Elizabeth A. Pozzebon & Lars Seifert.
Emerging environmental health risks associated with the land application of biosolids: a scoping review.
Environmental Health. 2023. 22(57) Open access under Creative Commons License.  Shareable with credit to original article and link to
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Shareable link: https://rdcu.be/dI232

Abstract

Background --Over 40% of the six million dry metric tons of sewage sludge, often referred to as biosolids, produced annually in the United States is land applied. Biosolids serve as a sink for emerging pollutants which can be toxic and persist in the environment, yet their fate after land application and their impacts on human health have not been well studied. These gaps in our understanding are exacerbated by the absence of systematic monitoring programs and defined standards for human health protection.
Methods --  The purpose of this paper is to call critical attention to the knowledge gaps that currently exist regarding emerging pollutants in biosolids and to underscore the need for evidence-based testing standards and regulatory frameworks for human health protection when biosolids are land applied. A scoping review methodology was used to identify research conducted within the last decade, current regulatory standards, and government publications regarding emerging pollutants in land applied biosolids.
Results -- Current research indicates that persistent organic compounds, or emerging pollutants, found in pharmaceuticals and personal care products, microplastics, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have the potential to contaminate ground and surface water, and the uptake of these substances from soil amended by the land application of biosolids can result in contamination of food sources. Advanced technologies to remove these contaminants from wastewater treatment plant influent, effluent, and biosolids destined for land application along with tools to detect and quantify emerging pollutants are critical for human health protection.
Conclusions -- To address these current risks, there needs to be a significant investment in ongoing research and infrastructure support for advancements in wastewater treatment; expanded manufacture and use of sustainable products; increased public communication of the risks associated with overuse of pharmaceuticals and plastics; and development and implementation of regulations that are protective of health and the environment.

A Systematic Review of Management Practices for Biosolids Land Application by Jon D. Abdon1.

This review gathers existing knowledge and related information regarding biosolids and the current management practices and regulations that dictate land application limits. It also suggests changes to current management practices and regulations that might be outdated and inconsiderate towards public health risks.

EPA was authorized by the Clean Water Act to regulate toxic chemicals in biosolids exported from wastewater treatment plants.   This is important for PFAS control because PFAS travel through wastewater systems to treatment plants.  The PFAS are not destroyed.  Rather, they are in biosolids produced by the plants.  EPA could regulate the PFAS in biosolids but does not. 

Materials in this section explain the EPA approach to regulating metals in biosolids.  Several metals have limits for concentrations in biosolids. 

Materials in this section also show what EPA has done so far on biosolids.  It has done some research about biosolids and produced a report in 1999.  But the report did not include anything about PFAS. 

General Information from EPA about Biosolids

• US EPA.  Biosolids.  Main Web Page.  Updated in 2023.  https://www.epa.gov/biosolids (accessed 05.23.24)  This page provides links to EPA information about biosolids.
• US EPA. Biosolids Generation, Use and Disposal in the US, September 1999.  https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-12/documents/biosolids-generation-use-disposal-us.pdf  Note:  copy this link and paste it into your browser to access this report.  (SC web site does not allow direct access to PDFs)  In this report, EPA describes practices for generation and uses of biosolids but does not address or even mention PFAS chemicals.

Information about EPA Rules that Limit Concentrations of Certain Metals in Biosolids

National Biosolids Data Project

This project provides data on biosolids management in the United States. According to the data from 2018, over half (53%) of wastewater solids (sewage sludges) are treated and recycled to soils as biosolids fertilizers and soil amendments.

US EPA

In a 2019 report, Biosolids Generation, Use, and Disposal in the United States, EPA estimated   that approximately 6.9 million tons of biosolids were generated in 1998.  About 60% was applied to land, composted, or used as land cover.  

This report estimates that 7.1 million tons of biosolids will be generated for use or disposal in 2000, growing to 7.6 million tons in 2005 and to 8.2 million tons in 2010.

EPA has delegated authority under the Clean Water Act to manage biosolids to nine states.  Numbers from these states may not be included in the EPA estimates provided above.  The states are Arizona, Idaho, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin

State of Oklahoma -- Extension Service

More than 50,000 dried tons of stabilized municipal biosolids are land applied in Oklahoma each year. More than 60 percent of the municipal biosolids produced in Oklahoma have been successfully land applied. The remainder of the produced biosolids is landfilled and none of the biosolids are incinerated in Oklahoma. The treatment of wastewater and disposal of biosolids in Oklahoma are regulated by the Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ).

National Biosolids Data Project (NBDP)

The NBDP collects and provides data on biosolids management in the United States, organized by state, as well as  national summaries and data downloads.  The Project relies upon reporting from biosolids programs.

A new report was posted in March 2024 and is now  available to the public.   Download is available for free to non-profit entities.  https://www.biosolidsdata.org

The NBDP’s previous 2018  report probably the most comprehensive dataset on biosolids regulation, use  and disposal in the US at the time.  The Project relies upon reporting from biosolids programs.

Environmental Council of the States (ECOS)

ECOS published  PFAS in Biosolids: A Review of State Efforts & Opportunities for Action in January 2023.  https://www.ecos.org/documents/pfas-in-biosolids-a-review-of-state-efforts-opportunities-for-action/

This report presents findings on how states manage biosolids, and where opportunities exist for regulation, research, and risk communication.  ECOS is an active partner with EPA on many environmental management issues.  The report is based on state responses to a survey from ECOS.  Thirty seven states responded to the survey.  The results are presented in a mostly narrative format that varies in clarity from topic to topic.  But it can be an interesting starting point to learn about what your state and others may be doing (or not doing)

ECOS -- State Pages for PFAS Information at https://www.ecos.org/pfas/

ECOS has a live list of State web sites for PFAS information.  This is located at the end of the document at the url shown above.  Keep scrolling to the end and you will see the list of states.  We have not tested this resource as yet.