Conference proceeding
Predicting pathogen transport and risk of infection from land-applied biosolids
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Vol.2011
Dec 2011
Abstract
Biosolids have been recycled as fertilizer to sustainably improve and maintain productive soils and to stimulate plant growth for over forty years, but may contain low levels of microbial pathogens. The Spreadsheet Microbial Assessment of Risk: Tool for Biosolids ("SMART Biosolids") is an environmental transport, exposure and risk model that compiles knowledge on the occurrence, environmental dispersion and attenuation of biosolids-associated pathogens to estimate microbial risk from biosolids land application. The SMART Biosolids model calculates environmental pathogen concentrations and assesses risk associated with exposure to pathogens from land-applied biosolids through five pathways: 1) inhalation of aerosols from land application sites, 2) consumption of groundwater contaminated by land-applied biosolids, 3) direct ingestion of biosolids-amended soils, 4) ingestion of plants contaminated by land-applied biosolids, and 5) consumption of surface water contaminated by runoff from a land application site. The SMART Biosolids model can be applied under a variety of scenarios, thereby providing insight into effective management practices. This study presents example results of the SMART Biosolids model, focusing on the groundwater and surface water pathways, following biosolids application to a typical site in Michigan. Volumes of infiltration and surface water runoff are calculated following a 100-year storm event. Pathogen transport and attenuation through the subsurface and via surface runoff are modeled, and pathogen concentrations in a downstream well and an adjacent pond are calculated. Risks are calculated for residents of nearby properties. For a 100-year storm event occurring immediately after biosolids application, the surface water pathway produces risks that may be of some concern, but best estimates do not exceed the bounds of what has been considered acceptable risk for recreational water use (Table 1); groundwater risks are very uncertain and at the upper bound may exceed both drinking water and recreational standards, but these risks would be associated with very shallow groundwater (depth of 3 feet), which would not typically be used as a potable water source. Comparisons across pathogens are presented, as are the effects of different site management practices. Risk from Surface Water Recreational Swimming Following a 1 in 100 Year Storm Event.
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Details
- Title
- Predicting pathogen transport and risk of infection from land-applied biosolids
- Creators
- M. S. Olson - Drexel University, Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Philadelphia, PA USA United StatesJ. TengA. KumarP. GurianAnonymous
- Publication Details
- American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Vol.2011
- Conference
- American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (2011)
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering
- Identifiers
- 991019222867704721