylvania Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Festival Sept. 18th-20th in Kempton, PA. Drawing over 10,000 visitors annually, the festival presents programs, workshops, speakers, films and endless options to educate, enlighten and entertain. We are pleased to present our speakers: Darree Sicher, US-FA founder and member, discussing ‘Sewage Sludge In Your Food & Water’ will present 10:00 am on Saturday and Jeff Moyer, Chairman of the National Organics Standards Board and Rodale Farm Manager, discussing ‘What’s New In the National Organics Standards’ will present 3:30pm on Friday. Why is USDA Organic sludge-free? Who is pushing to change that? Plus, Bullfrog Films will be showing the film ‘Crapshoot’ during the festival for even more sludge education. * We need your help at our information booth # 95 (psst.if you help, you get into the festival free!). Check the schedule of events and contact us at usfa@usludgefree.org or 610-823-8258 to volunteer. This is your opportunity to educate others about the health and safety concerns of sewage sludge on our food, water and communities!

Darree Sicher is the founder of United Sludge-Free Alliance. For more information visit www.usludgefree.org or call 610-823-8258.