A comparison of several extraction methodologies for the analysis of base-neutral and acid organic contaminants (EPA priority pollutants) in municipal sludge was conducted. Sludge was spiked with selected contaminants and extracted wet and following air-drying by a variety of techniques such as dilution, centrifuge extraction, Soxhlet extraction and high speed mixing (PolytronR, WaringR and ultrasonic probe). All of the techniques produced variable results. Recoveries of spiked compounds ranged from 0 to > 100% and, in general, the relative standard deviations ranged from 20 to 50%. Extraction of wet sludge using high speed mixing was considered to be the most satisfactory technique. Based on analyses of 15 municipal sludges derived mainly from industrial centres, it is suggested that agricultural utilization of Canadian sludges probably does not represent a significant organic contaminant hazard to the food chain. Organic contaminant concentrations in the sludges generally were < 10 mg kg-1 dw. Phthalate esters in several sludges and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Hamilton sludge exceeded 10 mg kg-1 dw; however, phthalate esters are readily degraded in soil and the Hamilton sludge is incinerated. "Acceptable" organic contaminant concentrations in sludges for use on pasture and arable lands are suggested. However, it is recommended that further analytical research be undertaken to develop more accurate and precise methods for measuring organic contaminants in municipal sludge and that an expanded program of sampling and analysis be undertaken to provide more reliable information concerning organic contaminant concentrations in Canadian sludges.
Bishop, D.F. (1980), GC/MS Methodology for Priority Organics in Municipal Wastewater Treatment. EPA 600/2-80/196. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio.
2.
Canviro Consultants Ltd. (1984), The Effect of Sludge Processing Operations on the Fate and Leachability of Toxic Contaminants in Municipal Sludges-Final Report. Environment Canada, Otawa.
3.
Chang, A.C. & Page, A.L. (1978), Toxic chemicals associated with land treatment of wastewater. In: State of Knowledge in Land Treatment of Wastewater, McKim, H. L. (Ed), 1, 47-57. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CRREL, Hanover, New Hampshire.
4.
Davis, R.D., Howell, K., Oake, R.J. & Wilcox, P. (1984), Significance of organic contaminants in sewage sludges used on agricultural land. In: Proceedings of International Conference on Environmental Contamination, Imperial College, London, July 1984 , pp 73-79 CEP Consultants, Edinburgh, U.K.
5.
Dean, R.B., and Suess, M.J. (1985), The risk to health of chemicals in sewage sludge applied to land. Waste Management & Research, 3, 251-278.
6.
Eec (1976), Council on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the environment of the community. Official Journal of the European Community L 129. (76/464/ EEC-OJL).
7.
Epa/Fda/Usda (1981), Land Application of Municipal Sewage Sludge for the Production of Fruits and Vegetables—A Statement of Federal Policy and Guidance. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Joint Policy Statement SW-905.
8.
Federal Register (1979), Guidelines establishing test procedures for the analysis of pollutants; proposed regulations. Part III 40 U.S.A. Code of Federal Regulations 136, Vol. 44(322): 69464 (Dec. 3, 1979).
9.
Federal Register (1984), Guidelines establishing test procedures for the analysis of pollutants under the clean water act; final rule and interim final rule and proposed rule. 40 U.S.A. Code of Federal Regulations 136, Vol. 49(209) (Oct. 26, 1984).
10.
Fries, G.F. (1982), Potential polychlorinated biphenyl residues in animal products from application of contaminated sewage sludge to land. Journal of Environmental Quality, 11, 14-20.
11.
Griffin, R.A. & Chian E.S.K. (1980), Attenuation of Water-Soluble Polychlorinated Biphenyls by Earth Materials. EPA 600/2-80/027. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio.
12.
Haile, C. & Lopez-Avila, V. (1984), Development of Analytical List Procedures for the Measurement of Organic Priority Pollutants in Sludge . EPA Report 600/4-84/001. Prepared by Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, Mo.
13.
Huddleston, R.L., Bleckmann, C.A. & Wolfe, J.R. (1986), Land treatment biological degradation processes . In: Land Treatment—A Hazardous Waste Management Alternative . Loehr R. C. & Malina, J. F. Jr. (Eds) Water Resources Symposium Number Thirteen, pp 41-61, The University of Texas at Austin.
14.
Jacobs, L.W. & Zabik, M.J. (1984), Types and concentrations of organics in municipal sludge. In: Proceedings of Municipal Wastewater Sludge Health Effects Research Planning Workshop, Jan. 10-12, 1984, pp 3.12-3.21. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio.
15.
Kowal, N.E. (1985), Health Effects of Land Application of Municipal Sludge. EPA 600/1-85/015. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio.
16.
Lester, J.N. (1983), Occurrence, behaviour and fate of organic micropollutants during waste water and sludge treatment processes. In: Environmental Effects of Organic and Inorganic Contaminants in Sewage Sludge. Davis, R. D. et al. (Eds), pp 3-18. EUR 8022, D. Reidel Publ. Co.
17.
Lindsay, D.G. (1979), Possible health hazards from the presence of persistent chemical residues in sewage sludge. In: Utilization of Sewage Sludge on Land, Bruce A. M. (Ed), Proceedings of a Water Research Centre, Conference held at Oxford, pp 238-255, Water Research Centre, Medmenham, U.K.
18.
Lindsay, D.G. (1983), Effects arising from the presence of persistent organic compounds in sludge. In: Environmental Effects of Organic and Inorganic Contaminants in Sewage Sludge, Davis R. D. et al. (Eds) pp19-26, EUR 8022, D. Reidel Publ. Co.
19.
Lue-Hing, C., Lordi, D.T., Zenz, D.R., Peterson, J.R. & Prakasam, T.B.S. (1986), Occurrence and fate of constituents in municipal sludge applied to land. In: Land Treatment-A Hazardous Waste Management Alternative, Water Resources Symposium Number Thirteen, (Loehr, R. C., Malina, J. F. Jr., (Eds), pp101-150. The University of Texas at Austin.
20.
Majeti, V.A. & Clark, C.S. (1981), Health risks of organics in land application. Journal of the American Society of Civil Engineering, 107 (EE2), 339-357.
21.
McIntyre, A.E. & Lester, J.N. (1982), Polychlorinated biphenyl and organochlorine insecticide concentrations in forty sewage sludges in England. Environmental Pollution, (Series B) 3, 225-230.
22.
McIntyre, A.E. & Lester, ( 1984), Occurrence and distribution of persistent organochlorine compounds in U.K. sewage sludges. Water, Air and Soil Pollution , 43, 397-415.
23.
McIntyre, A.E., Perry, R. & Lester, J.N. (1981), Analysis of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in sewage sludges. Analytical Letters14, 291-309.
24.
Naylor, L.M. & Loehr, R.C. (1982), Priority pollutants in municipal sewage sludge . Biocycle23(4), 18-22; 23(6), 37-42.
25.
Overcash, M.R. (1983), Land treatment of municipal effluent and sludge: specific organic compounds. In: Proceedings of the 1983 Workshop on Utilization of Municipal Wastewater and Sludge on Land , Page, A. L. et al. (Eds), pp 199-231, University of California, Riverside.
26.
Rundle, H., Calcroft, M. and Holt, C. (1982), Agricultural disposal of sludges on a historic sludge disposal site. Water Pollution Control81, 619-632.
27.
Ryan, J.R. (1986), The land treatability of appendix VIII organics presented in petroleum industry wastes. Land Treatment-A Hazardous Waste Management Alternative. Water Resources Symposium Number Thirteen , Loehr, R. C., Malina, J. F. Jr., (Eds), pp 347-367, The University of Texas at Austin .
28.
Scheltinga, H.M.J. (1984), Agricultural use of sewage sludge in the Netherlands . In: Prevention of Pollution by Substances Derived from Wastes , Calamari, D. (Ed), Proceedings of a Commission of the European Communities Conference, Rome.
29.
Taylor, D. (1984), Managing organics in sludge reuse programs. BioCycle, 25(6), 20-22.
30.
U.S. Epa Emsl, (1981), Interim Methods for the Measurement of Organic Priority Pollutants in Sludges. U.S. EPA Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Cincinnati, revised draft August 1981.
31.
U.S. EPA (1982), Fate of priority pollutants in publicly owned treatment works. Final Report, Volume I, EPA 440/1-82/303. Prepared by Burns and Roe Industrial Services Corp., Paramus N.J.
32.
Warner, J.S., Jungclaus, G.A., Engel, T.M., Riggin, R.M. & Chuang, C.C. (1980), Analytical Procedures for Determining Organic Priority Pollutants in Municipal Sludges. EPA 600/2-80/ 030. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio .
33.
Webber, M.D. (1984), Waste metals-The Canadian approach for limiting metals on land from municipal sludges. In: Symposium Papers and Abstracts of Contributed Papers, pp 5-9, NE Branch-ASA and E Section-CSA, Quebec.
