Research

There have been many studies on the use of organically derived fertilizer on soils.This research has focused on both the efficacy and safety of the use of organically derived fertilizer as a soil amendment and a soil conditioner.Here is a selection of relevant research studies:

Global Atlas of Excreta, Wastewater Sludge, and Management: Moving Forward the Sustainable and Welcome uses of a Global Resource

Biosolids – A Fuel or a Waste

Assessing the Fate and Significance of Microconstituents and Pathogens in Sewage Sludge

Examples of Scientific Studies Relating to the Use of Biosolids

Surveys, Literature Review and Analytical Results for Biosolids

General Information

• A&L Laboratories, Ontario

   
• Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment (CCME),

   
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

   
• University of Arizona – research on the benefits and potential health and environmental impact of biosolids

   

General Research

• Canadian Journal of Analytical Science and Spectroscopy. 2004, Unregulated Metals in Municipal Biosolids: Determinations of Sn and Tl. Hargreaves, J., Smith, P., Hale, B., 49(2), 1-7.
• Global Atlas of Excreta, Wastewater Sludge, and Management: Moving Forward the Sustainable and Welcome uses of a Global Resource, 2008; UN Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT).

   
• Journal of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2010.Triclocarban, Triclosan, PolybrominatedDiphenyl Ethers, and 4-Nonylphenol in Biosolids and in Soil Receiving 33-Year Biosolids Application;Xia et al.

   
• National Research Council (US), Biosolids Applied to Land:Advancing Standards and Practices,

   
• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, 2004, Biosolids Land Application Project (Golden Horseshoe Soil and Crop Improvement Association).

   
• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, 2009,Field Survey of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in Sewage Biosolids Treated Ontario Agricultural Soils:

   
• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food,Sewage Biosolids: A Valuable Nutrient Source,

   
• Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Biosolids: What biosolids are; How biosolids are used; How Ontario ensures biosolids are safe to use,

   
• Quebec Ministry of the Environment, Land application of biosolids in Saguenay: Impacts on soil quality 16 years later;presented at the 5th Canadian Residuals & Biosolids Conference, Water Environment Association,Perron and Hebert, September, 2009,

   
• Water Environment Association of Ontario, 2010. Assessing the Fate and Significance of Microconstituents and Pathogens in Sewage Sludge;

   

Research on land application of biosolids

• Agricultural Water Management, 2006,Prediction of liquid municipal biosolids and precipitation induced tile flow in a Southern Ontario agricultural field using MACRO. Akhand, D.R., Lapen, D.R., Edwards, M., Topp, E., Sabourin, L., Ball-Coelho, B., Duenk, P., Payne, M. 83:37-50.
• American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), 2008, Using MACRO to simulate liquid sewage biosolids transport to tile drains for several land application methods. Akhand, N, Lapen, D.R., Topp, E., Edwards, M., Sabourin, L., Ball-Coelho, B., Duenk P., Payne, M.; Trans. 51:1235-1245.
• ASABE, 2006, Persistence associated with liquid swine manure and liquid municipal biosolids in repacked sand columns with artificial macropores. Rahman, S., Topp, E., Edwards, M., and Lapen, D.R. 2006. Annual International Meeting, Paper number: 0621
• Biosystems Eng., 2007, Potential of brilliant blue dye to inform timing of liquid biosolid application. Turpin, K.M., D.R. Lapen, M.J.L. Robin, E. Topp, M. Edwards, W.E. Curnoe, B. Ball-Coelho, N.B. McLaughlin and M. Payne; 98:235-247.
• Commonwealth of Virginia, December 22, 2008.HJR 694 Biosolids Expert Panel Final Report

   
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007, Epidemiological Surveillance and Investigation of Illness Reported by Neighbours of Biosolids Land Application Sites, Phase I, (WERF 06-HHE-5PP). Aitken, M., Crump, C., Heaney, C., Lowman, A., MacDonald, P., and Wing, S.
• Water Environment Federation Residuals and Biosolids conference, Portland, Oregon. May 2009. Pathogen Characterization of Fresh and Stored Biosolids and Implications of a Screening Level Microbial Risk Assessment. Flemming, C., Soller, J., Simhon, A., Seto E. 2009.

Research on pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in biosolids

• Chemosphere, 2007, Sample Storage and Extraction Efficiencies in Determination of Polycyclic and Nitro Musks in Sewage Sludge; SA Smyth, L Lishman, M Alaee, S Kleywegt, L Svoboda, J-J Yang, H-B Lee and P Seto;, V. 67 pp 267-275.
• International Water Association (IWA) Specialist Conference on Moving Forward Biosolids Sustainability, June 2007, Moncton, NB. Fate of Polycyclic and Nitro Musks during Aerobic and Anaerobic Sludge Digestion; SA Smyth, L Lishman, EA McBean, S Kleywegt, J-J Yang, ML Svoboda, H-B Lee and P Seto;
• Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science, 2007,Seasonal occurrence and removal of polycyclic and nitro musks from wastewater treatment plants in Ontario, Canada. Smyth, S.A., Lishman, L., McBean, E.A., Kleywegt, S., Yang, J.J., Svoboda, M.L., Lee, H-B., and Seto; P. 7, 299-317.
• Journal of Environmental Quality, 2008, Effect of Liquid Municipal Biosolids Application Method on Tile and Ground Water Quality,Lapen, D. R., Topp, E., Edwards M., Sabourin L., Curnoe W., Gottschall N., Bolton, P., Rahman, S., Ball-Coelho, B., Payne. M., Kleywegt, S., McLaughlin N. 37, 925-936.
• Science of the Total Environment, 2006, Occurrence and Reductions of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products and Estrogen by Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants in Ontario, Canada;L. Lishman, SA Smyth, K. Sarafin, S Kleywegt, J. Toito, T Peart, H-B Lee, M Servos, M. Beland and P Seto;
• Science of the Total Environment, 2008, Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in tile drainage following land application of municipal biosolids,Lapen, D.R., Topp, E., Metcalfe, C.D., Li, H.X., Edwards, M., Gottschall, N., Bolton, P., Curnoe, W.E., Payne, M., Beck, A., 2008., 399, 50-65.
• Science of the Total Environment, 2008.Runoff of pharmaceuticals and personal care products following application of biosolids to an agricultural field. Topp E., Moteiro S.C., Beck, A., Coelho B.B., Boxall A., Duenk P.W., Kleywegt S., Lapen D.R., Payne P., Sabourin L., Li H., Metcalfe C. D.
• Water Quality Research Journal of Canada, 2007,Polycyclic and nitro musks in Canadian municipal wastewater: occurrence and removal in wastewater treatment.Smyth, S.A., Lishman, L., McBean, E.A., Kleywegt, S., Yang, J.J., Svoboda, M.L., Ormonde, S., Pileggi, V., Lee, H-B., and Seto; P. 24 (3), 138-152.

Research on pathogens and veterinary medicines in biosolids

• Bioresource Technology Journal, 1999, Impact of animal manures and their heavy metal content on agricultural land, Nicolson et al.
• Environmental Science and Technology, 2003, Are Veterinary Medicines Causing Environmental Risks,Cranfield Center for Ecochemistry, US Geological Survey, Danish University of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the German Henkel KGAA, Vol. 37 (15),

   
• Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry, 2006, Research on the uptake of veterinary medicines into plants, Boxall, et al, Vol. 54 (6).
• Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 2007, Impact of animal manures and their heavy metal content on agricultural land, Toor et al,

   
• University of Guelph, Food Safety Network, Research on the threat to human health resulting from the use of antibiotics in animal production
• University of North Carolina, Michigan State University and Texas A&M University, Pathogens in animal wastes and the impacts of waste management practices on their survival, transport and fate, Sobsey et al,

   
• Veterinary pharmaceuticals detected in soils, surface water and groundwater

     
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2010, Dairy Cattle as a Source of Food or Waterborne Illness,

   

Research on the use of biosolids for land reclamation and forestry projects

• Dr. Sally Brown, Associate Professor, School of Forest Resources, University of Washington, Seattle ,2011 Roscoe Ellis Guest Lecturer at Kansas State University, Department of Agronmy; Research specialty – soil remediation by using residuals. Interview on K-State Radio Network: Agriculture Today: March 2011.