Letter to EPA
Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 6:20 PM
Subject: Staph aureus in sewage sludge biosolids, US EPA, Univ. of Toledo, SNIFFER, Dr. David Lewis
Staphylococcus aureus is a dangerous superbug which is causing an epidemic of sickness and death. Even "healthy"
children are being stricken. Public health officials report more people are now dying of s. aureus infections in the
US than from AIDS.
S. Aureus has grown increasingly more virulent and antibiotic resistant in the past few years. S. aureus can be found
on human skin and in the nose without causing illness. But it if enters the body through a scratch, abrasion or wound,
s. aureus can cause boils, sinusitis, emesis, diarrhea, endocarditis, scalded skin syndrome, osteomyelitis, urinary tract
infection, impetigo, folliculitis, wound infections, osteomyelitis, toxic shock syndrome, pneumonia, and a host of other
diseases, many of which can be fatal.
The germ, which can be spread by casual contact, produces potent toxins that kill disease-fighting white blood cells.
That rapidly turns minor rug
burns, cuts and other skin infections into serious health problems, including "necrotizing" abscesses that eat away
tissue.
Previously, such cases were thought to be caused only by strep bacteria.
Research in 2001 by Dr. David Lewis, USEPA retired, and others, found that many neighbors exposed to sewage
sludge landspreading sites in Riverside County, California, and Robesonia, Pennsylvania, suffered staph aureus
infections, including the deaths of two young boys, ages 11 and 17.
"Affected residents lived within approximately 1 km of land application sites and were exposed to dust and water runoff
from fields treated with sewage sludge indicate a pattern of chemical irritation (e.g., skin rashes and burning of the
eyes, throat, and lungs) after exposure to winds blowing from treated fields. Symptoms, such as burning eyes, burning
lungs, difficulty in breathing, and skin lesions, are followed within days to months by complaints of gastrointestinal, skin
and respiratory infections." A prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus infections of the skin and respiratory tract was
found. Approximately 1 in 4 of 54 individuals were infected, including 2 mortalities (septicaemia, pneumonia). "
Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogen found in land applied sewage sludge (see attached file). While s. aureus
infections can be transmitted by casual contact, neighbors of sludge sites are at greater risk because they are
exposed to dust, wind, airborne chemicals, pathogens and irritants from the sludged fields which weaken their immune
systems and make them more vulnerable to infections, including secondary infections from staph aureus. Another
pathway of risk pointed out by Dr. Joseph Farrell, US EPA retired, is family pets which walk or roll on sludged fields and
then carry sludge pathogens home on their feet and fur. Any break in the skin can expose a victim to a
life-threatening s. aureus infection.
I receive complaints from around the country that sewage sludge "biosolids" is being dumped near residential
neighborhoods and schools. Victims report wrenching odors and airborne (and waterborne) pathogens and chemicals
which cause toxic fumes, swollen, burning eyes, shortness of breath, coughs, asthma, headaches, nausea, skin
lesions, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, and severe allergic reactions.
Residents complain to local agencies - local officials "investigate" -- and they are invariably told by state officials "it is
legal" - and the "US EPA says it is okay."
Well, it is not "legal" or "okay" to make people sick. It is not "legal" or "okay" to expose children to a killer superbug. It
is not "okay" to continue with the landspreading of Class B sewage sludge when there has NEVER been a study or risk
assessment of the impact on human health from exposure to the myriad of sludge pathogens and pollutants. And
there NEVER WILL BE a risk assessment because the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council very
honestly stated it is NOT POSSIBLE to do a risk assessment on the combination of chemicals and pathogens to which
sludge victims are exposed. It is not even possible to KNOW WHAT combination of toxic chemicals and
disease-causing pathogens are present in any particular load of sludge without extensive and very costly testing.
NOT likely !
Phony baloney "research" by sludge-industry friendly "scientists" has no credibility or value.
This nation-wide epidemic of Staphylococcus aureus sickness and death makes it incumbent upon the EPA and the
waste industry to take immediate action to stop exposing the public to this (and other) virulent, dangerous pathogens
by ending the landspreading of Class B sewage sludge. You have full knowledge of the problem and risk. Your
failure to act should make you legally culpable for the damages and expenses suffered by victims.
Helane Shields, PO Box 1133, Alton, NH 03809 603-875-3842 email: hshields@worldpath.net