Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - 8:00 AM
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Occurrence of Emerging Contaminants in Biosolids: Implications in Land Application.

Thomas C. Granato, MWRD, 6001 W Pershing Rd, R&D Dept, Section 123, Cicero, IL 60804-4112

Farmland application of biosolids is a common practice in the US and throughout the World and is one of the most cost-effective biosolids management options for the municipalities. Biosolids are a valuable resource for farmers because they improve long-term productivity of soils, increase crop yield, and provide tremendous savings in fertilizer costs. However, the occurrence and fate of potentially endocrine disrupting anthropogenic compounds such as hormones, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products in the land-applied biosolids are emerging issues that can impact public perception about the safety of land application practice. These compounds enter the wastewater stream via atmospheric deposition and runoff into urban storm water drains, domestic wastewater, and industrial effluents; and they tend to accumulate in biosolids due to their hydrophobic nature and high affinity for organic carbon. In this paper, an overview of available information, the challenges, and the implications associated with the fate of these contaminants in land application of biosolids will be discussed.