EPA Biosolids
Program Update
Rick Stevens
Office of Water
Michigan Water Environment Association
Bay city, MI
February 21, 2008
Office of Water
Management & Operations
Staff
Water Policy Staff
Communications Team
Office of the
Assistant Administrator
American Indian
Environmental Office
Assistant Administrator,
Benjamin Grumbles
Resources Management
Staff
Office of Ground Water
& Drinking Water
Water Security Division
Senior Policy Advisor
Office of Science & Technology
Director, Ephraim S. King
Deputy Dir, Suzanne Rudzinski
Engineering & Analysis
Division
Director, Mary T. Smith
Drinking Water Protection
Division
Health & Ecological
Criteria Division
Director, Edward Ohanian
Standards & Risk
Management Division
Standards & Health
Protection Division
Director, Denise Keehner
Office of Wastewater
Management
Municipal Support Division
Water Permits Division
Office of Wetlands, Oceans
& Watersheds
Assessment & Watershed
Protection Division
Oceans & Coastal
Protection Division
Wetlands Division
2
Program Areas
Health & Ecological Criteria Division
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
•
Water Quality Criteria
•
Drinking and recreational
waters
•
Nutrients / Sediment
•
Biosolids
•
Emerging Contaminants
Emerging Contaminants in Water*
PFOA
Pharmaceuticals
and Personal Care
Products
Nanomaterials
Pesticides
Pathogens
Prions
Endocrine
Disrupting
Compounds
PBDEs
*Not an exhaustive list.
4
Estimating the Universe of ECs
Chemicals
CAS Registry*
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality

31 million organic and inorganic substances

Updated daily with ~4000 new substance records
*American Chemical Society’s Chemical Abstracts Service
Estimating the Universe of ECs
Pathogens
Known
– Viruses
• Hepatitis
• Adenovirus 12
• Norovirus
– Bacteria
• Salmonella spp. (to include S. enterica)
• Escherichia coli
• Enterococcus spp.
• Campylobacter spp.
– Parasites
• Giardia
• Cryptosporidium
Emerging
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
– E. coli strains:
• Escherichia coli O157:H7 [enterohemorrhagic/Shiga-toxin producing; EHEC or
STEC]
• Antibiotic-resistant (focus on vancomycin- and methicillin-)
– Analogous Salmonella typhimurium strains
6
Emerging Contaminants (ECs)
What are they?
EU Definition:
–
–
–
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
New chemicals produced to offer
improvements in industry, agriculture,
medicine, and common conveniences.
New reasons for concern for existing
contaminants.
New capabilities enabling improved
examination of contaminants.
7
What’s in a Name
What to call these ‘compounds’ without
negatively branding them as “worry” or
“concern”
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality

Emerging Contaminants of Concern

Emerging Substances of Concern

Compounds of Potential Concern

Pollutants of Potential Concern

Compounds of Emerging Concern

Emerging Contaminants

Microconstituents
8
Biosolids Micro/Trace Constituents
The Latest Hype?
“Even with respect to their environmental
impacts, the trace amounts released to
the environment from biosolids land
application are insignificant…”
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
Source: Viewpoint in a November/December 2006 WEF
Newsletter
9
So Why the Interest?
•
•
•
ECs illustrate the connection of individuals’
activities with their environment
A large number of chemicals are getting into
the environment with known and unknown
concentrations and effects
Detection of these chemicals is likely to
increase
– Analytical methods are developed
– Look
•
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
•
Numerous reports of intersex fish and other
species have triggered Congressional and
public interest
No evidence of adverse human health effects
10
Key Biosolids Issues
•
•
•
•
To ensure that Part 503 standards are
protective
The US population is expected to
double in 72 years
What to do with increased volume of
residuals
55% current production
is land-applied
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
11
Key Biosolids Issues
•
•
<1% of nearly 470 million acres of
agricultural land
US is essentially self supportive in food
production…indications of potential concern
o
o
•
•
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
•
Reaching food-production capacity
Loss of arable land and population increase
Biosolids helps replenish OM, nutrients, buffer
pH
Less a nuisance and more a resource
Must first address the technical, regulatory and
communication challenges
12
Current knowledge
and future concerns
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
•
Are biosolids a human health or
environmental concern?
•
Do we understand all the risks?
•
Do we have all the needed risk assessment
tools?
•
Do we fully understand how well treatment
of biosolids eliminates health and
environmental risks?
13
EPA’s Biosolids Action Plan
•
In setting priority actions, we considered
certain questions:
o
o
o
•
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
Would the action provide a link for detecting
and quantifying pollutants
Would the action help ensure protectiveness of
Part 503
Would the action address scientific and policy
complexities posed by land application
We also considered input form a variety of
sources
o
o
o
NAS recommendations
Public comments / WERF Research Summit
EPA priorities
14
EPA’s Biosolids Action Plan
Three categories / objectives
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
1.
Advancing our understanding of science,
technology, and risks
2.
Ensuring implementation of laws and
regulations
3.
Communicating the best available
information related to public fears and
perceptions
15
Summary of Select
Biosolids Activities
Current
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
•
Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey –
includes 100 PPCPs
Analytical techniques for virus and helmith
Reactivation / sudden increase
Incident tracking and rapid response
Quantitative microbial risk assessment
Antimicrobial resistance and HGT
Wastewater modeling for predicting pollutant
concentrations
Biennial review cycles
2003
2005 and 2007
16
Risk-Based Standards
HEI/RME Scenario
Ag Land-Application
Exposure-Risk Model
14 - Pathway Risk Assessment
HUMAN
HUMAN
HUMAN
HUMAN
GROUND
WATER
AIR
13
PLANT
1
Soil
+
Biosolids
HUMAN
DUST 11
SOIL
BIOTA
PLANT
2
WATER
12
SOIL 10
BIOTA
14
GARDENER
3
CHILD
4 PLANT
5
9
8
7
A
N
I
M
A
L
6
PLANT
A
N
I
M
A
L
ANIMAL
HUMAN
HUMAN
Summary of Select
Biosolids Activities
•
•
•
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Needed
Research effective pathogen destruction or appropriate
indicators and pathogens
Do Part 503 operational standards work
Analytical capabilities for a host of pathogens and
other pollutants
Pathogen uptake by plants
Global warming issues
Appropriate measures of biosolids stability
Complex or aggregate mixtures
Biennial Review cycles 2009, 2011…
Promulgate Part 503 rule changes
Better understanding of odor generation & control
Aggressively encourage and implement EMS
Develop better risk communication tools
19
Communication Challenge
Voluntary vs. Involuntary
The public sees voluntary risk differently than
involuntary risk
Voluntary
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality

Ingestion

Bathing

Use

Disposal
Involuntary: finding them in our environment in trace
amounts
20
Communication Challenge
We All Contribute
Behavior:
–
–
–
–
Ingest / use
Excretion
Bathing
Disposal
May make their way into soil and water:
–
–
–
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
–
Wastewater
Biosolids
Irrigation
Effluent
21
Focusing on Source Control
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
Courtesy of CH2M Hill
22
Key Message
Focus on Source Control
Everyone contributes
Clear linkages between individual behaviors
and the presence of trace constituents
We all should strive to minimize the amount of
material we introduce into the water
environment
Think about product choices and source control
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
23
White House Office of National
Drug Control Policy
Prescription Drug
Abuse Guidance
24
Key Message
Strategic Risk Communication
We need better expertise in communicating
complex technical material to citizens
•
Process of scientific methods and strategies
•
Someone verse in ‘best practice’ SRC:
o
o
o
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
Up on the research literature
Analysis of information needs
Empirical evaluation of SRC impacts
SRC success is satisfaction of the people involved that
they have been adequately informed within the
limits of available knowledge, and their needs are
met.
25
What have we been doing since
NAS report (issued 2002)



…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
No documented evidence to indicate that Part 503 has
failed to protect public health
However, additional scientific work is needed to reduce
persistent uncertainty about the potential for adverse
health effects from exposure to biosolids
~60 recommendations
The Agency: Developed an Action
Plan:
 14 projects
10.5 completed
3.5 ongoing
NAS / NRC Report, July 2002
Field Study
• The application and study at the Piedmont Research Station in Salisbury, NC
commenced at a time of the year that is typical for the application of biosolids
using routine agronomic practices
• This research was not designed to investigate health-related incidents and
therefore does not constitute a health effects research study
Measured air emissions, biosolids, and related environmental and
other conditions associated with the test application
•
The goal of this research study was to investigate air and soil sampling
methods and approaches and to optimize them if necessary in order to develop
a protocol
•
27
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
28
Exposure Measurements Workshop
Abstract

The final Agency response to the NRC report
was published in the Federal Register in 2003
One of these projects was to conduct a Biosolids
Exposure Measurement Workshop
This workshop was held March 16-17, 2006,
Cincinnati, OH.
This document is a summary of the workshop.



–
–
–
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
It describes presentations given by 16 experts
It concludes with a list of research needs
In the long-run, the goal of this workshop is to help
enable the Agency to better assess the risk associated
with the land application of biosolids.
29
Just
completed
report
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
30
PPCP Inventory Development
Sought to look at PPCP research
conducted in the U.S.
•
–
–
–
–
Will aid EPA’s regulatory or guidance
development activities
•
–
–
–
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
•
What chemicals have researchers tested for?
Where? (location, media)
What analytical methods were used?
What concentrations did they find?
Drinking/recreational water regulations
Use and disposal of sewage sludge
Ambient aquatic life criteria
Will significantly expand EPA’s existing
PPCP scientific inventory
31
Preliminary Findings
PPCP Inventory
1537 Samples
• 176 PPCP
• 14 Media Types
•
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
32
No. of PPCP in Biosolids, Wastewater & Treatment
Related Media
140
Number of PPCP Detected
123
120
Wastewater
100
Drinking water
(tap)
80
Biosolids &
Sludge
60
Agricultural
Runoff
42
40
21
20
18
Raw drinking
water
17
9
Animal waste
0
Media
33
What We Found So Far
PPCP Inventory
•
•
•
•
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
•
Analytical methods are highly variable
Many found at ppt-ppb levels in the
environment
Locations are often vague or missing
Results aren’t always presented as single
values, but as a range or average, or in a
graph
One chemical can have many names, and
they aren’t always easy to find
34
Alternate names for Triclosan
2,4,4’-Trichloro-2’hydroxydiphenyl ether
• 2'-hydroxy-2,4,4'trichlorodiphenyl ether
• 2'-hydroxy-2,4,4'-trichlorophenyl
ether
• 5-chloro-2-(2,4dichlorophenoxy)phenol
• Cloxifenolum
• Irgasan
• Irgasan CH 3635
• Irgasan DP 300
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
trichloro-2'hydroxydiphenylether
CH 3635
Microban
DP-300
Lexol 300
Ster-Zac
Cloxifenolum
Biofresh
35
PPCP Inventory Next Steps
•
Gather and compile data needed for human
health and ecological risk assessment
–
–
–
–
•
•
•
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
Physical chemical property data
Fate and transport data
Bioaccumulation factors
Human health benchmarks
Consistent effort needed to keep up with
publication rate
PPCP/EC resource
Invaluable input to decision processes
–
–
–
WQC
DWS
Biosolids
36
Better models
Nutrients: Evaluating alternative approaches to model effects
of nitrite oxidation in predicting concentrations
Pathogen Risk: Develop quantitative microbial risk assessment
options for assessing pathogen risks following exposure
to land-applied biosolids
Exposure: Develop/improve wastewater modeling options to
estimate pollutant concentrations in biosolids
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
Bioassay: Evaluate available methods for applying screening
approaches (e.g., the WET test or reasonable facsimile
thereof) for biosolids residual toxicity in effluents or
sewage sludge
Aggregate or mixed stressors: Utilize similar modes of action
or chemistry to determine population and community
effects
37
Better methods
Chemicals in the environment
•
•
Non-standardized methods
Sometimes we don’t know
More compounds in use
•
•
Identify
Prioritize
Existing methods




100 PPCPs
Fecal coliform (i.e., 1680 and 1681)
Salmonella spp. (i.e., 1682)
New holding time study
Methods needed
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality



Viruses
Ascaris (viable helminth ova)
Plenty
38
Targeted National Biosolids Survey
Why:
• Response to the 2002 NRC report
• Addressed a target list of pollutants identified in 2003
• Expanded the original survey scope to include semivolatiles, inorganic ions, PPDEs, and PPCPs
Randomly selected POTWs
• 84 samples collected
• 74 facilities
39
40
41
42
43
44
What about Certain Maximums?
Calcium at 311,000 mg/kg was from Class A sludge produced by
advanced alkaline stabilization with subsequent drying. The
alkaline stabilization process involves addition of large amounts
of lime (calcium carbonate) to the material.
Iron at 299,000 mg/kg and elemental phosphorus at 118,000
mg/kg occurred in the same sample:
• The facility adds ferric chloride during its wastewater treatment
process
• This treatment step results in high levels of iron and phosphorus
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
Silver at 856 mg/kg occurred in a sludge sample from a POTW
that employs a “complete mix activated sludge process”
• Could not easily ascertain source
• Incineration
45
Comparison of Survey Maximums
46
Comparison of Mean Concentrations
Dry Wt
Metal
2006- 1988- 40-City
2007
1989 Survey
TNSSS NSSS
2003
Region 8
Data
Arsenic (ug/kg)
7.0
9.9
6.7
6.0
Cadmium (mg/kg)
2.7
6.9
69
3.0
Chromium (mg/kg)
83.6
119
429
21.7
Copper (mg/kg)
569
742
602
509
Lead (mg/kg)
79.8
134
369
47.5
Mercury (mg/kg)
1.3
5.22
2.8
1.4
Molybdenum
17
9.4
17.7
12.0
Nickel (mg/kg)
53.1
42.7
135
16.5
Selenium (mg/kg)
7.2
5.16
7.3
9.0
1029
1,202
1,594
650
(mg/kg)
Zinc (mg/kg)
47
Summary
Have: little bits of activity ongoing in quite a lot of areas
• Fact: we believe that Part 503 is protective, but much
remains unknown
• Need: focused Research in a few key areas to reduce our
vulnerability in a few key areas
•
Treatment efficacy
o Pathogen survival and natural attenuation
o Pathogen emergence mechanisms
o Pathogen uptake in plants
o
•
Why:
To ensure public health and environmental safety of
biosolids land application
• To provide sound biosolids management options, as well as
information about these options to the public
•
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
48
Quit treating
biosolids like crap
Rick Stevens
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Office of Science and Technology
Health and Ecological Criteria Division
Washington, D.C.
…applying
science &
technology
to protect
water
quality
202-566-1135
stevens.rick@epa.gov