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3
/ '
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GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
Bradley M. Glass
State Representative — 1st District
723 Happ Road COMMITTEES.
Northfisld, Illinois 60093 Education
(312)446-2506 JlOie 12, 1971 Elementary and Secondary
Judiciary I
Mr. William D. Ruckelshaus
United States Environmental
Protection Agency
1626 "K" Street, K.W.
Washington, D.C. 20^4-60
Dear Mr. Ruckelshaus:
I an greatly alarmed by the recommendation of
the United States Environmental Protection Agency to
reduce the capacity of the sewage treatment plant be-
ing expanded at Clavey Road in Highland Park, Illinois.
It is my understanding that the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency recommended an expansion of this
plant to 18 mgd, but that your agency reduced this to
12 mgd and also reduced the planned storm water re-
tention basin from 20 million gallons to 10 million
gallons.
This action is in defiance of the recommendations
of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency -which
gave the matter a thorough and fair hearing. Furthermore,
this plant, when expanded, would replace $ other in-
adequate primary treatment plants. With a change to
18 mgd it will have allowed for growth in the community
and for wet weather flow. A plant with a capacity of
12 mgd, however, will allow for neither. The threat to
Lake Michigan is obvious - a discharge of inadequately
treated sewage.
This is an intolerable result. It is my sincere
hope, therefore, that you will review your recommenda-
tion and revise it in accordance, with that of the
Illinois Environmental ProtectionvAgency.
Very truly yours,
BUG:bp
oc: Mrs. Eileen L. Johnston
Mrs. Leonard Liebschutz
-------
moan
1175 SHERIDAN ROAD, HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS 60035
PHONE 432-8900
June 23, 1971
Mr. William D. Ruckelshaus, Director
Envirenraental Protection Agency
1626 K Street, N.W.
Washington, B.C. 201*60
Dear Mr. Ruckelshaus:
Samuel H Dresnei
Rabbi
Philip L. Lipis
Rabbi Emeritus
Dr. Louis Katzoff
Director of
Religious Eaucatio>
Cyril G. Oldham
Executive Director
Gerard W Kaye
Youth Director
Please be advised that the Board of Directors of North Suburban Synagogue
Beth El, 1175 Sheridan Read, Highland park, Illinois comprising over 800
families, at their regularly constituted meeting on iMonday, June 21, 1971 did
pass the following resolution:
"Resolved, that North Suburban Synagogue Beth El had requested an independent
study of the NSSD proposed expansion at Clavey Road and a moratorium* on
construction."
"Resolved, that an independent study was undertaken by the Water Quality
Office of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and that a
preliminary report and recommendations were made public on April 23, 1971."
"Resolved, that the North Suburban Synagogue Beth El urges and requests that;
1. Clavey Road Sewage Treatment Plant be kept to the smallest passible
size, 99.that it could be phased out at some future date.
2. Another plant be built immediately and located in a non-residential area.
3. That the retention basics be moved to a non-residential area and be com-
pletely covered.
lit That the effluent lagoon be eliainated.
5. That the latest "State of the Art" is employed to eliminate any possible
health hazards.
and
6. That a monitoring study is undertaken to eliminate any passible airborne
infections.
Very truly yours,
Daniel Tauman, President ^
By:
C.C. Gary W. Schenzel
C.C. Am«s Turner
* 1
Mrs.
C |I I'
« ^sss|Jf fl
HTSbkol. Secretary
sAi
1 (
1
] 1
f
\
1
I
I
I
I •
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1 ;
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11(»'a ru
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I
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MRS RALPH G DUNLOP
2246 ORRiNGTON' AVENUE
EVANS7ON. ILLINOIS SO2O1
June 13, 197i
Mr. vYilliam D. Ruckelshnus, Adir.inistrntor
United States Environmental Protection A ency
1626 K Street
Washington, D.C.
Dear .Vr. ^uc!:elsh. us:
I ?m very -nucb concerned about the restoration and pres-
ervation of the quality of Lrke .Vichiji-an. I ho^e that -/e
will do everything nossible to ^void further deteri orat i. on
of the 3>ke.
In this connecti' r., it seems to me to be i™nerr'tive that
the Clavey P.ord, Hichl^nd H;rk, Illinois, se-ar:e dip^osp-l
plant be ex ncied to the recommended ISmg'd c.-iacity now.
I know that a contrary nrelirrinsry decision has been m.ace.
In light of the evidence oreser-ted in sunnort of the ex-
pansion of this plant, and the "Dilution which is resulting
from delay in expansion, I request that you reconsider your
decision.
Sincerely,
Copy Mr. Francis Mayo
Mary Helen bun lop
(Mrs. Ral-ib G.)
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LE-V1S D CLARKE
DANIEL J DAIZIEL
MLLIAM A.HOLMQiJiST
JULIAN JOHNSON
•\L?RED W LEWT5
GERALD C JNYDER JR
JOHN F KENNEDY
JA-^E5 ,vt JONES
LEWIS D.CLARKE, JR.
WALTER D JACOBS
JULIUS J ZSCHAU
LAW OFFICES OF-
5NYDER, CLARKE, DALZIEL, HOLMQUfST ft IOHNSON
3O1 WASHINGTON j~R.EE7
WAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS SCOS5
May 18, 1971
GERALD C SNYDER
OF COUNSEL
TELEPHONE
623-OI2O
AREA CODE 312
"HE RESPONSIBILITY OF
Water Quality Office., Region V
Federal Environmental Protection Agency
33 East Congress Parkway
Chicago, Illinois 60605
Alfred VV. Lewis
A cm: Mr. Gary Schenzel
Re: Draft Environmental Impact Statement dated April 21, 1971
For Sewage Project No. WPC- 111. 7.54 Submitted by North
Shore Sanitary District, Waukegan, Illinois
Gentlemen:
I have been instructed by the President and Board of Trustees of the
Village of Riverwoods, Lake County, Illinois, as its attorney, to comment
on the above described Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
The Village of Riverwoods is an entirely residential community bounded on
the west by the Des Plaines River and the Lake Count}' Forest Preserve.
It is bounded on the south by the Lake Cook Road. The Village residents
will, therefore, be directly affected by the location of sewage treatment
facilities on the Des Plaines River at the Lake Cook Road as is mentioned
and proposed in your Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
The Village received no notice or advice concerning your Draft Environmental
Impact Statement of May 17, 1971, and it was only by happenstance that at
the regular meeting of the Board last evening, a resident of the Village who
had procured a copy of the statement from your offices presented the same
to the Village Board. It was immediately noted from Page ii of the Summary
that only 30 days are available for comment from interested persons following
release of the Statement. If it was intended by the Water Quality Office,
E.P. A. that the 30 days available were those days immediately following
April 21, 1971, it is obvious that there has been insufficient notice and time
to intelligently comment on the Statement. However, giving consideration to
the nature and chai-acter of the environment and development of the area of
Riverwoods, including the Des Plaines River ana ihe adjacent Lake County
-------
5NYDER, CLARKE. DALZIEL, HOLMOJJIST 8 JOHNSON
- 2 -
Forest Preserve, and upon cursory review of the Statement, certain commen;
are immediately appropriate.
1. The Des- Plaines River is essentially a recreational facility through
all of Lake County and the northern part of Cook County.
2. For many years, the area surrounding the river in northern Cook
County has been preserved as a forest preserve district. For at
least the past five years, the Forest Preserve District of Lake County
has expended large sums of money in acquiring property abutting
the Des Plaines River to preserve its natural beauty and use as a
forest preserve for the general public.
3. The entire Village of Riverwoods, as the name of the village implies,
is composed of heavily forested land with winding private paths pro-
viding access to the substantial homes which are all located on one-
to five-acre lots.
4. The location of a sewage treatment plant on the river within the
boundaries of Riverwoods would reverse entirely the concept of
environmental development which has been planned and executed
over the past many years.
5. The Clavey Road facility was proposed, planned and approved by the
several governmental agencies only after years of study and debate.
If the study, plan and approval were valid in the first place, it is
particularly difficult to understand or accept as valid comment this
latest statement suggesting major alternative proposals for locations
of the treatment facilities.
6. The Skokie River Basin, a proposed alternate, has been used for mai
years as an adjunct to the collection and discharge of the sewage
systems serving the general area. Your report indicates that it
might be expanded as an alternate method to relieving the North
Shore Sanitary District from the complaints of residents living
near the Clavey plant.
7. It is quite unthinkable that the heretofore recreational Des Plaines
River area is now proposed to be used as a means to serve the
sanitary sewage requirements of the North Shore area. As noted
above, such proposal reverses the use and planned conservation of
a natural, recreational environment.
On behalf of the Village of Riverwoods ana its residents, we ask and trust
that your draft proposal to locate a sewage treatment plant at the Lake Cook
-------
5NYDER. CLARKE. DALZIEL, HOLMQUIST 8 JOHNSON
- 3 -
Road and the Des Plaines River will be submitted to full public disclosure
and discussion before any final decisions are made. We fur the r ask that you
kindly acknowledge this letter and furnish us with your comments concerning
the procedures and proposals for further action on the project.
Respectfully submitted,
Alfred W. Lewis, Attorney for the Village
of Riverwoods, Lake County, Illinois
AWL:b
cc's to: President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Riverwoods
cc: Chairman of the Lake County Forest Preserve District
cc: Deerfield Review
cc: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
cc: Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency
cc: Attorney for the North Shore Sanitary District
cc: Honorable Robert McClory
cc: Honorable Charles H. Percy
cc: Honorable Adlai E. Stevenson III
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APPENDIX B
PUBLISHED ARTICLES, STATEMENTS, AND TESTIMONY
-------
Reprinted from AMERIC VN I.VDL.STRI \I. IIYC.ir.Ni: ASSOCIATION IOUR\\L
Volume '11, .\nv.i i.ilii-i-Ocn nil'iT, 19G6
Bacterial Air Pollution from Activated Sludge Units
CLIFFORD \\: RANDAL!,* and JOE C. LEDBIiTTERt
Arlington Stale College, Arlington, Texas, and The University of Texas, Au-
mission taught that the aiv v.a-5 the chief
O
vehicle of infection. This belief existed as
far back as 1600 D.c.1 and was promoted bs
Hippocrates, the "father of medicine," with
his \\riting that men \\ere attached by fe\ejs
when they inhaled air containing !;o>tile pol-
lutants.5 Foul odors associated \\itli sf.^ers,
waste\i.ater, and rotting orsrnnir mateiial v\ere
' O O
generally considered to be evidence of such
"hostile pollutants." and e%en the early move-
ments for sanitai\ impaneinept during the
18th and 19ih centuries uere based on mias-
mic theory.1
Following the ad\ent of the genii thcor\
of disea.->e in nrdninetter.th century, distinc-
tion was chaun l:etueen foul-smelling air and
infective air.3 Many attempts uere made to
Pitt»buridei able di5tanc^-..
but he concluded that infection from srwer
gas was remote.
B> 1910 nearly all the dtcaded epidemic
diseases, particularly those infecting the in-
testines, had been traced to vehicles other
than air, as theit primars modes of infection
and airborne infection had practical!) bee '
discounted. Moreover, as control of upho,..
fe%ei became established tluousrh \\ater tn .t-
O
rpent. feces disposal, and food sanititiun, ',>\-
terest in aiiborne sewage organisms prac-
tically clisappeattd.
Follo%vintr a re\i\a! of interest in airborne
-------
American Industrial
infection around 1930, Fair and Wells con-
ducted the first study of bacteria emitted
to the atmosphere by sewage disposal pro-
cesses.' From their brief look at the bac-
terial density of the atmosphere surrounding
sewage treatment works, they concluded that
bacteii?! Contamination of the air Lv sew-
age vvorks exist* und th'U Iibi.Tu.ttd
isms of rct:/nce of travel of viable bac-
teria cGireJnted directly with the wind ve!o-
city.
Prior to Albrecht's investigation. Jer'-^n
had looked into the presence ai.d survival
of the tubercle bacillus in the liquid phases
of scwaye treatment processes.5 From these
results I",1 surmised that there is a real dan-
ger of ttibt'iculoiij infection. especially to
opeiating and supervisory personnel, fiom
droplets injecced into the air by activated
sludge units. h\ trickling filteis, by spray
irrigation with sewngc effluent, and by wind
action on \\asteuater surfaces. Several peo-
ple have shown that many human patho-
gens are contained in various stages of the
sewage treatment process.9-10 Because path-
ogens are present in the liquids being tieated,
some cursory attempts have been made to
determine whether the incidence of infection
among sewage plant woikers is increased,
but they have resulted in inconclusi.e find-
ings that were attributed to incomplete em-
ployee medical iecords.n
The mechanism of aerosol production by
bursting air bubbles on the surface of salt
water was studied by Woodcock.15 He saw
the small particles evaporate before falling
back to the water surface and became con-
vinced that aeration of sewage would result
in large numbers of airborne bacteria. Hig-
gins conducted laboratory research into bac-
terial aerosol production resulting fiom aera-
tion of polluted water.13 He used suspen-
sions of several species of microorganisms to
:V«i- Association Journal
' Y
find the effect of acrosol'i/ation and chcm- '
ical additives along with other variables on
the generation of viable aerosols. Higgins
reported very low recoveries of coliform or-
ganisms compared with Scrratia rnaict'scens,
Bacillus subtilis, and two Streptococcus spe-
cies, with no \iab!e Eidierichia coli or E.
jrcundii found.
Tfie Enferic Bacilli
To accomplish a significant study of the
wide variety of bacteria that may be emitted
from an activated sludge unit, biochemical
classification studies during this investigation
were restricted to the enteric bacilli. Generic
identifications were further restricted to mem-
bers of the familv Enterobacteiiaceae.
In this study the enteric bacilli aie con-
sidered to be gram-negative, non-spore-fctm-
ing tods whose common habitat L the intes-
tinal tract of man. They are defined here to
include all members of the family Entcro-
bacteriaceae plus Pn-vdomonas aeruginoia,
Alkali<;cnrs faccalis, and all other P^euc/o-
monas, Alkaligenes, and related species chat
are capable of growth on EMB agnt.
Entcrcbactcriaccac
The Enterobacteiiaceae are made up of a
series of interrelated tjpes that do not lend
themselves to sharp division into tribes or
genera; however, the family is so large and
unwieldy that it is necessaiv a< a matter of
expediency to dKide the fainil) into gioups
that form the basis of practical work. The
following grouping, primariK as piopo.-ed by
Ewing and Edwards,1' will be used in report-
ing the results of this study. All isolated mem-
bers of the family will be classified and re-
ported according to groups, wheieas the only
species and subgroups reported will be those
listed in Table I.
This grouping is based on both biochemi-
cal and antigenic relationships, and it docs
not recognize the distinction of the "para-
colon group'' based on slow lactose fermenta-
tion. The Klebsiclla o.^tocum of Lautiop1*
Is included in the Klebsiclla group as recom-
mended by Ewing and Edwards; however, in
this study it is differentiated from A', pneu-
moniae simply by the abilit) to produce in-
-------
TABLE I
Classification of Er.terobactenacenc
Principal
Group s
Xoi-crnber-Deccmber, 1966
' TABLE II
Di(fc.e-.:ut.-i of A, . l)^.^,'.f.1 .i.-d Aetotj -Icr*
Lys:no Aryir.ine Ornnhine Motili
*i .'/none'.'..? — Arizon
Cttiobac'fft
An so-1.i
Citrcbac'er
c
- P:o\id*rce
Hro% ideice
Let in t.T
dole. Identifications of the members of the
family were made by the methods of EcKsards
and Ewinrj1* and of KaufTmruin 1T
o
Satisfactory differentiation between Klcb-
siella and Acrobactt'r can be made thiough
die use of niotility and amino acid decar-
boxylasc reactions as recommended bs Kanf-
mann.18 The reactions ate shown in Table II.
Other Enterics
Besides the Enterobacte- iaccae, the gram-
ncgativc rods most cornmonk found in the
intestinal nact are of the AlLali^eri'.s species,
particularly A. jccaiu. Othei common in-
habitants are the psfiidomonads, piimarik
Pseudornonas afruginosa, and the Flarobac-
terium species The AlkaHyiiics and Picudo-
tnonas groups are of particular interest in
this study because the \\otk of McKinnes arid
\Veichlein13 indicates that they aic the pre-
dominant bacteria in the activated sludge at
the Austin biosorption plant, uhcrc most of
the data repotted here ueie obtained
Sampling and Counting Melhods
The sampling of viable airborne bacteria
was done by tluee different methods: (1)
direct plates, (21 liquid impingement, and
(3) the Andersen sampler. The method se-
lected depended on the requiieruer.^ of the
paiticular experiment.
Direct Plate Mah)'!
Dining the car!;, phases of the
air-
3S.fi\t reaction, - negative reaction.
borne bacteiia were sampled by merely ex-
posing the surfaces of poured agar plates to
the wind for thiee minutes at a height of 4
feet. The sampling was done in duplicate
with the 3/2-inch petri plates facing the wind
but tilted backward about 30 degrees for im-
paction of the aerosol on the agar surface.
This method was not attempted during pe-
riods of c?lrn.
Inijiinvrr Method
The impinger used was especially designed
for sampling bacteria! aerosols (Millipore
all-glass impinger) with 30 ml of a sterile
collecting fluid (may be nutrient) to im-
pinge the aeiosols. Aiu r sampling, the liquid
was filtered through a membrane filter which
was then placed on a nutrient agar ba^e in a
petri dish and incubated for 12 to 18 hours at
35°C. The colonies were counted under obli-
que lighting and magnification. The short
incubation periods were used to prevent the
colonies from merging.
The \iolence of the aeitation during im-
pingement should ha\e broken any clumps
and promoted counts of individual bacteria.
The samples were filtered within 45 minutes
to reduce the possibility of multiplication by
the bacteiia in the impinger.
Andersen Sampler Method
The Andersen sampler was employed to
collect bacterial aerosols by impaction on
nutrient agar surfaces and to separate them
simultaneous!) into six size ranges on six dif-
ferent agar plates.30 The first two stages of
the sampler remo\ed particles greater than 5
microns, the remaining four stages remo\ed
the respirable particles (less than 5 microns),
those that may be breathed into the lower
respirator) trart.
The plates obtained with the Anderson
sampler were counted in the usual manner
when the numbers were sr.ia'l, and in all
-------
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
cases for the first tvo stages; however, when
large numbers of colonies were collected, the
probable numbers of bactetia were obtained
from tables that were statistical considerations
of the number of positive holes (among the
400 perforations) for stages 3 to 6 as outlined
by the designer.30
Background
In each experiment on prototype plants
the intent was to measure the increase in the
bacterial population density of the air as a
result of its passage o\er the aeration units.
To accomplish this objective a background
count was made upwind of the aeration unit
in each sampling, the background was sub-
tracted from the downwind counts, and the
data were recorded as net counts. Routine
technique contiols were run throughout the
study in order to maintain high standards for
accuracy.
The wind, temperature, and relative humi-
dity were :ecorded for each test. Wind velo-
cities were obtained from the U. S. Weather
Bureau at the municipal airpott 3J/: miles
NNW from the sampling aica and weie used
on the assumption that the >atnc regime pre-
vailed at die two places.
Sampling Location
The data presented here came primarily
from the Govallc bioboiption se\vagc disposal
plant in Austin, Texas. Most of the samples
were taken in the vicinity of and downwind
from the activated sludge tanks, but a cursoiy
examination was also made of the bacteria
emitted by the gat and grease nmo\al unit,
which uses diffused aeration. In addition, a
few samples weie collected at the activated
sludge plant in Round Rock, Texas, to sec if
emissions from that plant, which does not use
chlorine for controlling scpticity in the sew-
age lines, are about the same as for Austin,
which does practice such chloiination.
The samples that were intended primaiih
for determining the density of bacterial emis-
sions weie generally taken at 2^-, 50-, and
100-foot distances downwind of the aeration
unit, while those samples for study of the
types of b.ictctia and their relati\e abund-
ance ueie usually m.'.dc immediately adjacent
to and downwind from the aeration tanks at
height* of 2 to •i feet above the liquid surface.
Indentification Techniques
The identifications were made in a cursory
or gross manner by selective sampling, while
differential biochemical tests and antiscrums
were used for laboratory classifications.
Selective Sampling
Nutrient agar (BBL) and eosin-tnethylenc
blue (EMB) agar (Difco) plates were ex-
posed simultaneously for all samples. The
nutrient agar plates were incubated for 24
hours at 35°C before counting, whereas the
EMB plates were incubated for 43 hours be-
cause of the effects of the inhibitory agents.
Total counts were obtained from both media,
and coliform organisms were determined by
typical reactions on the EMB agar. The ac-
curacy of the coliform reaction on EMB agar
for the bacteria being sampled was evaluated
biochemically by the procedures given in
Table III. Of 28 typical coliform colonies
picked, all were members of the family En-
terobacteriaccae. The only noncoliforms
found were two Serratia. Of the other 26
colonies, seven were E. coll, four were Citio-
bacter, six were intermediate Eschcrichia, five
were Klcbsiclla, and four were Acrobactcr.
EMB agar was used throughout the studs as
the collection medium for the survey of the
enteric organisms.
Special techniques were used in attempting
to demonstrate the presence of Salrnnnclla
and Sliigella organisms in the air. All three
aerosol sampling methods were ttied for this
purpose, and samples were taken at all three
sites.
Agar plates containing MacConkey (Mac),
Salmonella-Shigella (S-S). brilliant green
(BG), and bismuth suIfite'(BS) agars "(Dif-
co) were exposed in the Andersen sampler
and by the diiect method. Samples were
taken with the all-glass impingeis using brain-
heart infusion bioth (Difco). The impinger
•samples were then filtered through a mem-
brane filter, and the. filtci was either (1^
placed on nutrient pads containing selenite
enrichment broth (Difco) and then plated on
S-S, ES, 01 KG agar or (2) plat-.-d direct',)
on S-S, BS, or KG a?a;s. Additional samples
-------
November-December, 1966
c
TABLE in
Selection and Identification Procedure for Enterobaeteriaceae
Collection from A f.io sphere
Directly exposed a car plates
Liquid irrpinf ervient
Andersen sampler
\
Growth and Isolation on EMB or Mac Convey Agar
Trlple-Sug^T'Iron Agar Slants
. _.._._. Discard all negative (=) reactions
Screening Tests for Enteroba^teriaceae Reaction
O^cidative-fermentatu G (O-F) F
Cytochronie oxtdase Negative
Nitrate reduction, Positive
Cats la se Positive
I _.„«..«., Discard ail other reaction combinations
Standard Differ*ntiation Tests for Entcrobac tt ilaceae
Urease if poaitne in 4 hours,_JJ...,,,,.,,,,_ pheny lalanaa e
| ».,.,--_ Discard f'rixcuji
Deitrose
Lactose — hold for delayed reaction
Sucrose —hold for dela> ed reaction
Indol
Methyl red — ar.alyz« alter 48 hours
Simmons citrate
Lysine 1
Arginine > la^er with \aspar; hold 4 days for delayed reactions
Omithine }
MotiHty — semisohd ag^r; 2 days at 37°C, 3 dnys at 2"2°C
Indole - Scrtafu Sa/mone//a Shttetlj
Lactose ~ ^eroAac/er Arizona Alkatoscens — Pispar
Motilitv * K/eiaie-I/a t 4
Motility ZscAer.cAf'a Dulcitol Serology
Y Salicm
Pheny lalanase y y
Inositol Serolocy
(Detection of Matonate
Providence Y ------- Discard all bjt KlebsteUj
Voges-Proskauer
Capsule production
Serotog>
Cram *tain if still unknown
jVore; ^as(eure//3 psstts and P. pscurfofuiercu/osis -iill pass scr'.enr,g tests.
were taken %\ith the impingcrs using sclcnitc
broth or tctrathionatc broth (Difcol as the
collecting fluid. The broth %\as left in the
impingers after sampling and incubated for
24 hours at 37°C. Following incubation, loop-
fuls of the broth \\cre stieakcd for isolation
on Mac, S-5, BG, and BS agar plates. The
remaining broth was filtered through :i mem-
brane filter, which was then placed on an S-S
agar plate for incubation Following colony
development, all noncolifona colonies uerc
Identified by the pioccdure given in Table III.
Laboratory Analysis
The cultivation and difTerentiation pioce-
dures used in this study were composites of
methods developed by the Texas State Health
Department Laboratories and are essentially
those recommended by Edwards and Ewing16
and by Kauffmann.17 Unle^ otherwise noted,
the \arious media used \\cre dehydrated Dif-
co products, "With the exception of the carbo-
hydrate, alcohol, and urea solutions, all media
svore stcrili/ed in the autoclave at 12l°C.
For identification purposes airborne b.ic-
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'American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
TADLE IV
Grouping of Nor.-Enterohacteriaceac
Group
Xtffomonas-like
XrcJiromoiacrcr-hke
tilcc
TSIa 0-Fb Oxidase Nitrate Catalase
© *
2 O - -or+ +
* F + + •(•
*TSt reactions: -, no acid; -, acid;Q, acid and gas.
"O-F reactions: 0, acid production by oxidation; F, acid production, by
fermentation.
teria were collected on agar plates exposed in
the Andersen sampler or by the direct plate
method. Following incubation each visible
colony was streaked for isolation on EMB
agar. For each isolation, one of each Upe of
colony that developed was transferred to a
triple-sugar-iron agar slant (TSI), and the
bacteria were differentiated by the procedure
given in Table III.
All media were inoculated fiorn grouth on
the TSI slants, incubated at 37°C, and
examined or chemically tested after 24 hours
except where othetuise noted in Table III.
Christenscn's uiea agar. prepared in the
laboratory according to Christenscn'i original
procedure,31 was employed for the urease test.
The motility, nitrate reduction, and ovidatne-
fennentative media \\ere also prepnied in the
laboratoiy according to formula? recommend-
ed by the U. S. Public Health Seivice, Com-
municable Disease Center.
Purple broth base was used as the'basal
medium for the fermentation tests. The car-
boludrates and alcohols wete filtci-steiilu'ed
in IQC'c solutions and added aseptically to
obtain final concentrations of \c'c in the
media. Gas production uas detected with
Dm ham tubes. The media were incubated
for 24 hours before inoculation. Amino acids
were added to decarboxylase medium base in
concentrations of 0.5rc, and all tubes were
layered with vaspar following inoculation.
Except for the incubation time (48 hoars
instead of five days'* of the metlul red test,
the indole, Yogcs-Pro-kaucr,
-------
November-December, 1966
G
O Nutrient Agor
3 EH3 Agar
• Conforms
i
5 10
2O 40 60 80
Distance Downwind (feet)
FIGURE 1. Effect of distance on numbers of
bacteria found.
1000 -
5 IO IS
Wind Velocity (mph)
20
Z 3 4 5 6 7
Tirse m Atmospters (S«: )
FIGURE 3. Geometrical nature of bacterial die-
off in relation to time in the atmosphere.
IOO
i
o
50
20"
O
O
O O
SO 60
Relolive Humidity f/J
FIGURE 2. Effect of %vind %e!ocity on numbers FIGLRE 4 Effect of relatise humidity on num-
of bacteria found bers of bacteria found.
Figure 1 shous the effect of distance from
the unit on numbers of bacteria found on 35
different days at the Govalle plant The
cunes are apparent!} powci functions of tlic
fonn
A7 = asb
\vherc X = number of colonies abo\e control
s — distance dour,\\ind of unit (feet).
a, b — regression constants
3 O
An alyehuiic fitting of tl;r c'.a'a \\.i-5 deemed
justifiable because 3J nur.ibei-. \\eie axeiaged
for eacli point nnu th.e rep'ii a;e saiv.ji'.es ucrc
-------
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
100
20 Oowrwlnd
Wind V«loeilyMOm5h
SO
60 70
Relative Humidity 83
FIGURE 5. Effect of relative humidity on num-
bers of bacteria found (wind factor suppressed).
in good agreement. This fitting showed a
values of "45 for nutrient ajar, 458 for EMB
agar, and 227 for coliforrns. The correspond-
ing b values \vere -1.04, -1.18, a-nd -1.25.
The numbers of colonies on nutrient agar
at the 20-foot downwind station for samples
taken on 55 different days ore plotted against
wind velocity in Figure 2. The effect of lesi-
dence time on the viabilitv of the bacteria is
easily seen in both Figuies 1 and 2. The
inteirelationships of distance, wind velocity,
and residence time showed an effective half-
life of 0.38 second at the 20-foot station; half-
Jives at the other distances differ somewhat
from this value because of the piobable
changes in the predominant species \\ith ti:iv.
the dispersion of the air ma«s, and the dev in-
tion of the survival from the exponential.
The geometrical natuie of bacterial c'V-ol
iii the atmosphere can br seen in Figure 3.
The maximum death rate occur? between 0 7
and 1.0 second after emission. This period is
followed fiist by a rapidly declining deray
rate for two seconds, then by an apparent
stabilisation after three seconds, which lesults
in relative!} lonar survival times for the resist-
/ O
ant organisms. The power equation presented
above holds only for the first tinee seconds;
then the decay becomes linear with time.
Overall relative humidity data showed al-
most no correlation with survival (see Figure
4). The only way that an effect could be
noted for the relative humidity was to sup-
press the dominant factor, the wind. Such has
been done in Figure 5, where it is indicated
(though roughly) that the bacteria survive
longer at higher humidities. These data ate
necessarily incomplete because of the nairo-.v
range of relative humidity observed for any
ao one wind velocity during the study.
A comparison of the numbers of bacteria
sampled through direct plate impaction bv
the wind, the Andersen sampler, and tiie
aerosol impinger is shown in Table V. These
numbers are averages of data for five sampl-
ing occasions. The samples were collected
.simultaneously at 2 feet above the liquid sur-
face of the aeration unit.
If it is assumed that the difference between
the impinger and the Andersen sampler i--,
caused b) separation of lumps of organism-.,
the number of bacteria per particle is 1.35:
hovvcver, the number of mixed colonies ob-
tained could be surmised to result fiom two
separate particles that impact near enough to
the same spot to form a single homogeneous
colony.
Generic c'e'.eimina-.ion.' sh' itr meth-
od to b; squall;. efToct'v t for K-cr.very of
EmereLat.'.^iace..' T.':e prcpoi:! iris did not
hoicl ''ir otnn enuiics, since direct plate
samples from which 98 Emerobactc-i iaceac
were isolated gave only 53 other enterics,
while for the Ander-t.n sampler the similar
numbers were 101 and 238, icspectively. The
major difference in the numbers collected by
the two methods occurred in the Alhaligiiics-
FlaLobacterium group (inactive on TSI agar}.
TABLE v
Quanti'a'.Uc Ccrr.panscn of S'.-rphr,: ".tc
Method
Nurb-r per juv>ic foot
1170
100
870
74 4
-------
c
November-December, 1966
TABLE VI
Relative Numbers of Airborne
SMtfeJla
EschtrschtJ
£. co/i
Arizona
Cttrobacter
Bethtidj - Bailew?
JC/e6src//j
K. pneutticiijte
K. OTV fi>CU TI
Aetoijjct et
A. aers ter.es
Hafma
Serratta
Profffys
Providence
Enrinu
Unknou n
K...EBU»bact.,,«,«
Total enterics
Number of Isolates
Species Croup
0
54
19
0
0
17
1
77
4 J
28
51
32
3
14
8
11
0
10
*) A fi
,i "O
476
721
Person.
Entero-
0
22
0
0
6.9
31.5
20.8
1.2
5.7
3.3
4.5
0
4.!
1 00
^f Tout
E:r.o-.cs
0
7.3
0
0
2.4
10.7
7.1
0.4
1.9
1.1
1.5
0
1.4
34.0
66.0
100
Airborne Enterics
. From samples taken immediately adjacent
to the aeration tanks, group typings \\cie
made on more than 700 enterics, and generic
classifications were done for' 243 members of
the family Enterobacteiiaceae. All visible
colonies were biochemically analyzed for each
sample taken; the results, representing the
actual percentage' of occunence, are tabu-
lated in Table VI. The bacteria cultured on
EMB agar were found to tcpresent 56^c of
the total colony count on nutrient agar, Th'ese
data indicate that, of the 1170 bacteiia per
cubic foot that are emitted, enterics num-
bered 655, including 222 (or lO^c of the
total) Enterobacteriaceac.
The most significant aspect of the data in
Table VI is the large numbers of A.",V />.-;'. I'a
organism-, found in the atmosphere. All
spec-es of this g?nus are kro^.n prrho.i~:i5 of
the re-pir?.to.\ tract,21-" and its members
couip:l-'ed near!;, one-tLru of ail Kntur.br.c-
tcriaceae iiol.ii.ed. Six pci crnt of all bacteria
emitted f:om the activated sludge u.nit belong
to the Klebr.cllfi group From c'r.t.i co-le-.ted
in thi^ it-;c'\'. r. r.;an woi':'ivr -.vit1':!1 ^ '\"M of
• -
the d
ede of
the v,\\ ; \cloi_it'.
a slucLv
a viable KL'bsii:l!!;
1-6 ai.ti^erutu. howevci, only t\\o slide ag
-------
American Industrial Hygiene Association journal
TABLE VII
Relative Nu.T.ters of Non-F.riterob^cicriaccao
£«'
Achro
Pas;<
Altai
ToM
Group
fe£';«.f,V.
.•^o6tic-ff f-li'xs
uro/fj-.-icfrnn S
ifenoj-fljun.
non-Entetobact
Number of Perre r.t
Isolate* of Tot3 I
.K-i«m-lik*
i.-tf rfum-!ike
•jnaceae
36
27
14
55
344
476
7.6
5.7
2.9
U.5
jJLl
too
glutinations could be confiimed by positive
qucllung reaction.
An unexpected result was found in the re-
lative numbers of the Pro!em and Providence
groups—the latter dominated, which is the
reverse of stool specimens. However, the usual
order occurred in the raw sewage emissions.
Of the eight Proteus organisms reported in
Table VI, three were H;S-positive on TSI
agar slants.
The ab-,cru..j of Sdni.-'i'.dla, ^'V.7-, and
Aii?ona i.-olru!e.n> H not 1-10 si.Tmiim?. de-
spite nmr.cTou? report? of their ^'f^or.rc in
seuagc a"ci act!''stt'd ^V.c,c. Tl'es ~\r" -<•> fc\\
in nunihei that tht- ;:u !!.r/ri- i:s.'G ;.•* iccrver
thft'\ fr01 ' s'.ali er.\ Iionrr.rui'5 'ijp.il!'.' cr.tail
co:H'.r, ions ^amnii;'.'; i<->- it-iLxls of tii.ic in
excess of ?
tial S'.icc-1-'' i< obtninf-d.1'1 ll
Tl'.o iaol.ited non-F.nterobacteriaceae were
broken dosvn into groups based on the clas-
sification system given in Table IV. The re-
sults are tabulated in Table VII. As expected
from reported studies of the bacterial popu-
lation of artivated sludge,10'29 the vast major-
ity of the non-Enterobacteriaceae belonged to
the Alkaligenes-Flai'obacteriuni (biochemi-
cally inactive) group. The number of Psi-u-
donionas-\\}:e bacteria isolated was consider-
ably smaller than expected, but some Pscuiio-
monas species aie inactive on TSI agar and
would be grouped with the Alkaligcnes-Flavo-
bactc-iium. One such species, Pseudomonas
tnallophdia, which has a \'ery distinctive TSI
reaction ( ~ H.Sj, \'.-as found.
Sj/ituiL ^/\'V'i- -ii-lii-Ai r ,1 net, ,-) aic
Hctte: ^n'trH to r'i:\i^:i! tiia:i tlv ., .ipy.iku-..
•D.
\
TABLE viit
Spread of Airborne F.ntencs
Classification
Ea£°fc,[";*:"f
E. colt
Atk.'IescCT,— Di^paf
C'*:<>bi' '«. •
A'.' Asi '.'d
A. pnr-urron j,ic
/\. o.'ytjcmn
^ **r i ' '<••
^ a-rotJ^.Ti
Hal.-.. a
Serrj.'m
P.-otet/a
Ptcvicence
Unknown
Total
^ffrotror -is-Iike
,4c/)rom.iAacrcr-!iwe
Pa3ff-urr//J- 4 "ifiij '.icr.'i'u* -hi- ?
.4ltj/i^!rr3-f h.oia. •.--:-. -. like
Tots'
Total isolated
DisUnr
20
Species Group
U
4
1
4
IS
11
5
IS
8
0
2
0
4
2
«:
0
' 0
2
4
_62
JH
130
e O^^n^-md frjni Soc'cr >,feot)
50 100
Species Group Spec-Ies
3
1 2
0 0
2
9
4 4
5 5
4
1 3
1
1
1
1
0
-
0
3
2
5
65
To
97
Group
j
0
10
6
1
2
0
1
0
23
• o
a
3
4
70
a;
109
-------
November-December, 1966
Klc
Dtstnnce Do*r. nd (fee.)
EMS agar
Nutrient agar
TABLE IX
iirc.'/j Su:vua!
X/eosic/
0
10. S
6.0
/j as pe
20
13.8
7.8
rceil of To' a!
50
9.3
5 .2
Couil
100
9.3
5 2
TABLE X
Size of Viable Airborne Particles
Stage of
Saxpter
Si'e Range
Of Particles (/!)
Particles per Stdgy as Percent
Station-Feet Downwind fro-y
0
1
2
3
4
S
6
>3.2
5.0 -
3.0 -
2.0 -
1.0 -
Up to
10.4
6.0 7 Lun£ penetratir.^
3.5 T
2.0~~T Ai'-e^lar retention
i o T
38
22
21
11
4
2
.4
.0
.4
.a
.0
.4
3
15
32
31
17,
3
0
20
.1
.0
1
.0
,6
S
23
38
17
9,
3
.1
.0
_2
•7
3
of Total
. Unit
50
20
29
17
18
7
.0
7
.0
I
.6
,6
100
24.4
22.3
27.6
12.2
5.5
7.0
C;
group (/T.j<-/u-rjc/na-Citiobacter). Of the sam-
ples taken in the immediate vicinity of the
activated sludge units (sec Table VI), the
capsule formers compiised 52^c of the Entei-
obacteriaceae. This pcicentage steadily in-
creased with distance downuind and reached
709e of the total at the 100-foot station. The
acapsulate group, by contiast. dropped fto'ii
in the first group of samples to 13fc in
the samples taken at the 100-fort -i?\
are consider^.! tu Ui l<-^ cv.v'i'e of >n\ivaj_
in tlsi- j.tiao.>ph:ie tl.nn iv'st ut!;r '->;.,'- of
bacteria, the A'-pi\>:V.'.'t; sn.iins \.e.e found to
be neailv as iesi-ta;it to de-\\ t'on as the
' F • • • • T~~
average ct tr.c oa.te::a rarir.iir.n ::i li.'* stuor.
(sec Table IX). The incieaj'? in the rrlnti\e
percent of Klt-bticlla at th.e 20-foot station
probably indicates that, because they are
encapsulated. Klcbi'.i-lln 'M\O a l"n.'-r r. %i-iod
of equilibration.
In an attempt to e\a!uat<: the possible at-
tenuation of \irulencc of Kit bsii IIa organisms
with time in the atmosphere, a result reported
for other pathogens,™ Klcb^uila recovenxl at
distances of 20, 50, and 100 feet ueie checked
for capsule production and compared \\ith
those sampled at the source. The pcicc-ntagrs
of isolates capable of capsule piod-ict'on at
distances of 0, 20, 50. and 100 ,'Vrt M^e 97.S,
78.0, 55.5 and COO respeuivek. Appai.Mitk,
loss of the caroiile-picd'icinz fur.r'.i* T> oi\urs
fairly rapidly during the ecjuililtration period,
but those that still retain the capability uhen
equilibrium is i cached sufTei no fuither lo^s.
It should be noted that capsule ptoduction is
limited b) the methods used in this stuck, and
the apparently acapsitlate stuins may be cap-
able of pi educing capsules if cultivated in a
more -j'fiblc ?r\ !i.'mi:'er t
Since the pa: iiclu si/e pla^i an impoitant
role in lung penctiation and retention, certain
sixe data were deduced fiom the .\ndcis~n
samplei data. This i elation is propei'.y diawn
because the sampler is designed to scoaiate
i O i
particles b\ size The data are piescnted in
Table X. \\"h!!e the c'.'it'i :M • ac'::::ti'-d!> \ ail-
able and the ivi.-.., r-, r-Tu :s la..'k -,g :•) p> •-
cisioii, it i< demur stinted t.!iat a courier able
num^e' of t!i'": i_o!lc-c'.. d v?.; ilrics could pene-
trate into and be
Cc-n'rij! Scr/ip'c Types
Fifty-eight of the control sample colonies
(collected upwind of the aeration units; \\eie
biochemically t\ped — ten uere of the famils
F.nterobacteriaceae. Of these, f\\ e \veie Klcb-
siella (all K. oxyiocurn], three ueie inter-
mecliate Acrobact<.r specie-*, and two \sere
members of the I'ro\ idence group. The aver-
age concentration of the contiol samples.
usir.sj tii,'- Andei^eri sampler, \\as si\ per cubic
foot en nutrient .T'ir. That thf controls \\ere
-------
American Ind initial Hvgicnf Association Jouinal
.2
.a
in —i
O —f^ O O
O T 000 -
o — « - o
v, '-< vi < u :<
130-
-------
November-December, 1966
' influenced by the other units was shown
in the results of several samples thai weie
taken upwind of the entiie treatment plant;
these samples shouecl no Enteiobactemceae.
Cornpaiison Studies
In Table XI, the viable airborne bacteria
emitted from the Austin activated sludge
plant are compared uich the emissions from
the grit remover (raw sewage) at the same
plant and from die activated sludge units at
Round Rock, Texas. These data reveal con-
siderable similarity between the emissions
from the two activated sludge plants. The
same groups of bacteria \\crc dominant at
both plants, and the various organisms ueie
• found in comparable percentages. The most
noticeable difference was the absence of
Aerornoiias-like organisms in the Round Rock
sample.
Klebsiella, Eschcrichia, and Acrobaeter
species occurred most frequently among the
Enterobactcriaceae in the raw sewage emis-
sions just as they did from the activated
sludge units; however, the fraction of the
total enterics that \\ere Enterobacteriaccae
_ was considerably greater. The primary cause
f. of this effect was the significantly larger num-
bers of Klebsiella in the raw seua^e emis-
7
sions.
Conspicuously absent from the airbome
raw sewage bacteria were members of the
Providence group. By contrast, members of
the Proteus group increased to 7.3^c of the
Enterobacteriaceae, and all isolates were H^S-
positive on TSI agar slants.
Special Studies {or Pathogens
As expected, no Salmonella or Shigella
organisms were collected during the noimal
procedures. Because of the importance usu-
ally attached to these species, rather strong
efforts were made to find such organisms by
special studies. Samples from fi\e minutes to
14 hours were tried with selcnite broth in the
impingcr. Still no Salmonella or Shigella was
found, although a Salmonella-like organism
was collected at the Round Rock plant. The
pseudo-Salmonella was an Enterobacteriaceae
recovered from selenite broth and'isolated on
S-S agar. It gave a positive slide-agglutina-
tion in Salmonella poly A-1 aruiscrum and
had the following biochemical reactions:
Triple sugar iion ngar, — ; positive on methyl
red, citrate, lysine, argininc (delayed), orni-
thine, motility, and salicin (ten-day delayed) ;
acid and gas from glucose; negative on lac-
tose, sucrose, urease, indole, phenylalanase,
and dulcitol. No positive identification could
be made by the methods employed in this
study, but, according to Edwards and Ewing,
the organism was eliminated from the Sal-
monella classification by the salicin reaction.
Sampling for scveial hours uas tried \\ith
the Andersen sampler using various agar
media recommended for the cultivation of
Salmonella and Shigella (MacConkey's, bis-
muth sulfite, brilliant gieen, and Salmonclla-
Shigellcx). Several false Salmonella reactions
weie obtained on bismuth sulfite agar; all
proved to be Klebsiella oxytocum.
Conclusions
The following conclusions have been
reached, based on analysis and evaluation of
the collected data.
1. The bacteria! population of tl"* nir i*-
significantly in^rc,a,?fd bv passage over an
activated sludge waste, trcntr/ient uni^ from
aoout eig;ht per cubic foot on the upwind
side to 1170 per cubic foot on the downwind
side
2. Despite a rapid div-off of bacteria dur-
ing the first three second!; they aie airborne,
die increase in bacterial population pelsjsts
for a considerable time and distance^—the
distance 'being; s'trongiv'~3epen3e.rLt. on, _thc
wind velocity.,
3. Bacteria of the family Enterob.ictcriace_asv_.
including species of known rjatho^cnjcity, are
emitted in large.. nunjbeis^. The'/ make up
19r/o of the total bacterial emissions.
siflla species, proved pathogens of the
tory tract, are the_ inost_numcrous of the
Enterobactrriaccae: they represcnT'S^c of aTT
bacicria emitTecT.'"
4. The Enterobacteriaceae tii.it are poten-
tial pathogens of the .rcspir.ato.r..y_-tracj:_/&k:b-
sielki, Aerobactcr, Proteus) are far_more_nu-
meious tiian the entciic P2^]2P3£i"'J T^lcv
iTi.ikc up nearly 5Gfc of the familv^ a_nJ
10.55o of all bacteiia emitted, hi addition,
-------
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
Klcbsiella ai:d Aerobactcr species, p.trticularly
ijiorcTcsistaij tr to ( i «^ ciTcc 'o _af
^iPA t!ian
5. About 40^; of the_yijijjfcj,'3n?.ri.:lj'r\ '^
vicinity of the activated sludge
6. There exists a definite, possibility of air-
borne infection from acti\ ated sludge units.
7. Klebsiclla are the best, indirators of bnc-
terial air pollution from sewage source's.
Note: The preliminaiy data of this work,
which pertained only to numbers, were pre-
viously published.31
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Harvard University Prcis, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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10
14.
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nHF'
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21.
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K\o* \i \SN, F.. A Simplified Birtcheuvcj' Tible of
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HoocrnruDE, J C.- Studies on Capsule Formation, I
The Conditions iindtr "Wl^ ch Kitbsiftl.fi pntit'ttctnae
Forin,- C^psuJe,. /. Rsctetioi. 3€: 3-'i7 (1959}.
Lf.rrsK M. H : Opportunist:c Gr2ni-ne^t:\c Rr<| P-il-
monnr>- Infections. Dif&tfs of the Chest -i~f' 18 il?61(.
O^;^KO\ , lov: SC''^^tioti3 in the A'.'t i»'tl'.~
Group. 2. Occurfc'ici; of Kltt»t' ila in Sputa Act*
Pathal MlcrolioL Scar-d. 36- 454 ,1955).
DtFfY T. J, and I CHOFN\S Piunar> L'tns \b-CL-^
Amer. J 5o. 45 2(i9 (IP^C).
GR>FNprjc, L F., J.id S. B. Kvfrs Klfh* ''<: piteu-
ntoni.i \»ith Piij-urothr'.\, PtinirnomeJ i-:« i-un .in^H
Pncumop<*r.toruum. Put': r o/ ('M C/fJf VJ 5-t'i -1%JJ
GP* t-Nr.Fki, L. F, and M. Fttt: Studies on thf Kl'b-
iiella'AfTjbccter Group of Bacceria. /, Ir.ffc, Dis*ii'><*
91: S2 (1952).
Dus, F. F., and J. V. BH<.T: Microbial FroIorN 0(
Acti^Jted SluJje I Dnminant Bjcteria Ap.'l. .\lirrn-
bio!. 1?: 4U (ISW).
Gto\v, R. J , and F. A. LEON*KO V'.ibi'it\ and
Infcct.\it> of Nfic.'oorta.-ii'iiii' in F^pencier.tal Ai'bornc
Infection.' Bzc'-r-.ul Re: 25. 18.! M9-J1'
LEDrtrrrn, J O., and C W K\.so\u.- Hartcrinl E"IL,-
sioiis from Activated S!utJ»Te Unit*. Ind. Mrii Surg
31(1): 130 (1%3.
Received May ?7 1%6
-------
Colifonn Aerosols Emitted by Sewage Treatment Plants
Abstract, Development of the science of aerobiology lias furnished a tool for/
the investigation of potential sources of microbial aerosols. An investigation of
aerosols emitted by trickling-ftlter sewage treatment plants revealed that coliforms
were indeed emitted and have been sampled to a distance of 0.8 mile (12 kilo-
meters) downwind. Factors affecting survival of Escherichia coli are presented.
The association of pathogenic micro-
organisms with water and sewage has
been known since 1855 when John
Snow in London traced the source of
a cholera epidemic to a sewage-con-
taminated well (1). Since that time
human fecal waste has been found to
contain the specific etiologic agents of
some diseases, many of which are in-
testinal diseases. Although these are
commonly transmitted through the
mouth, experimental infection of the
^chimpanzee by inhalation of large
numbers of aerosolized typhoid orga-
nisms has been demonstrated (2).
However, there are other organisms,
whose respiratory dosage is compara-
tively low, which are excreted in the
fecal waste of infected persons. Some
of these are: various respiratory viruses
and the microorganisms that cause
brucellosis, encephalitis, hepatitis, poli-
omyelitis, psittacosis, and tuberculosis.
The development of the science of
aerobiology in the last few years pro-
vided a tool that has encouraged us to
investigate potential sources of aero-
solized microorganisms. Schultzs (3),
in 1943, studied the fallout of small
droplets resulting from watering crops
with liquid raw sewage from an over-
head sprinkling irrigation system in
Germany. Using a primitive sampling
technique, he placed open petri dishes
at varying distances downwind from
the sprinklers and was able to demon-
strate the presence of Escherichia coli
in the airborne droplets. Spcndlovc
(4), in 1956, demonstrated "the acro-
solization of bacteria from a rendering
plant and was able to recover airborne
organisms-downwind from the plant
with the -use of Andersen samplers.
Modern trickling-filter sewage treat-
ment plants, because of the nature of
their design, may be an exceptional
source of aerosolized microorganisms,.
As we contemplated the spectrum of
potential aerosols, jt became plausible
that the variety of organisms that may
be aerosolized is almost unlimited. The
trickling filter used in the secondary
treatment of sewage sprinkles raw sew-
age into the open air onto a rock bal-
last to dosj the filter bed. The process
of sprinkling the raw sewage into the
air would be expected to aerosolize a
portion of the material and create
micron-size particles (Fig. 1). Sew-
age varies considerably in its microbial
count, but counts of from 10* to
107 organisms per milliliter are com-
mon (5). A sewage plant processing
several million gallons of sewage per
day has the potential, therefore, of pro-
viding a microbial aerosol source of
considerable magnitude on a continu-
ous basis.
Two municipal sewage plants, rang-
ing in treatment capacity from 6 to
25 million gallons (1 gallon = 3.7 liters)
of sewage per day, were studied.
The plants were located in the Intcr-
mountnin West and the studies were
conducted during May 1970. Andersen
samplers (6, 7), connected to a port-
able field vacuum source, were used to
collect the aerosols near and downwind
of sewage treatment plants. The Ander-
sen sampler aspirates at tho rule of 1
cubic foot (28.3 liters) per minute and
impinges the collected orgnnisms on a
nutrient medium plr.ccd in pctri piates
positioned within stages of the sam-
-------
I1
Fig. 1. Trickling filter bed from above (A) and looking along the boom (B). Note the droplet formation.
pier. Each stage collects particles of a
different range of sizes, stage 1 collect-
ing the largest particles and stage 6
the smallest.
Three different mediums were used
in the ftudies. Casitone agar was used
for the collection and growth of the
general microbial population; Endo's
medium and eosin-mcthylene blue me-
dium, for the selective growth of the
coliform organisms. Samples were
taken from points in the immediate
vicinity of Ibc trickling filters and up
to distajicrs of 0.3 mile "(1.2 km)
downwind. Collections of aerosols were
made during daytime and nighttime
periods, with sampling periods varying
from 5 minutes to 1 hour. Upwind con-
trols were collected on each test, and the
same types of mediums were used for
these controls as for the downwind
samples. All plates of nutrient mediums
were incubated for a minimum of 24
hours at 37°C.
Substantial numbers of coliforms
were aerosolized from the trickling
filters. The concentration of aerosol
particles collected near the source
seemed to be most affected by the size
of the source and the velocity of the
wind. Plant 1 had only two small trick-
ling filter beds separated by some dis-
tance. Plant 2 had two sets of four
beds each, with each set of four located
in close proximity to each other. As the
emitted particles traveled downwind,
the relative humidity became more im-
portant If the test was conducted dur-
ing daylight hours, solar radiation had
a deleterious effect. Overcast skies
could be expected to reduce somewhat
the effect of solar radiation. Generally
speaking, high wind velocities, high rel-
ative humidity, darkness, and low tem-
peratures~would be expected to give the
Table 1. Coliform and total bacterial aerosol particle count from trickling filters (I foot == 0.3 m, 1 yard = 0.9 m).
Distance
Plant from
source
1 50 feet
:'
50 feet
0.25 mile
110 feet
200 yards
130 feet
300 yards
0.5 mfle
130 feet
200 yards
2 • 100 yards
2 600 yards
2 0.8 mile
2 '100 y.irds
2 .100 yards
2 600 yards
2 • 0.8 mile
2 '140 feet
2 .100 ynnli
Test conditions
Wind
speed
(mife/hr)
2-4
1-3
1-3
10-15
10-15
8-10
8-10
8-10
5-10
5-10
5-10
5-10
5-10
5-10
5-10
5-10
5-30
3-7
3-7
Relative
humidity
25
25
25
70
70
65
65
65
25
25
25
25
25
15
15
15
15
55
55
Temp.
(°F)
70
(21. 1'C)
70
70
50
50
46
46
46
65
65
65
65
65
68
68
63
68
59
59
Time
of
day
10:00
10:30
10:30
11:00
11:00
8:30
8:30
,8:30
8:30
8:30
8:30
8:30
8:30
9:00
9:00
9:00
9:00
10:00
• 10.00
a.ai.
p.m.
p.m.
a.m.
ajn.
pjn.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
pjn.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
Coliform particles
per cubic meter
Downwind
364
300
5
867
30
490
183 >
/09
105
42
193
26
4
.159
' 70
7
3
934
73
Upwind
control
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
I
t
Total viable particles
per cubic meter
Downwind
3,911
'•
19,737
i
3,692
2,435
3,396
622
2,493
1,400
i ,
i
914
817
389
856
,
Upwind
control
51
• 574
574
574
1,676
1,676
- , •
" ' . i •
1 607
607
607
607
-------
2 3 4
140 feet from source
. 1 2 3 4.5 6
Upwind control
Fig. 2. Pctri dishes containing Endo's medium, from various stages of the Andersen
sampler. Note.high concentration of colifonn colonies on the upper set which were
located downwind from the trickling filter bed shown in Fig. 1 (1 foot = 0.3 m).
greatest recoveries, both close in and
at greater downwind distances. Relative
humidity is known to have a pro-
nounced effect on the survival of air-
borne E. co//; usually, the humidity
during these studies was low. Low hu-
midities were shown by Brown (8) to
have a strongly adverse effect on sur-
vival of aerosolized E. coll. Positive re-
coveries of coliform organisms were
made at night up to a distance of 0.8
miic from the source (which was the
maximum distance sampled). Greater
distances of downwind travel may be
expected under more -ideal conditions.
Only a qualitative investigation, of aero-
sol emission has been made to date,
and Table 1 shows the number of coli-
fonn colonies and total number of bac-
terial colonies that were recovered
under the various conditions of the
study.
The counts presented in Table 1 are
corrected for positive hole count as
reported by Andersen (7). It should
be noted that counts reported are de-
rived from ncrosol particles collected
on the various stages of an Andersen
sampler. Each particle collected theo-
retically gives rise to one colony; how-
ever, most of the particles collected
contained more than one bacterial cell.
Andersen (7) estimated that particles
on stage 5 contained 1 to 4 cells; stage
4, 3 to 10 cells; stage 3, 9 to 25 cells;
st.igc 2, 22 to 200 cells; and stage 1,
150 or more cells. In any event, the
p;>rticlc count presented is probably
only a fraction of the total cell count.
The heaviest counts were observed on
stages 2, 3, and 4, with lower counts
on stages 1 nnd 5. Few if any colonies
were observed on stage 6. Policies re-
covered on stages 3 nnd below arc
L
known to be in the respirable size
range; hence, if pathogens were pres-
ent, they would be most infective
in this size range. Particles larger than
5 /i in diameter (that is, those col-
lected on stages 1 and 2) would be
deposited in the upper respiratory tract
but also may be swallowed and enter
the gastrointestinal tract where many
enteric pathogens are effective.
Since E. co/; and other coliforms are
the universal indicator of -fecal pollu-
tion, it is apparent that the discovery
of aerosolized coliform organisms aris-
ing from scw.ij;c treatment planls i
portend n public I>c;illli concern.
vcstigations should be conducted to
tempt to identify other bnctcri.il, fun
and viral aerosols generated by sew
treatment facilities.
Note added in proof; Aflcr our rcf
was submitted for publication, it
called to our attention that C. R.
brecht had performed research <
somewhat similar nature. Albrccl.i
milled a thesis to the Univcii-ity
Florida in 1958 entitled "Bacteri. ! ,
Pollution Associated with the Sou.
Treatment Process." We hereby
knowledge Albrecht's work.
A. PAUL ADA;
J, CLIFTON SPF.NDI n
Deseret Test Center,
Fort Douglas, UtaJi 84113
s and Notes
1. J. Snow, On the Mode oj Communication
Cholera {Churchill, ed. 2, London, 1855).
2. D. Crozier and T. E. Woodward, Military A/(
127, No. 9, 701 (1962).
3. K. Schultzc, Archiv. Hyg. Bokieriol 130, 2
(1943).
4. J. C. Spendiove, Public Health Rep. 72, No.
176 (1957).
5. L. A. AUen, E. Brooks, I. L, WUUanu, /. H>
47, 303 (1949).
6. Andersen Sampler distributed by CMC Indi
tries. Salt Lake City, Utah 84107.
7. A. A, Andersen, 1. BxtirioL. 76, No. 5, 4
(1958).
8. A. D. Brown, Aust. J. Blol Scl. 7, 444 (1954
9. Supported by DA Project 1TB61 101A91, Ir
house Laboratory Independent Research.
n July 1970
-------
TECHNICAL AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
VERNON, B.C.
April 1-3, 1970
"; 1 , Organized and sponsored by
' I Extension Department
;.'j The University of British Columbia
-j Vancouver 8, B.C.
-------
THE MICROBIOLOGY OF DOMESTIC AMD INDUSTRIAL WASTE
P.M. Townsley
Department of Food Science
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
University of British Columbia
Vancouver 8, B.C.
Many of the waste gases, liquids and solids eventually must
pass through the digestive environments created by the micro-organisms.
Waste enriched with methane, urine, or asphalt will tend to select and
to promote the development or adaptation of soil micro-organisms
capable of using these substrates. Waste materials which are either
resistant to microbial attack or are produced in quantities exceeding
the degradative capacities of the micro-organisms will accumulate and
place an undesirable burden on the local environment. The micro-organism
«a living, competing, reproducing entity which responds to favourable
satment. Its appetite is enormous, capable of utilizing 1000 to
10,000 times its own weight of sugar per hour. Possibly one of the
.Basons for this capability is the large surface/volume ratio. A
bacterium with a cell diameter of 0.0005 mm will have a surface/volume
ratio of 120 ,000.
The micro-organism may be considered to be a very efficient
manufacturing or degrading plant where ra.-.; material may be converted
into desirable products. If an effluent, as an example, contains a
high proportion of hydrocarbons such as benzene, phenol, oil, or linear
alkylated sulfonate detergent, a microbiological flora will develop in
the sewage which will utilize these substrates. It is not surprizing
that petroleum consuming organisms are found in nature for small
quantities of hydrocarbon occur naturally in many tissues and environ-
ments (1). We have often seen oily films on stagnant marsh pools and
have heard of the occurrence of n-heptane in the distillate of the
pine tree. In fact the hydrocarbons occur so frequently in nature that
Approximately one out of four bacteria and fungi can utilize them.
There are two import-in t points to remember about the organisms
when hydrocarbons form a major constituent of a sewage effluent. First,
137.
-------
c -nical combines with a number of compounds found in streams and
sev/age and depending on the polymer size, surrounding acidity and
various interactions it ferns a flooculent. In addition to being a
flocculating agent lignosulphonates are used in an ever increasing
,*•
amount in a numbor of industrial applications. They are used as
adhesive, dispersing, binding and stabilizing agents ir. the construction,
cining, chemical and agricultural industries- In fact, our own
laboratory has used successfully the lignosulfonates to stimulate the
cicrobial utilization of petroleum and petroleum waste (7). However,
a potential problem may exist as our studies indicate, lignosulphonate
can replace the protein from frozen salmon sperm. l^ether or not the
lignosulphonates interfere'with the genetic material of the many plants
and animals found in natural waters remains to be determined.
Approximately 30% of the sulfite spent liquor solids is
carbohydrate material of which possibly SO'l is readily fermentable.
This supply of fermentable carbohydrate rather than being deposited
i 3. sewage system forms a major source of sugar for the production of
alcohol anU a potential source for mushroom culture, vitamin B,,, , and
rr.any other products.
In biological treatment systems sugar will disappear rapidly
under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions. Under anaerobic
conditions, one pound of sugar dissolved in ICQ gallons of effluent
will disappear in approximately 30 minutes (3). Of course, many
nutrient factors will either interfere with or accelerate bacterial
activity. The inor.ganic nitrate formed in aerobic sewage treatment
can be removed by anaerobic conversion of nitrate to gaseous nitrogen.
Phosphate can be removed by the addition of multivalent metals such
as iron, aluminum and calcium forming the insoluble phosphate floes.
l
Optimum conditions for rapid substrate utilisation and
biological flocculation are incompatible. Bacteria and most biological
•T-ateriais contain a net negative charge and can combine with oppositely
c -rged materials to form very large particles whi^h separate as a
sluc!ge from solution, Polyelectrolytes such as pciyacrylamide and
-------
fire ashes containing poiyal-iAC metals arc ccrrrnorily added to sewage tc
increase the flocculation rate and to dehydrate the sludge. Excess
carbohydrate, desirable for rapid fermentation, interferes with
flocculation.
There are, ao in all communities, microbial villains which
are capable of thriving on s'ubstrates valued for one reason or anothex
Not too many years ago natural control over plant and animal disease
was'supplied by physical isolation and the development of resistance.
Today, as our human population grows into a logarithmic division,
control of human numbers barring common sense will be exercised by
disease, lack of food, and pollution as is found to occur in any
densely living biological population. Just as micro-organisms car,
adapt to changing sewage composition, they will occasionally overcome
human defences. Thus it is important that the planners of sewage
systems recognize the potential health hazards of sewage and interrupt
the transfer of the pathogen in sewage disposal. Well, what do we
know about the microbiology of domestic and animal waste? First, we
know that approximately 37 pounds of we't sewage solids are produced
per person per year (9) and secondly, that only approximately 50' of
the available bacteria can be isolated and characterized from activates
sludge by using standard microbiological techniques. The remaining
40% of the bacteria require an extract of the sludge to be added to
the conventional medium to support growth (10).
We are concerned over the microbial composition of sewage
from several important points of view, the rale at which the sewage
flora will utilize the incoming effluents , the ease of sludge
i fiocculation ar.d separation and the potential health hazard of se:-.7ag<
It is the-last point upon which I wish to enlarge. Forty
percent of the faecal matter from hurans ar.d domestic animals is
j composed of bacteria, mainly represented by the organism EschericM.-r.
j £2ii.- This orgar.is." is a number cf a group 'of organisms labelled
| th
-------
Klebsiclla » a cause of pneumonia and other i-nf lair.-nations of the
.espiratory tract, Shi gel la , a cause of dysentery:, and the soil
orgartisns belonging to the' genera Proteus anr! Aerobacter.
\
The majority of the strains of the bacterium Escherichia
coli utilize the nutrients" of the feces and are not pathogenic to iran.
There are exceptions , however, certain strains of F. coll can cause
infantile diarrhoea resulting in- serious epidemics in nurseries and
hospitals .
The identification of I', coli in a food 01 in a water sap-pie
is indicative of .rascal or scwaee contamination . It is also an
indicator of the riss. of the enteric pathogens.
The use of antibiotics for the control of disease in humans
and in. animals and for promoting growth, and more efficient feed
i utilization in domestic animals is widespread. A serious consideration
1 in the use of antibiotics is the appearance of antibiotic-resistant
i strains especially ar.ong the E. coli . The seriousness of the situation
' is not in that an antibiotic-resistant strain of E_. coli is forced
; but that this strain can transfer its resistance to other genera of
i the Enterobacteriaceae , in particular the Salmonella . Klebsiella and
; gfrigelJa (11) .
I
i Sewage sludge is disposed of in three different ways -
j ty spreading on land as a fertilizer, as a land fill and by discharging
j into waterways. All three method? of disposal create a health hazard.
t
; Just how s'eriou^ is this situation? It is known that
i Ijj-p'-onella when present in faecal material deposited on a stone wall
"r in soil will ra'nt^in vi-billr\ for at least 307 days (12). If the
rtdiun supports growth the organism fill grow and ;r.ultiply at terrperature
^tvreen 7°C-46°C. The organism is killed by exposure to 50°C for ons
"our.
The factors which determine the length of tin-. -3 a pathogen will
survive ir. soil or on the surface of a plant are unkr.ov:n but include
'•'•e competition with, other bacteria. Vegetable crops such as the tomato
-------
To achieve disinfection, however, the pll of the flocced water must be
reduced because I10C1 ionizes to hypochloritc ion (OC1~), nostJy as the
pH rises from 7 to 8, and this ion is a poor virucide.
Bromine. Bromine also is a good virucide, but its usefulness
is still under study.
U.V. radiatioji. In some applications, physical methods may ce
useful for inactivating viruses. Even in the presence of some turbidity,
color, organics and other substances ultra-violet radiation can be
virucidal (31,32).
Gaima irradiation. Gamma irradiation.is deeply penetrating,
leaves no residual, and is a potent virucide. At the moment, however,
_it is not a practical method for water or sewage disinfection.
SUMMARY
A human can be infected by a single viable virus excreted by
another hur.ian. Thus, a single viable virus in water is a hazardous
pollutant, constituting a danger to health and well-being. Viruses
have been detected at water intakes along the Missouri River, and
undoubtedly are present at water intakes along all of our waterways.
Methodology for quantitatively detecting snail amounts of viruses in
large volumes of water are inefficient and urgently demand an accelerated
research effort.
Investigation of the problems of viruses in water is in its infancy.
The major problems of what waterborne viruses are important to us, hov
they can be quantitatively detected and identified in waters of all
.ities, how effectively treatment processes remove then, and hov
-------
residual disj-nioctaii-o ±t>- ITl—^.-"ised, and when'ozone Is used for drinking
water, addition of a second disinfectant would be veil directed.
Most effluents contain anmonia, sometimes in excess of 20 mg/1.
Chlorinating such effluents generally produces only chloramines "because
eight milligrams of chlorine react with every milligram of connonia
nitrogen before the brealrpoint is reached. Chloramines are slow dis--
infectants (Figure k [25-2?]) and toxic to fish. Ozone does not react
with anmonia, but.it docs react with other interfering substances.
Iodine. In water solution, elemental iodine (12) does not usually
react with ammonia. 1^ is a slower viracide than hypochlorous acid is,
but it is a faster virucide than chloramines (lIHCl-^ IJHpCl) are (Figure k
•[28,29]). Moreover, significant amounts of hypoiodous acid (HOI) occur
in water at pH levels between 7-5 and. 8.5. HOI is a much more rapid
virucide than I2 is (29). lodate (I0_ ), which form in significant
quantities from the slow decomposition of HOI as pH levels increase
beyond 8, are not virucidal. Iodine ion (l") and triiodide ion (l, )
are not virucidal either. Triiodide ion results fron the reaction of
elemental iodine and iodide ion.
Iodine also may be used to disinfect se:/age treated by chemical-
physical methods. Ferric sulfate-clarified, carbon-adsorbed sewage may
retain little turbidity and total organic carbon, but its anmonia content
is usually high. In the absence of reducing substances, such waters can
be disinfected with elemental iodine (Figure k). Sewage treated with
alum and carbon also is likely to contain large amounts of anmonia, and
could be disinfected with iodine. Extensive studies have indicated that
iodine is not toxic to man in the concentrations necessary to disinfect
water (30).
Sewage treated with lime has a high pH. Since high pH makes
ia-stripping possible, such waters nay be disinfected with 1IOC1.
-------
In any -'••. ^ <•-- ••'<• --.a;,;...;.!* procedures remove some viruses and thus
constitute adj0.121,1. , ~-. :> ,•''!„ Furthermore, treatment procedures remove frc":
water many substar..-..;; T/,.r; ;.;:'-21: fare with disinfection and thereby facilitate
eventual total r:-5?r.o-/:J. ;r Jcot'-uction of viruses by terminal disinfection.
Disinfection
Terminal d_Lsiru :,£;;.-.on is requisite to the production of safe water.
Under the limitations lupos^d by cost and the uses to which the waters ars to
be put, it is unlikely at this tine that any one chemical or physical agent
can disinfect waters of all Qualities. It is necessary today to tailor
disinfecting agents to the chemical qualities of the waters to be treated.
Thus, the treatment procedure that produces the product water will determine,
in large part, the disinfectant to be used.
Chlorine. Chlorine, almost completely accepted as the universal
•
water disinfectant for many decades, suffers many shortcomings. However,
when hypochlorous acid (HOCl) can be maintained in a water, disinfection is
readily achieved. Hypochlorous acid is a rapid virucide. The rapidity with
which it destroys poliovirus 1 is shown in Figure 2 (23).
Several years ago, in our laboratory, coxsackievirus A9 vas added to
an aliquot of an effluent that had undergone primary and secondary treatment,
diatomaceous earth filtration, carbon adsorption, electrodialysis and chlori-
nation to a level of less than 2.5 mg HOCl/liter, The virrs could not be
detected 1 minute later. At least 99-99$ of the virus had been destroyed.
This water vas dechlorinated, and later consumed by personnel with no ill effect
Ozone. In those situations where the causticity or toxicity of hypo-
* *
chlorous acid is troublesome, ozone (0.) may be preferable. Ozone leaves no
*J
residual, decomposing rapidly into oxygen. Figure 3 shows that ozone also
is a rapid virucide (2k}. Maintaining a drinking water supply with no
-------
Removal of Viruses from Waste and Other Waters by Treatment Processes
Viruses can be renoved from waters by biological, chemical and
physical treatment procedures. Most procedures that remove chemical
pollutants also remove viruses, but not always as veil. Primary settling
removes Uo to 70$ of the viruses in 2^ hours, and almost none in three
hoxirs (Table ^ [18]). In laboratory studies, activated sludge nay remove
more than 99$ of viruses present (l8), but less effective removal has
been shown in the field (lU). Coagulation with A^SOi,.)^ may remove 90-
97$ of viruses added to settled effluent (Table 5 [19]), but carbon
adsorption removes little of the virus added to trickling filter effluent
(20). Ca(OH)2 coagulation, however, may remove 99 to 99-'9$ of poliovirus 1
added to activated sludge effluent (l6). Alg^O^ and FeCl, (21) remove
more than 90$ of viruses added to river water (Table 6), but effectiveness
in the field has not yet been evaluated. Cationic polyelectrolytcs may
remove 99 to 99.9$ of viruses added to water (Table 6 [^9,22]).
Coagulation with lime may produce rapidly virucidal pH levels in
soft waters (Figure 1 [lo]).
It is not completely clear to what degree viruses are adsorbed to
carbon and sand, and to what degree they are adsorbed to the microcosnic
deposits on carbon and sand surfaces (1^,20).
Thus, some treatment procedures remove large quantities of viruses
from waters and some do not. Usually, laboratory data are more optimistic
than field data are. The treatment plant coping with various organics,
solids and the like is a much different situation than the well-controLLed
laboratory experiment.
-------
In order to sample ouch large volumes of '•;''•- r '" / - •-- of gallons
had to be trucked to Cincinnati at each sampling. Tils "3 a cumbersome
expensive operation. Thus, as cur field experic:_• • ..,'. w^sl, we tested
procedures for filtering large volumes of water ir ' >-• fj';ld and recovering
viruses after transporting filters and adjunct r.a^^le^ t>- the laboratory.
Comparative studies presented in Table 3 show that - -emeries of viruses
were as great from field-filtered samples as fro™ 'Vir.-J.cs trucked to
the laboratory.
The polyelectrolyte technic is reasonably efficient with poliovirus '1,
but not w'ith any of the other viruses that have been tested. Poliovirus 1
recoveries often exceed 50$, but cchovims 7 recoveries are sometimes
below 30^, and re o virus 1 recoveries are some tines belo-.; 20^ (Table 3 fl^J)-
Dss'pite its low and erratic efficiency, however, the technic seens to be
the most sensitive nov available for studies of large volur.es of vater*
Adjunctive procedures developed in our laboratory have at least doubled
this sensitivity.
Because many different ion exchange resins can be produced in the
search for raaxinua virus recovery efficiency, these substances clearly
warrant the renewed interest they nov: enjoy.
Osmotic ultrd.filtrat.ion and electro-osmosis. Osmotic ultrafiltration,
electro-osmosis and other methods are also under study, but their capability
is not yet clear. It is not yet clear either, whether we vail eventually
attain a universal recovery systera efficient with waters of all qualities,
or whether we will need to tailor the recovery system to the water under
study.
-------
recovery of reovirus 1 nay be achieved In a 3"$ solution of a dehydrated
beef extract (Colab) (l'^,l6). Efficient recovery of cnteroviruses may
be achieved frora 25 gallon quantities but with larger volumes, recoveries
are now only 50 to 75^ efficient.
Certain substances, probably organics, apparently coat the adsorptive
oi'ocb oa the luemb runes, and maice tnuu. unavailable to uie virus (1^,1^).
Thus, the membrane filter technic nay be useful for quantitative virus
recovery from tap, renovated, and other clean waters, but even relatively
clean waters may need to be pretreated to renove interfering substances
before quantitative recovery of viruses can be achieved. It is still
to be determined whether waters of poorer quality can be sufficiently
purified without removing or destroying viruses so that such waters can
b<; tested with the r.io^brane filter technic. However, there are other
filtration methods that offer promise for quantitative recovery of
viruses from water. One such technic is the insoluble polyelectrolytc,
*
in essence the ion exchange resin.
The polyelectrolyte technic. Viruses in water passed through a
thin layer of the Monsanto polyelectrolyte PS 60 nay adsorb to the poly-
electrolyte and may be eluted with 10$ fetal calf serum in borate saline
at pH 9-0 (IT). With this technic and other adjuncts developed during
the field experience, viruses he AT- been recovered fror.i 50-gallon samples
of river water taken long distances from outfalls along the fast-flowing
Missouri River during the winter months. On two occasions we sampled
water intakes and recovered viruses in concentrations of 19 and 3 PFU
per 50 gallons, respectively, desc concentrations are equivalent to
360,000 and 60,COO PFU per million gallons of water consumed.
-------
. ,•• .'£, .T.ocjt of the large adcnoviruses and reoviruses Behind. Peovi ruses
a_:* adenoviruses nay be recovered from effluents "by precipitation with
protamine sulfate but thiu technic leaves most of the umall picomavirj^
behind (7). The two methods nay be used together to recover r.ost of the
viruscsin all of ther,e groups.
Phase separa Lion. The phase separation oecimic (8-10), has an
overnight time requirement for completion. In phar.e separation socliun
dextran sulfate and polyethylene glycol are ni;;ed vith a sarriple and allo
to separate. The viruccc are then recovered frcn the lower bottom phase
-(dextran) and inle'rphasc by precipitation with KC1. Tlie raethod riay not
be efficient with all viruses (ll), but recent studjes have been more
encouraginQ (12).
. The Al(OH)o-prota:uir.e sulfate and the phase separation methods
accoranodate only limited volumes, and neither method is completely
efficient. From test to test, both may suffer variations in efficiency.
But, both technics are adequate for many purposes, and when only small
volumes have to be tested, these technics may be useful. V/hcn large
volumes must be tested, Mother methods must be sought.
For large volumes of vater, the best approach would seem to be
a filtration system.
The membrane filter technic. The membrane filter technic (13)
consists of filtering vater through 0.^5 ji cellulose nitrate membrane
filters. Viruses may adsorb to these filters and then be eluted from
f
then. Adsorption of viruses requires the presence of salt (LV,15), and
is greatest at pH 7 (1*0- Complete recovery of enteroviruses, and 8c$
-------
amounts, and produce in those contacts recognizable illnesses. Although
such transmission of viruses has an essential water link, the spread of
infection and disease in this fashion vill appear to be by the personal
contact route. The disease rates in secondary contacts might well be a
much better indicator of source than the disease rates in water consumers
y_
themselves . Such may also be true for bacterial infections and diseases,
because the major concern in this area has also been with disease and not
with infection.
Since a single PFU of virus is capable of producing infection in
man, we must be able to detect that amount in relatively large volumes
of water. We have set as a tentative goal detection of 1 PFU of virus
per 100 gallons of water. Thus, we must develop this kind of detection
capability.
>"
Recovery of Viruses fro:" V/aters of All Qualities
The recovery of 1 PFU of virus from one-hundred gallons of water
or more will require better concentration procedures than those available
today. We must develop the capability for complete recovery of viruses
from vaters of qualities ranging from raw sewage to completely renovated.
Aluminum hydroxide adsorption and protanine sulfate precipitation.
Because relatively large amounts of viruses are usually present in sewage
and in effluents, only small volumes usually need to be tasted. In these
situations, technics are already available, but they cannot be readily
adapted to large volumes. The Al(OH)? adsorption procedure (^,5) in
J t
which the virus is adsorbed on an Al(0!l)o gel, may recover
toost enteroviruses in sewage effluents (^-6), but the method
y,
In controlled studies where controls consume sterile water
-------
such as nilitary training car.ps, and institution:;. Some ccrct^es
produce acute epidemic keratoconjunctivitic, a serious eye disease,
some can produce cancer in certain laboratory onir.:-ls.
*
irpses . The reoviruses , conprisinj -J-.ree serotypos, have
been associated with respiratory and enteric diseases. One type has beer.
reported to produce cancer in baby nice when the virus was inocuLut.su in
very sr.£ill concentration:: .
Infectious hepatitig virus . The virus of irfectious hepatitis has
yet to be grown in laboratory cultures, and remains something of an
enigma to this day.
Most of these viruses produce asymptoroatic infections nest of the
time. Only occasionally do they produce disease. Infection is sc cc~:r.c~,
..-evcr, that the avount of disease produced is significant.
The Hazard of Viruses in _'./ater
amounts of viruses entering rivers and streams with vaste-
vater ai-e a hazard to those downstream v/ho use these craters. Even a fe'.,r
virus particles in 100 gallons of river water would constitute a hazard,
for the amount of virus in the total voluxe of water entering the intakes
of even a small city on any day would be considerable.
Because snail amounts of ingested viruses are likely to produce
infection but not disease, it is likely that snail amounts of viruses
could be present in water and go undetected. Individuals infected with
snail amounts of viruses nay show no signs, but they nay excrete large
f
»
anoints of viruses. Thus, they nay infect their contacts with lar^e
bo is an acronym for respiratory, enteric orphan.
-------
These viruses may also produce aseptic meningitis, and various minor
disorders as well.
*
Coxsackievlrus A. The coxsackievlruses of group A comprise almost
30 serotypes all of which produce characteristic lesions in newborn nice<
Sortie of these viruses produce herpangina, aseptic meningitis, and rubella-
like rashes in nan.
Coxsackie virus B. The coxsackievlruses of group B comprise six
serotypes^ all of which produce characteristic lesions in newborn nice
that are different from those produced by coxsackievirus A serotypes.
All of the group B viruses can cause aseptic meningitis in man. Viruses
of this group also may produce acute infantile myocarditis, pleurodynia,
and other disorders in man.
•£•£
EchoviruseG. The echovirus _group nov consists of more than 30 ^
.serotypes. Members of this group can produce aseptic meningitis, diarrhea,
rubella-like rashes and other ailments.
The polioviruses, coxsackieviruses of groups A and B, and the echo-
viruses, belong to a major group of viruses, the picornaviruses"1". Tvo
other major virus groups are significant in water, the adenoviruses and
the reoviruses.
Adenoviruses. The adenoviruses are a group of larger viruses
consisting of more than 30 serotypes. Members of this group are responsible
for many of the respiratory diseases of childhood. Other serotypes
produce acute respiratory disease outbreaks in closed populations
*
Coxsackie is the name of the community in New York State where these
viruses were first discovered.
*-*
Echo is an acronymibr enteric, cytopathic, hunan, orphan.
Picorna is an acronym for pico-small, ma-ribonucleic acid.
-------
VIRUSES IN WASTE, HS'IOVATSD, Ala) OT^_T. '..'.'.TER3*
Y V
'Gerald Berg
Many viruses are excreted r.."ith the feces of infected individuals.
These viruses multiply in the alimentary canal of man, or have access to
it. With viruGes of animal, plant, and bacterial origin, they abound In
sewage and in receiving rivers and streams.
The numbers of viruses of human origin in water are small when
compared with the numbers of bacteria excreted by man. Viruses do not
multiply outside of living susceptible cells; thus, viruses decrease in
numbers in the receiving waters. The importance of viruses in water,
however, does not stein from numbers. Rather, their importance is manifest
in their ability to infect man when present even in small numbers. The
smallest amount of virus capable of infecting our most sensitive indicators,
cells in culture, is usually capable of producing infection in man (Table 1
[1,2]).
Because such minimal amounts of viruses can produce infection in
man; the total removal of such viruses from any water that man might
consume is Justified. The viruses of human origin that occur in water
and are of major concern to us are shown in Table 2.
Viruses Important in Water
All of these viruses can be differentiated from each other
serologically and, to some degree, by other means.
Polioviroses. The polioviruses consist of three serologically
distinct types each of which can produce paralytic disease in man.
*
To be presented at the Advanced Waste Treatment and Water Reuse
Symposium, Chicago, Illinois, February 23, 1971.
*-*
Chief of Virology, Advanced Waste-Treatment Research Laboratory, Water
Quality Office, Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio
-------
VIRUSES IN WASTE, RENOVATED, AND OTHER WATERS
By
Gerald Berg
Environmental Protection Agency
Water Quality Office
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
February, 1971
-------
hi. Sturtevan.r, A.B., and T.':\ ^eary, Incidence c/ . /1.-'Ctious Drug
Resistance among Lactose-forcer,tinr Bacteria . .0^.-;.^ed from Raw
and Treated Sewage, ,\op. Micrcbiol. _!£, Si?. '^39.
12. Keard, T.K7., Housing and Salmonella Inf^c ti-jn.s, The Vet. R,= c. '85,
432, 1969. - "
13. Prost, E. and H. Riemann, Food Borne Salir.oneT. 1 osis cited in Ann.
Review Microbiol. 21_, 504, 1967.
in. Rankin, J.D., and R.J. Taylor, A Study cf ^rr- Disease Hazards
which could be associated with the syst^/Krcf applying" Cattle
Slurry to Pasture, The Vet. Rec. 35, 573, iii6S~.'
15. Shuval, H.I , Inactivation of Ent-eroviru .e^ in Sewage by
Chlorination Adv. Water Pollut. Res. Proc. Int. Conf. 3rd, 2_,
37, 1966.
15. Duff, K.F. Isolation of Ether-resistant Enteroviruses from Sewage,
Methodology, /pp. Microbiol., 1_9, 120, 1970.
17. Wallis, C., Concentration of Viruses from sewage and Excreta on
Insoluble Polyelectrolytes. App. Microbiol., IB, IC07, 1959.
Lund, E., and C.E. fledstrom, A Study on Sampling and Isolation
Methods for the Detection of Virus in S-ewage, Water Res., _3_3 .
823, 1969.
13. Shuval, K.I., B. Fattal, S. Cymbalista and N. Goldblum, The
Phase-separation Method for the Concentration arid Detection of
Viruses in Water, Water Res., _3, 225, 1S69.
Randall, C.W., and J.O, Ledbetter, Bacterial Air Pollution fro.:.
Activated Sludge Units, Am. Ind. Kyg. Ass. 27, SOS, 1S66.
Coler, H.A.j and H.B. Gunner, fficrobial Populations as Determinants
\ in Protozoa Succession, Water Res., 3, 1^3, 1S69.
I
p. Curds, C.F. and G.J. Fey, The Effect of Ciliated Protozoa on the
I Fate of E. coli, in Activated Sludge Process, Water Res. , 3,
| 853, 1969. •
p. Grabow, '/'.O.K., N.A. Grabow, and J.S. Burger, The Bactericidal
Effect of Lime Flocculation/Flotation an a, Primary Unit Process
in a Multiple System for the Advanced Purification of Sewage
Works Effluent, Water 3es., 3, 943, 1969.
-------
If sludge is maintained at pH 11.5 for 1 hour the Entero-
tacteriaceae is reduced by more than 99°. On the other hand the
jn positive bacteria are not destroyed at this high p:I (23).
Chlorine will red_ce the sr>Iiform noun-, tc le-:s t-'i:-.r. 100 p = r 1P0 .TL! in
> hours cor.~2.ct TLre with f mg chl-ri'ire pir liter '15). However the
coliforr: court .7:ay r.ot give ar- accjrate ylctu-e o; tht death of th-
other pathogens.
In conclusion, I would like to stress that micro-organises
are very aggressive and hardworking individuals. Under proper
direction and control great benefits ray b..; derived from .these silent
s-orkers .
References
1. Jones, J.G. and A. Williams, Hydrocarbon Biogenesis, p. 11, cited
in Microbiology, The Institute of Petroleum, London, Ed, P. Hepple ,
1967.
2. Johnson, M.J., Utilization of Hydrocarbon by Micro-organisms,
Chem. and Ind., p. 1532, 1964.
3. McAuliffe, C. Solubility in Water of Normal Co and C10 Alkane Hydro-
carbons, Science 163, 478, 1969.
4- Halvorsor., H., and \*. Ishaque, ricrobiclogy of Domestic Waste,
III. Metabolism of LAS-type Detergents by Bacteria from a
Sewage Lagoon, Can. Jour. Microbiol., 15, 571, 1969.
'- 'Humphrey, A.E., A Critical Review of Hydrocarbon Fermentations ar> <
their Industrial Utilization, Biotech. Eioeng. , 9_, 3, 1967.
* Halvorson, H., H. Ishaque and H, Lees, Microbiology of Domestic
V'astes, II. A Comparative Study of the Seasonal Physiological
Activity of Bacteria Indigenous to a Sewage Lagoon, Can. Jour.
Kicrobiol., !_§_, 563, 13G?.
•'• Liu, D.L. and P.M. Townsley, Pulp 'till Lignosulfonates in Potrolei' .
Jour. Water Pollution Control Federation 1S7G.
*• Jeris, J.S. and P.P. Cardenas, Gluccso Disappearance in Biological
v Treatment Systems, App. Hicrobiol. 1H, 857, 1366.
\ Y< Wiley, B.B., and S.C. Westerberg, Survival of Human Pathogens in
; Composted Sewage, App. Hicrobiol., 18, 99^, 1^69. A
!- / ~~ w
i Prakasam, T.3.S., and N.C. Dpndero, Aerobic Keterotrophic Bacter-j .
Populations of Sewage and Activated Sludge, II. Method of Character-
ization of Activated Sludge [Bacteria, Applied Kicrobiol. IS, 1122, '! 9
'
-------
of sewage treatment systems. The measurement of the coliform
anisms in chlorinated sewage may not give an indication of the
inactivation cf the more resistant virus (15). The virus particle may
occur in free form or be combined to organic sewage debris. The
concentration of virus in raw sewage can be as high as two infectious
particles per milliliter (1&). '"
To assay the virus content of sewage the virus can be
isolated and concentrated by a number of techniques (17, 18, 19).
following isolation the virus concentrate is inoculated onto animal
V.idney cultures and incubated for 10 days. The number of plaques which
appear are a count of the infectious virus particles.
The health hazard of wind-borne bacteria from activated sludge
•j.r.its is also of interest. The bacterial population of air is increased
•~y passage over an activated sludge «aste treatment unit. For example,
The bacterial count has been found in one particular sludge unit ~o be
about 8 per cubic foot on the upwind side and 1170 per cubic foot on
downwind side (20). In this latter case the family Enterobacteriacea=
represented 19% of the total bacteria in the aerosol of which Klebsig_ll-'i
a known respiratory tract pathogen represented 6':. In fact, the Kleb.tj.-ill ^
is the best indicator cf bacterial air pollution from seva^a sources.
'"Undall states "that a man working 5 feet off the downward edge of an
Deration tank when the wind velocity is 10 mph, perhaps taking a sludge
sample, could be expected to inhale a. viable Klebsiella every two breaths.
~'r-2 bacterial death rate in the aerosol will depend on the resistance
-• the organism tc desiccation re.ngir.jj frcm a maximum dea ;h rate at -.7
-1- 1.0 seconds after emission tc a Icr.g undetermined survival time
Since many sewage or waste treatment designers have not been
^so concerned with the health hazards of sewage the reports dealing
-'ith control measures are not too numerous. In the activated-sludge
:--t we know that the ciliated prctor.oa .ire principally responsible
•°r destroying £. coljL and possibly other bacteria (21) , as well as
-roving the clarity of the effluent (71). If the sludge is composted
-r aeration -_r.d tr.e temperature of the compost ranges between 60°-
'- C, the poliovirus is inactivated within the first hour, Salmonella
'V3 of Ascaris and Candada albicans are inactivated within 43 hours (3).
-------
have been artificially or naturally contaminated contain viable
a for one. week following application (13).
Cattle slurry which consists of a mixture of faeces and
urine with a minimum of bedding material all suspended in a large
quantity of water is a source of disease transmission. One hundred
cows produce approximately 20,000 gallons of this slurry per week.
Salmonella dub 1 in , Salmonella typnimurium , E. coli , Staphlococcus aureus
and Bruce 11 a abortus survived for at least eleven weeks in the slurry.
Two additional pathogens found in faeces , Mycobacteriurn tuberculosis
2nd Mycobacterium j ohne i , survive in the slurry and the pasture for
t:any months (1H), Mono of the above bacteria however, were found to
r.ultiply in the slurry. The spore formers-, Clostridium tetani commonly
found in cattle faeces and Racillis anthracis may build up. The anthrax
bacilli are excreted from the animal a short time prior to death and
thus can gain access to the cattle slurry before the disease is
diagnosed. If this infected slurry is now spread in the field, the soil
'ill become perr.;an-3ntly contaminated. Two other diseases dangerous to
..<3n may be found in cattle slurry ; 0 fever and leptospirosis . Q fever
•'hich causes a fever often accompanied by pneumonitis in man can be
3pread by wind in a dry aerosol form from a rain gun and leptospirosis
can infect humans via several difficult routes and causes infectious
"jaundice. This latter organism in sewage has been known to enter
';ater courses and swimming areas..
In addition to the above diseases, the Helminth parasitic wcrrcs
"«y also be spread to man and animals through sewage . The ova of
linear is lumbricoides is commonly found in sewage.
*
The virus of the highly infectious foot and mouth animal
-isease is excreted in the faccas of tha animal before the animal is
4
clinically ill. This virus should 'survive for a short period at
in cattle slurry.
Rec?r,tlv th^r^ har Lc^n \ growing interest in t.h?. . determination
•* vivus '^cirziclab In 3 2'.--\;;.;e . These tests c.c:: time: consuming and
"Serious bui" certainly necessary to determine the potential health
-------
b. Physical health effects.
The physical health effects relate primarily to the lung but also ru?y have
an effect on the heart and other organs. The lung is the body's filter and as the
two types of materials which are of great concern in ror^rd to the health question.
The first relates to the problem of gases produce-'.,1. P<"« produced from a sewage
plant include the nitrogen compounds, particularly nitrocjc;. dioxide, hydrogen
sulfids and sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, carhv, dioxide, i.urcaplc.-is and others.
Studies carried out by our group at the University of Illinois School of Medicine
in the section of Environmental Health in the Department of Preventive- f';dicir.£
have reveaUd thtt in the presence of air pollutants as measured by sulfur dioxide,
tdth chr$*ri£ bronchitis have twice as many days of illness when the
are greater than 0.2 ppm than they do when the pollution levels are
levels of SO* expected from this plant will reach a maximum of
OK23 flfflk 1$ e^si^Hng the levels of gaseous pollutants to which individuals
^^
wt)) fe§ S«r^t€t^» ©fl<£ must consider not only what conies from the plant but also
ttt^t t$ tft tfte e$«»«ftity. K'hile very few measurements have been made, the levels
ef SO^ in the ambient air from other sources already is close to or exceeding those
standards which have been set by the State. Addition of the gaseous material from
the plant will at times cause levels far exceeding those considered safe by the
federal government as set down by the Air Quality Criteria for Sulfur Dioxide
(Air Quality Criteria for Sulfur Oxides, Dept. of Health, Education and l.'elfare
AP-50),
In addition to the gases, participate will emanate from the pl?nt as a result
of burning. Many of these ga.ses will become adsorbed by the participate which also
can travel longer distances eventually releasing the gases after they are inhaled
into the lungs of individuals. The effects of these gases are as lung irritants. They
cause interference with and ultimately destruction of the protective mechanisms
of the lungs, including the mucociliary apparatus which is a system for clearing
irritant and infected particles out of the lungs. In addition, they cause inflammation
and swelling and therefore narrowing of the air passages of the lung and in
individuals who are sensitive, spasm of these air passages with further narrowing
which is the body's way of resisting the intrusion of irritant substances. In
addition, recurrent irritation from these gases results in the development of
very thick mucous in the air passages which cause plugging or blocking of smaller
air passages, also reducing the ability to move air into and out of the lungs.
-------
or'1 TJ^LTI-TOIS
January 18, 1971
Mr. Martin Warner
Dear Sir:
At your request I am responding to the question set forth by Mr. Gary Schenze'i
of the Water Resources Planning Branch of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Question I is, "What is the probable impact of the project on the environment?"
It is contemplated that the present 4 million gallons per day treatment plant be
enlarged to an 18 million gallons per day treatment plant.
a. Odors
Even at the present level of treatment a significant area in the surrounding
community is subjected to unpleasant odors from the hydrogen sulfide mercaptans I
and other gases produced by the sewage plant, This is particularly true during
the summer months when many individuals are outdoors, sit in their yards, work in
their gardens, prepare food outside, etc. If one defines health, not merely as
the absence of disease but as a state of physical and mental well being where
individuals can function and enjoy the fruits of their labors, (the definition of
health of the World Health Organization) one can see that there is already an
impact on the health of the community. In addition to their being vifthJeasar.it
odcrs, many Cctui=e Increased irritability of individuals. Some individuals who
are odor sensitive can suffer significant effects on health in that they tend to
have reduced appetites and gastrointestinal distress. In addition, intrinsic
asthmatics who are environmental hyperreactors and do react to odors and have
an accentuated negative response to them in regard to health. The increase to
an 18 million gallons per day plant cannot help but increase proportionately the
odors emanating from the plant. This will not only intensify odors for those
I
already being exposed, but will increase the area of exposure to include more
citizens. It should be further noted that a significant number of schools are wi Li
a half to one mile of the plant and in the direction from which the wind blows. |
a majority of the time (that is they are east of the plant). This cannot help but
interfer with student concentration and ability to learn.
-------
The argument thai epj ciouiioloy j ca 1 re 3 a t ionr,]'i Jps have not been
proven is not valid. The work has sJmpJy not yet been done.
Let us conn ( our.sulves .fortunate that our U.S. Public Health
Service did not wait for definitive proof before taking
measures to protect our population. They brought sanitation,
quarantine and preventive measures Lo boar, in some instances',
before germs were related to disease at all.
Hopefully the Knvironuentril Protection Agency rill take the
same "reasonable doubt" attitude and agree that potentially,
sewage trontj.ioni in the immediate vjcinity of human habita-
tion is a tenuous .situation. When recognixed as such,
expediency will not be allowed to overcome the public welfare.
Martin ft. Rogo'f^/Ph . D.
1563 Robin Hood Place
Highland Park, Illinois 60035
-------
4 . Transforrablo drug resist; :e in on t ori c b:-.ct cria :
Another factor which should 1 mentioned is that the enteric
bacteria possess the quality f being able to exchange drug .
resistance properties between members of a viable population-1—---^/
The genetic factors responsib]c for resistance to certain drugs
in these bacteria are extrachr ;mosomal in nature and are termed
episomcs. The phenomenon is termed episomal transfer of drug
resistance. The chances for transfer of drug resistance
characteristics to non-drug resistant members of the enteric
microflora in a high population density of enteric bacteria
such as is encountered during sewage treatment would be
excellent. Replacement of non-antibiotic resistant micro-
flora by antibiotic resistant strains in humans exposed to
this transformed population would be a secondary hazard of
potentially high danger. This danger is particularly insidious
since it would not be observed until antibiotic therapy was
required.
\
v—
IV. THE QUANTITATIVE EFFECT, A SUMMARY STATEMENT
The preceding statement is not intended to be interpreted
as a dire prediction of total deterioration of our local
environment in terms of health and habitability should
an improved sewage treatment facility continue to operate at Clavey
Road. It is intended to point out that such a facility does pre-
sent certain hazards to health. They are biological and chemical in
nature. They are inherent to the sev/age treatment process and
the nature of the material being processed. There is an ever-
present danger that due to malfunction of any nature, an
episode of disaster proportions can occur.
The level of possible deleterious effects is quantitatively
related to the amount of sewage treated. This should be
self evident. Any increase in the capacity of the Clavey
Road plant will proportionally increase the hazard potential.
It would seem then that the utmost consideration should be
given to halting further expansion of the facility. If it
is agreed that the possibility of a health hazard exists,
that total lack of health hazard is not currently demonstrable
and that sewage treatment by its very nature cannot benefit a
residential area, but potentially can threaten it, then the
only conclusion to be reached is to remove the facility, or
at least not expand it in the environs of a high concentration
of humans.
7T7
-^Anderson (1968) Ann. Rev, Microbiology 22,131.
JJL/
Smith & Linggood (1970) J. Gen. Microbiol., 62,287.
-------
traii.slorian 1 i on it ml pK./.'x'y Lojis . Most import ani are stu>:i,'/s
which have dcmonst ra {.ed thai cellular and humora] in.iau.1! .'. ( }'
can be independent .1 3' affected. Thus a virus (LDV) vhich
depressed cellular i-'-^v^j ly ai;L;;non tod humoral i:n;,:u;i.; i }• .
Another (VL'i") did not affect cellular iiMiumity but auj.men (. cd
humoral. Another, Gross leukemia virus, dcpj osr-:ed both,
This has important implications pertinent to continuous (or
'discontinuous) exposure to lov; levels of virus. Do pros. si on
of huir.ora 1 irmnun .1 1 y c o v ild Lia]:.^_ the? host i.-iore susccp t j hlo to
other Infect j ous apyon^ ? . i^Ti^riJ?J^ii_^L:'_ co jj u] a_r_ i j^.'.uin J_t y
would iov.'cr c»paj lity 1 o r e j e c t ina I i fj:na j) 1 c o .1 1 s aj ) d
_ _ __ __.
potent iate tumour ini Li a ^ipt1- raid gj.\ov/^h . Cellular immunity
depression could also nake the host less able to reject virus
infected cells opening a path toward establishment of chronic
virus infections.
The desirability of creating an environment designed to expose
us to low levels of viruses seems at the very least questionable
%• E f f e c L of v/a s I c - do r i y e d c hem ic a 1 po 1 j u t , a nt '.?. _ on hos t sus-
cep t i b i 11 1 y : it should be noted that cheinj cal ~poJ lu rants
associated v/ith the treatment of sev/ag'e such as N02 , S02 , and
as had originally bean proposed for use in the Clavcy Road
facility, ozone, have the effect of increasing human suscepti-
bility to infection by the agents of numerous diseases. The
effects of these pollutants on infect ivity of pathogens are
again well documented in the National Academy of Sciences'
report "Infectious Disease in Banner Space Flight". •&
3. IsTi trous acid as a __rmt;a gen : it should also be noted that
N02 vhich in aqueous solution forms nitrous acjd, is a known
mutagen. Mutagenicity of nitrous acid is documented in the
references below,5_iif..'_Lliif/ and in matter of fact, nitrous
acid is used routinely as a mutagenic agent in procedures for
mutation of microorganisms. This represents an additional
hazard since .mutation of an avirulent microorganism to a
virulent form is highly probable, particularly in view of the
largo numbers of microorganisms of a potential]}' pathogenic
nature present in sev.vtge.
jS/See rcf's page 131 !\?o's 113-143 in Bibliography of Appendix A,
page 102 in Infoctjous Disease in Mannojr Space F-l_ij;lrt, National
Academy of Sciences, V/ashington, D. C. 1970.
^/Tessman, Pod da r & Kumav (1964) J. Mol. Biol. _9,352J
JLOKaudev/itz (1063) Biochem. Bi ophys. Res. Comm. 11, 41G.
wetter & Schuster (I960) Z. Naturf. 156,304,
(1960) C, R. Acad. Sc. Paris 250,1134.
-------
hit activated slucigi; process is an acrobjc; proci .v.y and
requires the entraininen i of air into 1 he sewage being treated.
Recycling, pumping, water turbulence are necessary components
of an activated sludge process. Such processing then results
in aerosol formation. One need only observe a large plant in
operation, such as that in Stickncy or Milwaukee, in which
the acrosolization effects are visible to the naked eye. Note
that there is no case presented demonstrating microbial pathogen
loads or lack thereof Jn air surrounding sewage treatment plants
Such monitoring is n_p_t_ routine.
As f.or entry of pathogens into ground waters, this is en-
tirely possible in any situation where retention basins or
effluent lagoons arc not structural elements but are excavated
from bare earth. Loss of water from tiie effluent lagoon comes
about as a function of evaporation and seepage of water through
the underlying soil. In the case of the Clavey Road plant, in
an area whore the water table is quite close to the surface,
chances for contamination of ground water from bare earth
lagooning should be extremely high.
C, Se c o nd a ry f a c tors bearing an epidemiology of waste-
associated disease
1. The immune response to virus infection: it was suggested
by Dr. Dinehart, a witness for the League of Women Voters at
hearings of the Illinois Pollution Control Board, that perhaps
exposure of the local population to viruses might be beneficial.
They would develop immunity to a vario-ty of viruses. The
opinion was echoed by Dr. Slade, Microbiology Consultant to
the City of Highland Park. I sincerely hope their testimony
was not offered in all seriousness.
Let me respond quickly to the foregoing, first as to the
quantitative nature of the infectious process. Reactions in-
volving the immune response are diseases and the numbers game
is being played as to which takes command, the infecting agent
or the host's immunologic mechanisms. It is chancy enough,
viz. influenza or rabies vaccines, to attempt immunization
under con ("rolled dosages. The idea of j. cui'luin exposure to
unknown quantities of virus is unthinkable as a desirable
feature of a sewage treatment stream in your own back yard.
Further, the individual who forwarded this idea is apparently
not aware of recent literature pertinent to the effects of
virus infection/on immune response. 1 suggest reading of
Notkins, el al-2- , who indicate the differential immune response
effects of viral infoetions.. These authors point out. first
that viruses can influence many parameters of immune function
including antibody production, immunoglobin levels, induction
of immunological tolerance, delayed skin reaction, lymphocyte
— Notkins, Mergcnhagcn and Howard (1970) Ann. Rev. Microb.24,525
-------
3, Ph.y_sj._ca.1 y,cc_t_o_rK: Hank also provides additional reference
to physical vectors, e.g. airborne solids, direct contact and
contamination of food and water supplies. The associations
treated in this 1J tornturo survey leave little doubt as to
the existence of epicle;niological hazards related to sewage
handling.
Let us consider airborne solids further. The literature relating
to the survival of bacteria and viruses in aerosols is vast.
Much of the literature on the subject has been compiled by the
federal scientists at the U.S. Army Chemical Corps Center at
Ft. Detriok, Frederick, Aid. This literature, much of which
is restricted, is particularly important since the microorganisms
studied were almost universally those associated with human
disease. The survival of bacteria and viruses in aerosols is a
subject of continuing concern and s.tudy. Documentation can /
most simply be initiated by backtracking from Ehrlich, et al.4"
This reference^is quoted not for the survival data of the
F1 a voba c t e r i inn , a coi.unon soil and water organism, which it
contains, but simply to demonstrate that the aerosol survival
problem is well recognized and is the subject of continued
and on-going research. A rather complete bibliography on the
subject of airborne pathogens was developed in association
with study of the airborrc infection hazard associated with
manned space flight. These references appear in the biblio-
graphy of the National .Academy of Sciences' publication
"Infectious Disease in Manned. Space Flight "/and is available
from the Washington office of that agency. It is also
possible to document that fecal organisms represent a potential
hazard in their ability to survive in an abnormal environment,
e.g. that of respiratory tract. The transfer of fecal organisms
to the I'espiratory tract of humans as a result of malfunction
of a sewage disposal system, in this case in a- submarine, can
be documented by the work of V/atkins, et al, who reported
their studies to the American Medical Association in 1964.
Lastly, it should be pointed out that aerosolization and
air-transmission are not the sole means of transmission of
pathogens.' The aforementioned vectors play a role as docs
seepage of sewage through soil to ground uater, hence drinking-
water supplies. Entry of effluent to water supplies also pre-
sents a possible hazard. Are these modes of transmission
inherent to the operation of a sewage treatment plant? The
answer must be, YES'.
- Ehrlich.. Miller and Walker (1970) Applied Microbiol., 20,8S4 .
-' See Rcf's page 131 No's 90-112 in Bibliography of appendix A,
p 102 in Inf cc ti ous_ DijLcr^pc in Manned Space FHgjit_, National
Academy of Sciences, Washington, D. C., 1970.
Watkins, et al, Abstracts A MA ^National Meeting, June 22,1964.
-------
of anaerobes due to thoir extror :- 1 <, [ as i i d j ou.s ualr.ro .in re-
gard Lo free oxygen , Thus, tlio > a.jor in i crub t al elements of
fecal wjcroflcra are not be-in;/, c^ns i uorril in del ei'tni nn1 j onr;
of the m.icrob.i o'l ogi cal quality of sev. ago .in j luen Is and
effluents, or for thai matter in es t imu I ion of water supply
potabili ty.
It should further be noted that microbiul load in a
treatment plant influent, includ
not a constant. It will vary wi
seasonal variations, general hoa
-of admixture v/jth industrial was
port. In other wordy, the dynom
ng pathogenic forms, it-:
h climatic1 conditions,
th of the commim i ty, effects
e and holding time in trans-
c quality of the influent
referred to iu section II holds or the pathogenic load.
Even without precise data; the seasonal appearance ol v/ater-
born.e epidemics of "intestinal virus disorders" and similar
diseases attest to the dynamic aspects of effluents. The
persistence of the causative agents can be related lo the
potential health hazard in a quanti 1 a t j v-c way. A plant
operating at 90% efficiency will release infective agents in
the effluent in direct proportion to their presence in the
influent, all other factors being equal . The actunl pathogen
load then would be a function of original numbers, plant
efficiency and amount of waste treat cc'i. This is a moi.--, I im-
portant point in tli3 context o.f this particular problem. ,
B . Relation of di so a s_o_s t o wji_s t e d i sjx>_s_a_l_
1. Related diseasc-'S: the relationships betveen disease
and solid waste has been well documented in a bibliography
prepared for the U.S. Department of Health, Education and
Welfare in 1967 by Haaks. The listings are reasonably
complete and among human diseases associated with human fecal
waste he mentions cholera, sh.i gt llosis, tuberculosis, typhoid
and paratyphoid f overs, ai.io-o-bic ciy?;on I cry and othov pro t oxc.'1 :i
infections, coccidiosiy, i nfec t. ou;- lic.patitis, pel j or:\ ol i tls
arid holmauthic infestations. Rc-iorences arc also Riven to
diseases deriving from animal focal v.astes, e.g. anthrax and
miscellaneous fungal diseases. Enteric viruses should cer-
tainly be added to this list.
2. Biological _voctors : the role- of ^vectors in transmission
of waste-associated pathogen to human hosts is also document'
with particular emphasis on flies, mosquitoes and rodents as
vectors.
Haaks (1967) Sol .id Was t e/Di sea so R'_> 1 a t ioashps
Cincinnati
-------
7. Increases in HOD nig hi indira-le diH'rt.-.'isc.s in primary,
secondary,1ertiary .-saprophyte activity, increased
predator activity, deeronso in f > occula (. ion by the
sludgf.' oi\?,ani.-.i'i.s or a popu7a tior shift io organ .i smc;
having poor settling charact er i .-? . ics . Thu number ob-
tained ar. effluor.t £OD cr.nnot tell us which. In short,
BOD has no prcd.ictive or insight value into the biolog-
ical aspects of the sewage treai::cnt process.
Thus, the BOD criterion cannot be usred as de. z/
Among the members of the infectious microbial population
of sewage with which we are most concerned would be the enteric
bacteria, both aerobic and anaerobic, the enteric viruses and
other viruses such as the causative agent of hepatitis. I
would like to point out in regard to these forms that current
methods used in microbiological evaluation of sewage treatment
cling to identification of colifonn bacteria as indicators of
fecal flora persistence. Future concern may not lie with
this group of organisms. The recent work of W. C. Moore at
Virginia Polytechnic Institute has demonstrated conclusively
that colifonn bacteria are a minor component of the human
intestinal microflora. The bulk of the bacteria present in
the gut are obligate anaerobes including various pathogenic
and "opportunistically pathogenic" species. The presence of
these anaerobes is not disclosed by colifonn counts, and may
not even be revealed by some common techniques for culture
-Rollins (19C6) Advances in Applied Microbiology £,145.
•'Pipes O9GG) Ibid., 77.
-------
sewage treatment, system i.v- r> li-uo "in stream" process,
dynamic as opposed to static in nature, responsive to changes
in the nature of the inlluont, and in practice a complete
malleable ecosystem.
Operators of sewage treatment plants view the process
as "on stream" and attempt to reduce the biological processes
to measurements of chemical parameters, e.g. dissolved solids,
suspended solids, Bl ochemica 1 Oxygen Demand (BOD). The latter,
BOD, is considered to be a parameter used to measure the .amount
of oxidizable substrate available to the oxidizing rnicroflora
and the pollutional potential of the effluent. During the
course of presentation of technical information there has been
a tendency to treat BOD as a substance; this it is not. It
can be reduced but not removed and the terms "nonremovable"
or "ncn-oxidizable" BOD indicate a lack of understanding of
the nature of BOD. BOD measurements on effluent streams in a
treatment plant cannot be related to epidemiological hazards,
because the measurement itself gives no clue as to what an
increase or decrease in effluent BOD actually indicates bio-
logically. It is often assumed to measure biologically
degradable substances in the influent which passed through
treatment unaffected. Actually it measures oxygen consumption
due to other phenomena. In this regard note the following:
1. Efficiency of the process depends as much on settling
characteristics of the sludge as upon removal of the
noxious components by biological, oxidation. Therefore,
low effluent BOD can reflect high levels of noxious
components unaffected during treatment other than by
flocculation which remain in the sludge (effluent) lagoons.
2. Metabolic activity (oxygen consumption) of a pathogen
cannot be distinguished from that of a normal sewage
saprophyte.
3. Spores may not contribute to BOD.
4. Viruses may not contribute; to BOD.
5. Only metabolic activity, not numbers of viable micro-
organisms are measured.
6. Predator activity probably does not distinguish between
pathogenic and non-pathogenic prey organisms. There is
not necessarily a preferential destruction of pathogens.
Viruses do not enter "metabolic competition".
-------
3 . ST/iTOSNT 0:v POSlVi'O:-,'
From a microbiological viowpoir.t neither the roOa I i vc
efficiency of a sewage treatment plant in lowering Biochemical
Oxygen Demand (130])) of influent waste, nor the precise method-
ology of treatnicnt is at issue. Microbiol Q£i cal.ly, municipal
waste, by its very nature, contains a high population of
potentially pathogenic mi croorgan.isms . The physical nature
of the proposed treatment facility, indeed, the nature of the
sewage treatment process itself is such that a definitive
possibility exists for transfer to human hosts of pathogenic
microorganisms derived from the sewage under treatment.
Residents in the immediate environs o.f sewage treatment-
facilities would, of course, receive maximum exposure.
The microbiological position that must be taken is
based on two considerations; these are: 1) no definitive-
evidence has been forwarded to demonstrate the absolute safety
of operation of a sewage treatment plant jn close proximity
to a high population density, and 2) factors indicative of
potential health hazards can be documented. The possibility
of health hazard is concluded to exist. This should, preclude
actions contributory to the health hazard including continued
operation of the current facility under conditions of demon-
strated environmental pollution or expansion of the plant's
capacity with an attendant quantitative increase in possible
deleterious effects.
The intimation on the part of the NSSD of the absolute
certainty of the safety of operation of both the current
facility and an expanded plant is unrealistic and a tenuous
position to maintain in the light of current knowledge. To
date no experimental evidence to demonstrate lack of hazard
has been presented or obtained by KSSD. Sufficient evidence
for hazard exists to warrant the burden of proof of safety
to be placed on the currently demonstrated and potential!}'
massive polluter, ATSSD. The following presentation will
attempt documentation of certain aspects of the potential
hazards to health and environment associated with operation
of a sewage treatment plant closely contiguous to a large
human population.
II. THE NATURE OF SEV/AGZ TREATMENT AS RELATED TO BIOLOGICAL
QUALITY OF TJIE THKATMENT STREAM
In order to support a position which will not accept
operational data from sewage treatment plants as dogma, somo
understanding of the nature of the treatment process is required
First of all, sev/age treatment is a dynamic process. Influent
waste is of a constantly changing composition and the microbi&l
population dissimulating the waste responds to the changing
nature of the substrates. The entire system is then in a
constant state of flux. Indeed, it mu.st be so or the efficiency
of treatment would be too low to be of value. In short, a
-------
The Possibility of iiuiuun iK:allh Hazards A.''.-.:oci a tod
with Expansion of the Clayey Itoud Sev/a^e Treatment
Facili ly ; A Mi^roluo] p;;-i-9.a.l_Y ie v/po i n L .
Martin H. Rogoff, Ph.D.
January 13, 1971
INDEX
I. Statement of position
II. The nature of sev.age treatment as related to
biological quality of the treatment stream
III. The nature of the potential health ha/,ard
A. Presence and persistence of infectious
agents
B. Relation of diseases to waste disposal
1. Related diseases
2. Biological vectors
3. Physical veclors
C. Secondary iactors bearing on epidemiology
of waste-associated disease
1. The immune response to virus infection
2. Effect of waste-derived chemical pollu-
tants on host susceptibility
3. Nitrous acid as a inuta^en
4. Transferable drug resistance in
enteric bacteria
f
IV. The quantitative effect, a suinmnry statement
-------
MONOCHLORAMiNE (4.5mg/I)
DICHLORAMINE (lO.Smg/l)
\
\
\
J2(!.82mg/l)
HOI(0,78mg/I)
.01
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 J20 130 140
M I W 11 T F S
-------
Figure U. Inactivation of poliovirus 1 by a mixture of nonochloraniine
and dichloranine, and by a nixture of 1.2 and HOI (27)- All
concentrations are expressed in terns of titrable haiogan
present.
-------
10,000
1000
G?
o.
o
in
Q
M
JOO
10
01
4
10 13 16 19
MINUTES
Figure 3. Inactivation of poliovirus 1 by 0-^ added intermittently to
seeded river water (2^+). 0-j concentrations (ng/1) axe shown
at sampling points.
-------
2
.8
.6
*•••
\ .4
1.3
O
o
X
.2
.1
.08
.OS
.05
TT
.5 .6 .8 I
2 34
MINUTES
8 10
Figure 2. Relationship betvccrv tine and HOCJL concentration for
inactivation of poliovirus 1 at 0 C (23).
-------
pH 10.3
60 80
MINUTES
'C i.
Inaccivacion of poliovirus 1 by high pH xa ^.LTe-ri
rapid sana-nioered effluent ac 25 C. The Ca(OH)2
concencrition WHS 5CO z^S/'l. HC1 vas used to adjust pH
levels aownwarU (lo).
-------
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18. Clarke, N. A., Stevenson, R. E., Chanc, S. L. and Kabler, P. W.
(1961). Am J. Pub. Health, 51:1118.
19. Chaudhuri, M. and En^lebrecht, R. S. Renoval of Viruses fron '.later
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Conference, Washincton, D. C., June 23, 1970.
20. Cookson, J. T., Jr. (1969). J. An. Water '.-for la Assoc., 6l:52.
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(1970). J. Am. Water Works Assoc., 62:97.
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72:2153-
25. Shuval, H. I. et al. (1966). Third International Conferencs on
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2?. Berg, G. and Herman, D. Unpublished data.
28. Berg, G., Chang, S. L. and Harris, E. K. (196^). Virolosy, 22
*
29. Berg, G. and Chang, S. L. Unpublished data.
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-------
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by the '.,'aU'r . „. . -; .. . , ^j '^. Berc, John ,/iley cmd 5cr.s_, 1,'ev
York, l.'ew York,, p. 12Q.
5. Wallis, C. and lle-uc/. :. :., (I9o7). A-.cr. J. Zpider.iol., 85:^59-
6. Moore, 1-i. L,, L\;aov-i -:', 7, :-, and Jeter, W. S. (1970). J._]^ter Poll._
Control Fcder, , •' - .,;
T. England, 3. r--cbasins Jv^J',;-'a Precipitation of Kocvirus and Adenovirus
for their .-^ss-iy in Sc--.'-ce a^d ^rfiuentc. Presented at the 70th /jinur.l
Meeting uf the' /^.c^i -,»:"Society for .Microbiology, 26 April - 1 J^y i:-70.
' 8. L-ond, 3. and fiedstror^, i." •::> '1967). In Transr.ission of Viruses by
the Water Routa, ecUx^i' 1.;, G. Bars, John ./ilcy and Sons, I.'sv Ycrl;,
Ifew York, p. 371.
9. Shuval, H. I., Cjinbaliita, :,, Fatal, B. and Goldblin, II. (1967).
In Transnission__qf Viruses by the J.rater _I?outp, edited by G. Bars,
John Wiley and Sons, I rev York, l.'sv York, p. ^5 •
10. Shuval, H. I. Personal communication.
11. Grindrod, J. and Cliver, D. 0. (1969). Archiv. gesrjite Virusforsch.,
28:337.
12. Grindrod, J. and Cliver, D. 0. Archiv. gesar.te Virusforsch. In press.
13. Cliver, D. 0. (1967). In Transr.lGsion of Viruses by the V.'ater RouLo,
edited by G. Berc, John V/iley and Sons, I Wallis, C., Grinstcin, S., MeLnick, J. L. and Fields, J. 2, (1969).
Applied t-iicrobiol., 13:1007.
-------
they can be destroyed in waters of al.1, qualities are still unanswered.
The resolution of all of these problems will mark the direction of
research in this area for the next decade.
-------
Behind these plugs infections frequently develop. It is logical tlu-s to assume
that thcsi. i/vlerials will not only cause' infecMon kit reduce the nbilily ci the
body to fie is i off infection. This was clearly shown in the Chicago Air Pollution
Study carried out and published in tiie Archives of Environmental Health.
(The Chicago Air Pollution Study: SO- Levels and Acute Illness in Patients with
Chronic Bronchopulmonary Disease -B. W. Carnow, M. H. Lepper, R. B. Shekelle and J.
Stamler: Vol. 18, 768 1969) .Other studies suggesting potential serious effects
on sensitive individuals have also been published by us including Air Pollution
and Physician Responsibility by B. W. Carnow published in the Archives of
Internal Medicine, Vol. 127, Jan. 1971, pg 91 -95. These reveal that asthmatics
particularly can have unusually severe effects from elevated levels of pollutants
similar to those produced at the sewage plant.
Another serious problem has not been well documented in relation to sewage plants
relates to bacterial and viral contamination. This will be increased with the
increase in the size of the plant. Not only as noted above are the conditions present
for decreasing the ability of the human body to fight off disease, but there will
be a marked increase in the amount of bacteria and viruses present in the air of
such a community corning from the plant. The processing of sewage includes
continuous bubbling. This presents two potentially serious problems. First.
(Science Vol. 170, Nov. 6, 1970, page 626 in an article by Blanchard and Sydek)
it is pointed out that " air bubbles breaking at the air-water interface can remove
bacteria that concentrate in the surface micro!aycr and eject the bacteria into
the atmosphere." The bacterial concentrations in the drops ejected from the bubbles
may, depending on drop size, be from 10 to 10,000 times that of the v/ater in which
the bubbles burst." It should also be noted that many bacteria and viruses concentrat
at the surface of the v/ater because of the surface tension. The concentration of
bacteria at the surface has been reported by Higgins, F.B., Thesis, Georgia Institute
of Technology, 1964 and by Parker and Barsom in Bioscience, Vol. 20, page 87, 1970,
That this is not academic has been shown by Morrow in Nature, Vol. 222, 1969, page
489 and Smith and Hugh Jones, Vol. 223, Nature, page 12, 1969, v/here a report of
such aerosols carrying hoof and mouth disease long distances are noted. Spendlove in
Science, Nov. 16, 1970, found that E. coli which is a good measure of sewage bacterial
contamination and which is always accompanied by other bacteria when it is found, may
be found at relatively high concentrations, up to 0.8 of a mile from the plant.
-------
Studies have shov/n that bocl.n'ul corc^oU Cc.n affect individuals in the surrounding I
areas as in a case of a small opic!~u;ic of omithosis in Portland in 1956. Spend! ove,
Clifton J,, Public Health Reports, Vol. 72, #2, Feb. 1975. It should again be
remembered that the direction of the prevailing winds from the sewage plant is
toward the lake and an area where a large public school is located within a half-mile
of the plant. Other schools are also present at somewhat greater distances.
^r^c^^Tu§To?TTMn^in regard to the projected increase in the size of the
sewage plant and its impact on the coinrrium'ty, tKer'g'ivrr g^g^ggBW*^ n ' '•inw>$w&3l
cause
considerable irritation to .the respiratory tract of many people in the surrounding
.community. Those more sensitive individuals such as asthmatics can be expected
to show an increase in the number of attacks suffered. ^I^G^^a^^ltSJi^^Ql^Sg^
tfliaJSj^ when added to the lowered
resistance because of irritants can only have a greater deleterous effect, as
noted the general HSallriir^^
2. In regard to probably adverse environmental effects which cannot be
avoided, it is my understanding from reading various testimonies and reports that
some of these can be avoided such as some of the gases, concentrations of gases, etc.
I do not know what cai be done in regard to the concentration of viruses and
bacteria which I expect will become airborne as a result of the sewo-ge treatment
process.
It Is my considered opinion that before such an increase in size of this plant
is considered a study consisting of an analysis of airborne aerosols and particles,
the extent of spread of disease producing aeorsol particles, the levels of
pollution and ambient air quality and the additional impact of the air pollutants
coming from the sewage plant on these levels ?11 be carried out in a comprehensive
*
study. This study should also include an epidcioiologic study of the impact on
the community, particularly in relation to respiratory disease. It is only at that
time that question 2 can be answered. Obviously only when the problems are assessed
can Jie possible ways of solving these problems and the available technology for
(
solving these problems be ascertained.' Until that time I don't think that one can
deal with the question of whether or not adverse environmental effects can or
cannot be avoided, specifically because we do not know what the effects are at this
time. They have not been adequately studied hei e or in any other place in the country
that I know of.
-------
I trust this will be helpful to you in evaluating and considering this
important matter.
.-- 7
Sincerely,
/Bertram W. Carnow, M.D.
Associate Professor /
Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health
Chief, Section of Environmental Health
University of Illinois
-------
STATE OF ILLINOIS )
) SS:
COUNTY OF L A K E )
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE NINETEENTH
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
JOSEPH LICATA, et al., )
Plaintiffs, )
Vs. )'No. 70 MR 31
NORTH SHORE SANITARY DISTRICT, )
et al., )
Defendants. )
EXCERPTS OF REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS had at
the hearing of the above entitled cause, before the
Honorable Clarence E. Partee, Judge of said Court,
on the 28th day of September, A.D., 1970. f
APPEARANCES :
MR. JACK SIEGEL,
appeared for the plaintiff;
MR. MURRAY R. CONZELMAN,
appeared for the Defendant,
North Shore Sanitary District;
MR. THOMAS H. COMPERE,
appeared for the defendant, City
of Highland Park^ a municipal
corporation of Illinois.
-------
BERTRAM W . CARNOW,
called as a witness herein, having been first
duly sworn, was examined and testified as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. SIEGEL:
Q Would you state your name, address and
occupation, please.
A My name is Bertram Carnow. I live at
860 Oak Drive in Glencoe, a physician.
• Q Dr. Carnow, would you tell us what your
educational background has been?
A Well, I have a Bachelors Degree and a
Bachelor of Medicine and a Doctor of Medicine,
Chicago Medical School. I interned at Cook County
Hospital In Chicago. I had a residency, specialty
training in Internal medicine at Michael Reese
Hospital, and special training in cardiology and
pulmonary at Michael Reese Hospital.
Q Are you presently associated with any
institutions? <
A Yes, I am. I am chief of the section of
environmental health in- the College of Medicine.
Associate Professor of Preventatlve Medicine,
Medical Director of the Tuberculosis Institute
-------
in Cook County. I'm a chest consultant and
attending physician at Michael Reese Hospital.
A chest consultant at the University of Illinois
Hospital. A chest consultant to the Union Health
Service of Chicago.
Q Are you a member of any organizations
concerned with air pollution?
A Yes, I pointed out I'm medical director of
the Tuberculosis Institute of Chicago and Cook
County. I'm a Fellow in the American College of
Chest Physicians. A member of the Royal Society
of Health, National Thoracic Society, American
Health Association. All of these are concerned
with this problem.
Q Do you hold any memberships on any city,
state or national committees concerned with air
pollution?
*
A Yes, I sit on the Committee of Chicago's
Technical Advisory Board on air pollution. I
/
sit on the Air Quality Standard Commission on the
Board of Health of the City of Chicago. Consul-
tant to the Attorney General, State of Illinois.
I'm the head of a task force for the Lieutenant
-------
Governor, and on the Technical Advisory Committee
of the State of Illinois Air Pollution Board.
Q Dr. Carnow, have you published any
articles or other studies on the problems of air
pollution as related to health?
A Yes, I have. I have been conducting
research on air pollution and its health effects
for the last six or seven years, and have published
fairly extensively on this.
MR. SIEGEL: Will the Reporter please mark
this Exhibit as Plaintiffs' Exhibit No. 29,' for
Identification.
(WHEREUPON, Plaintiffs' Exhibit No.
29, for Identification, was so
marked. )
MR. SIEGEL: Q Now, Dr. Carnow, I show you a
document which have been marked as Plaintiffs'
Exhibit No. 29, for Identification, and ask you if
you are familiar with that document?
i
A Yes, I am.
Q What is that, sir?
A It's my curriculum vitae.
Q What is that?
-------
A It details my career, ray appointments
and some of the publications which I mentioned.
I did not mention that I also sit as a member of
the National Academy of Science Panel on Air-Borne
Cancer Producing Substances, and have acted as
consultant to the National Air Pollution Control
Administration on Sulphur Dioxide and Carbon
Monoxide.
MR. SIEGEL: Your Honor, I ask that Plaintiffs'
Exhibit No. 29, for Identification, be admitted as
Plaintiffs' Exhibit No. 29.
MR. CONZELMAN: No objection.
THE COURT: Plaintiffs' Exhibit No. 29 is
admitted in evidence.
(WHEREUPON, Plaintiffs' Exhibit
No. 29, for Identification, was
received in evidence as Plaintiffs'
Exhibit No. 29, in evidence, and is
in words and figures as follows,
to-wit: )
-------
MR. SIEGEL: Q Dr. Carnow, during the course
of your professional activities, have you studied
the effects of noxious gases upon health?
A Yes, we have. We have been conducting a
number of studies of the effect, particularly of
sulphur dioxide on health. We have been following
a group of 560 people with chronic lung diseases.
Other studies and the effects on infants, on the
elderly, and have been carrying out studies of the
possible association of death with air pollutants
in the City of Chicago.
Q Are you familiar with the Clavey Road
treatment plant in Highland Park, Doctor?
A Yes, I am.
Q Do you know what type of sewage treatment
process is involved in that plant?
A Well, I know it's an activated sludge plant,
yes. I'm not an engineer.
Q Are you familiar with gases which are pro-
i
duced and emitted into the atmosphere as a result
of activated sludge plants, such as the Clavey Road
treatment plant?
A Yes .
-------
Q Would you tell the Court what some of those
gases are that are produced, and other substances
other than gas?
A Well the -- we're concerned about the two
problems in this regard: One, gases which are
produced from the sewage and from th~e burning of
digestive gases, so that there is production of
nitrogen compound, including NO, a nitrogen
compound and sulphur dioxide.
Also there are emissions of hydrogen
sulphl, which is a poisonous gas. In addit.lon, a
number of materials are used which are toxic when
emitted into the air. As for example, ozone, which
is highly toxic. And chlorine, which is used in
the sewage process.
We are further concerned about air-borne
materials, particulate, a matter used in the
burning, and viruses and bacteria which are thrown
into the air and carried on these particulates .
Q Dr. Carnow, I show you Plaintiffs' Exhibit
C, and direct your attention particularly to Pages
2 and 3, and ask you to examine that document with
respect to scientific aaza which is contained thereon
-------
Now, Doctor, assuming a sulphur dioxide
concentration in excess of .2 parts per million.
What is your opinion with respect to the effect
of the emission of such sulphur dioxide upon health
in those residents of the area of the sewage treat-
ment plant?
A Well, at those concentrations, they are
negative health effects on a significant part of
the population. In the criteria, documents which
the Federal Government released, and which is a
compendium of what is considered by them to be
reliable research evidence, they have arrived at
a level of 0.11 parts per million, which is con-
siderably lower than the one you are talking about,
i
at which health effects begin to appear.
In our study of chronic bronchitis in
Chicago, we found that in males, 55 and over, had
twice^ as many days of acute chest illness when the
levels were .2 parts per million, as when they were
.04 parts per million. We alao found, in following
a group of individuals, that at these levels there
was a significantly higher incidence of acute
respiratory symptoms, including cough, shortness
of breath and the development of Infection. This,
-------
I assume, Is what It says, maximum ground level
concentrations from the plant. Since, of course,
there will be other sources producing this material
in the air, such as coal burning and wood burning
and others, one can expect that this number will be
even higher.
At these levels we have found, particularly
in areas where people are not used to high levels
of pollution, that there are excess deaths. At least
in the City of Chicago, at these levels, from heart
disease and from lung disease in males, 55 years of
i
age and over. Now this deals -- you've asked) only
i
about a single gas, but there are others which are
I
emitted, and these gases particularly are additive,
or what we call sinalglstlc, in that they have a
similar effect and, therefore, they compound 'and
Intensify each other's effects.
Q What are the other gases that would be
emitted from the sewage treatment plant that would
i
have the effect you 'Just described?
A Well, nitrogen oxide, which is a -- in
fairly highly concentrations, a deadly gas. There
is 8 disease, as a matter of fact, called "silo phyllas"
disease, where farmers go into a silo for ten days
-------
after they put corn in, who are exposed to this
gas, and a high rate of severe bronchitis and
considerable number of deaths.
In addition, hydrogen sulphide is a very
noxious gas. There was an episode in Costa Rico
where some of this gas escaped from some of these
tanks --
MR. CONZELMAN: I object to this unless he was
in Costa Rico.
THE WITNESS: No, I was not there.
MR SIEGEL: Your Honor, if he has knowledge
of this .
THE COURT: I think that what the doctor is
testifying to is the in^uriousness of gas. I think
the general statement is that if it's injuriousness
to health, is sufficient.
MR. SIEGEL: Q Are you familiar with the pro-
posed expansion of the Clavey Road plant?
THE WITNESS: A I'm familiar with what is
I
proposed.
Q Will this expansion increase the amount of
noxious substances which are emitted into the
atmosphere?
-------
A I would expect that, yes, that they would,
since the amount -- certainly the amount of
digestion is certainly going to increase. Thereby,
a factor related to the increase in sewage, as
well as the use of ozone.
Q Now, Doctor, if ozone is used to kill odors
in the sewage treatment plant, what are the effects
of the use of ozone upon the health of citizens
who may be in the area?
A Well, there are two effects that we are
concerned about. Ozone is probably the most noxious
of the gases that we're talking about. It's an
extremely irritating gas. It, in addition to
causing acute inflammatory changes in the air
passages, it lowers resistance to acute illness.
We have studied a number of workers in an operation
called "Migwielding" who are exposed to high levels
of ozone, and these men have extreme difficulty
with sinus trouble and acute bronchitis and so on.
t
Ozone is also a radial remittic substance, which
means that it will, even at relatively low levels,
of course, sphering of red blood cells and chromosone
breakage, means at these concentrations, has the same
-------
effects as X-rays. And further, the effect of the
i
ozone is to produce a very active compound, which
in themselves are extremely irritating, and which
may themselves cause difficulty with.the lungs.
As a matter of fact, we have good reason to suspect
that some of these may be cancer-producing substances,
although we have not proved this in man.
Q Now, directing your attention again to
Plaintiffs' Exhibit No. C, which is a letter from
Mr. Quon, consultant to the City of Highland Park,
I ask you whether the chemical substances which
he reports as being produced, will have dilatorious
i
effect upon public health?
A Yes. Again, I think that he's talking about
maximum figures. But, again, what we are talking
about is not one gas, but multiple gases. We are
talking also about these being added to a community
where these gases are being produced from other
sources. So that this is the amount that is going
/
to be added. If this amount, at the quantity which
is described, is hazardous to. health, and there is
excellent documenta LIon in our stuay and others, that
it is, that if you have these added to others in the
-------
community, under conditions of inversion and
stagnation, you create a situation where there is
a serious health hazard. .
If in addition you have bacterial and viral
particles being blown by the wind, by droplets, which
it does, there are significant studies which show
that this is Indeed the case, then you have a --
and as levels of E. coli, for example, have been fairly
high, even up to .8 miles from the plant when the
wind is blowing at a fair rate. So you have the
conditions in this situation, with the amount of
sewage treatment that you're talking about, a
i
situation where you have irritant gases which
diminish the resistance of the air passages of the
lungs, and diminish the lung's ability to protect
itself against bacteria, and a situation also in
which bacteria are also created, so that you have a
combination of substances which, in my opini-on, may
be very dilatorlous to health.
Q What would be the effect of the So2 and the
ozone on the increase in the amount of bacteria in
viruses ?
A I'm sorry. I didn't understand.
-------
Q What would be the effect of the So2 and
the ozone and the increase in the amount of
bacteria and viruses upon the health of the citizens
in the immediate area?
A Well, again, in terms of mechanism, the
ozone and the sulphur dioxide, both act to destroy
the ability of the lungs to resist infection. There
is -- the defense mechanism of the lung is what we
call the pneumocilia apparatus. Tiny hairs that
operate in the air passages and remove impurities
and bacteria. In addition, sitting on this -- these
hairs, is a very thin layer of mucus, which is then
')
escalated out. Kind of a little blanket which
entraps impurities. Well, these cases will, of
course, paralyze -- will cause paralysis of the
cilia, so they don't act as an escalator, and
ultimately will destroy them. And in addition, the
mucus, because of irritation of these gases,, is
produced in much greater quantity so that as this
/
process goes on, there is a closing or blocking of
air passages of the lung. There is a flooding of
the air passages with mucus, so that even though
these tiny hairs beat, they don't move anything.
-------
And if you superimpose on this destroyed protective
mechanism, and introduce pathogenic bacteria and
viruses, you certainly can look to a much higher
rate of acute illness. This is what occurred, we
believe, in our 560 bronchitlcs, and the others
that we have studied.
Q Does the amount of humidity in the air
affect the consequences and the release of these
substances ?
A Yes, it certainly does with increased
humidity the effect of So2 tends to be greater,
because under humid conditions, particularly when
there is particulate in the air containing manganese
or iron, and in these areas there is such, and in
almost all industrial cities there are, and their
environs, you get the rapid formation of sulphur
trioxide arid sulphuric acid, which is an extremely
irritating acid.
Q What is the effect, Doctor, of small amounts
*
of carbon in the air such as indicated will be re-
leased here?
A Well, carbon acts as a carrier. The sulphur
dioxide, in addition to the -- its action in the
-------
manner in which you just described, also can be
absorbed. They are attached to these tiny particles
And if these particles are very small and they tend
to be very small, they get into the lung and these
gases are slowly released.
In addition, we think these particles have
an effect by themselves on some of the clearing
mechanism of the lung. Particularly on a scavenger
cell, which removes impurities called micromyces.
These materials tend to inactivate them.
Q Now, Doctor, are the levels which will be
emitted of pollutants, as indicated in Plaintiffs' _
Exhibit C, in your opinion, represent health hazard
to the surrounding area?
A Yes, I believe that at these levels, under
certain conditions of stagnation or inversion, they
represent levels at which a significant number of
individuals in the population become ill. These are
levels considerably above the .11 at which health
effects were noted in our studies, in the Rotterdam
studies, the London studies and others.
Q If there is any breakdown in the operation
of the sewage treatment plant, either mechanical or
-------
human failure, would this result in a greater
concentration of these pollutants being emitted
into the atmosphere?
A Well, I presume it would result in a
greater concentration on greater bacterial and
environmental pollutants. Certainly in a greater
concentration of the other digestive gases. Now
how much of those get out into the air, I don't
know. It would depend on the engineering capability
of the plant.
Q Based upon your knowledge and experience,
Doctor, do you have an opinion as to whether or not
the expansion of the Clavey Road treatment plant,
as proposed, represents a threat to the health of
the community and the surrounding area?
A I certainly do. I think an 18-million
gallon a day plant in an area such as that repre-
sents a serious threat to the health and the welfare
of the individuals in that community.
i
Q How far awaycould the public health be
threatened by the operation of this sewage treat-
ment plant?
A Well, it depends on the kind of inversion and
-------
so on. It would add most to Its immediate sur-
roundings, and depending on how much wind there was,
would add to other areas. In terms of the bacteria
and virus problem, this would relate to the direction
in which the wind is blowing. And, as I say,
studies have shown that up to almost a mile away,
fairly, high concentration of E. coli and viruses.
In relation to --
MR. CONZELMAN: Objection. We don't have the
studies. I don't know what area he is talking
about, your Honor.
MR. SIEGEL: Q Would you be a little more
specific, sir, with respect to studies in the area?
MR. CONZELMAN: I object to this. I want to see
the studies.
MR. SIEGEL: Q Do you have the studies, Doctor?
THE COURT: I don't think there is anything
about the study in evidence, is there?
MR. SIEGEL: Q Do you want to find me the study
i
you are referring to,-Doctor?
THE WITNESS: A Yes.
Q Doctor, la your opinion based upon your own
research and your own activities?
-------
A Yes, it Is.
Q Are you familiar with the research of other
students of this field of medicine?
A Yes.
Q I direct your attention to an article which
appears in Science for September 18, 1970, and ask
you whether you are familiar with the study which
commences on Page 1218 of that particular issue?
A Yes, I am,
Q Will you describe what that study is?
A Well, it's a study of the Coliform Aerosols
Emitted by Sewage Treatment Plants, and they revealed
the special filters at various points from the plant,
with measured inflow of air into the filter, and
they found that conforms were emitted and were sampled
to a distance of 1.2 kilometers down wind.
Q Would that conf,irm your own opinion and
observation In this field?
A Yes, it would. We know, and many, many
*
studies, Including some that we have done with
aerosols, we know that viruses are easily carried
and transmitted by particles and vapors. Studies
which have been carried out by Lorenzo at the Cook
-------
County Hospital, in which I have participated,
show that this is the case.
Q Now, Doctor, are all the pollutants which
you described as being dangerous to health, odor
producing?
A Some of them are. It depends on the
concentrations. So2, unfortunately, is not odor
producing until it becomes a very serious hazard.
Some of the others are more odor producing, such
as mercaptans and hydrogen sulphide, and so on.
Q Just to recapitulate, will you tell us
specifically the substances which are produced by
the operation of an activated sludge sewage treat-
ment plant of the type proposed here which, in your
opinion, are dangerous to the public health?
A Well, the odors are a nuisance, and I have
not studied what their effects, on health are.
They certainly affect well-being, and if one accepts
the definition of health that the world organization
f
gives, a state of well-being wherein individuals
can function and enjoy health and property, then the
odors certainly would affect health by this
definition.
-------
In addition, the materials which are given
off, which are hazardous to health in adequate
quantities, it depends on the individual breathing
it. There is a different effect on a 25-year-old
than a new born or an old person with heart and
lung disease. Those are the people who suffer the
most, and have the greatest difficulty with these
materials. But the pollutants consist of the odors
I mentioned, hydrogen sulphide, So2, nitrogen com-
pounds, ozone, sulphur dioxide, particulate matter
and the bacteria and viruses which I already dis-
cussed .
s «
Q And what portions of the sewage treatment
plant produce these substances?
A Well, some of them are produced by the Intro-
duction of these chemicals in the treatment process.
I also didn't mention the free radical, those very
i
active substances which are produced when ozone Is
Introduced in relation to hydrocones. But so that
i
some are produced In the treatment. Some are pro-
duced from the digesting process. Some are produced
because they arc- introduced into the treatment, like
ozone and chlorine. Others are a result of the
-------
"burning of the digest of gases.
Q Does the storage of sewage, mixed with
storm water, in retention basins for an effluent,
and the effluent lagoon, constitutes sources of
pollutants?
A Well, I again,! have not measured the levels
in these areas, and I don't know what they are.
But digestion of these materials do produce noxious
gases .
MR. CONZELMAN: Objection. The witness already
said he hasn't measured and doesn't know.
THE WITNESS: I said I didn't know the quantitites,
sir.
THE COURT: Well, the answer will stand.
MR. SIEGEL: I have nothing further of this
witness.
.CROSS EXAMINATION
BY MR. CONZELMAN:
Q Dr. Carnow, would you tell us when you
i
were retained in this case?
A When I was retained? You mean when I was
asked to appear?
Well, I don't recall. A number of weeks ago, I
-------
guess .
Q Now, you're on some committee or com-
mission for the Attorney General. Are you aware
of the fact that the Attorney General of Illinois
has filed suit against the district right in this
court, to get them to go even faster onthis very
project ?
A I'm not --
MR. SIEGEL: Objection to that. "That isn't
what the Attorney General filed suit for. He filed
suit to prevent the North Shore Sanitary District
to~ continue pollution."
THE COURT: Objection sustained.
THE WITNESS: I said I'consulted for, and
consulted with. I do not work for the Attorney
General. I have nothing otherwise to do with the
Attorney General.
MR. CONZELMAN: Q Now all of these gases and
what not you described, aren't they present with
/
any sewage treatment' plant ?
A Yes.
Q They are present right with the plants we
have there now, aren't they?
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A Yes.
Q Are you familiar with the north side plant
operated by the Metropolitan Sanitary District?
A Somewhat familiar with the plant.
Q That is a huge plant, much bigger even
than that expanded plant?
A Yes, it is.
Q And one would expect those gases'to be
present likewise?
A Oh, yes. It's a terrible polluter.
Q, In more quantity?
A Yes, the more quantity of sewage, the more
quantity of gases..
Q They don't have .any covers on the north
side plant, do they?
A No, I don't think so.
Q Now, E. coli, you spoke of that. Is that a
disease producing organism?
A It's a pathogen. Yes,- of course. But
i
more Important than that, it's a marker. The
reason that E. cold was measured is because it's
easy to measure. But if E. coll is in the air,, it
mea.ns there are others. It's one way, for example,
of measuring contamination of water. And the reason ./
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E. coll is used to measure contamination of water
is because we know if E. coli is in the water, that
other bacteria are accompanying it, so we ca'n
extractulate from that, and know that the water is
polluted,
Q It's merely an indicator, however. It's
not a disease producer itself. Isn't that correct?
A Well, E. coli is. You inject it'under the
skin, it certainly would give you trouble.
Q But if you use it in this area, you used ^
it as an indicator, is that correct?
~ A In- this study, yes,'because it's easy to
measure. But it is a pathogenic organism.
Q The reference of two parts per million of
sulphur dioxide in-Exhiblt C, which 'is Dr. Quon's
letter, that is a maximum, is it not?
A Yes.
Q Now, as I understand it, the standards
that we refer to are not maximums, but they are
i
24-hour averages. Isn't that correct?
A It depends on the standard you are talking
about. We have hourly averages, 24-hour maximums, *
one percent a year, annual averages and so on.
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Q Well, let's go on. In his letter, the
..sulphur dioxide standard is one hour per year.
Isn't that right? ...
A No. According to him, one percent of the
days per year, which is three and a half days per
year, is .1 parts per million, which is less than
half of what you are talking about.
Q Then read the, next line, sulphur'dioxide,
one hour, per day. Isn't that right?
*
A That is the maximum permissible level, yes.
One hour per year.- ...
Q Dr. Carnow,.is there.actually anything
definitive.in this field? , -
MR. SIEGEL: I object to thft, your Honor. I
don't know what that question means.
THE COURT: Restate your question. ;:
MR. CONZELMAN: Q Isn't this the field that we
i
actually don't know a lot about?
THE WITNESS: A That's very true.
MR. CONZELMAN: That's all the questions I have.
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REDIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. SIEGEL: • '
Q Dr. Carnow, would you recommend a sewage
treatment plant serving 18-mlllion gallons a day,
be located in a residential area?
A No. I think it's -- as I stated, I think
it's a hazard to health. I think the fact that
there are other plants which are worse, only in-
creases my concern.
Q Now, Dr. Carnow, I take it that you do know,
even though there is a great deal of information we ™
don't, have, that the kind of emissions which you
have testified to, are a'threat to public health?
A. , There is no question about it. I think that
we are, you know, we are at an early stage of our
knowledge. IJm sure as our knowledge increases we
will begin to find that smaller and smaller amounts
• , <
are dangerous to health. But I think we certainly
know enough to know that the levels which are dis-
cussed here --
Q You say "here." You are talking about this?
A Yes, in this document, are by themselves a f
hazard. If the maximum is .231 parts per million of
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sulphur dioxide and the standards are for 24
hours for three and a half days a year, you are
talking about a level which is two and a half times
what is recommended, and levels which we have found
not only cause disease, or increase in disease,
particularly in those that already have it, but
cause an increase in deaths in .the population.
Now, if you add to that the pollutants
which already exist in this community, you are
talking about a potential level which on three or
four days a year, according to this, would be
hazardous. We have found acute effects^: "increased
deaths when compared with the day of pollution.
Acute respiratory Illness, a doublin-g of respiratory
illness on the same day as the pollution. So we are
talking about an effect that is not long term at
these levels, but an effect which occurs within -
hours,' eight hours, sixteen hours of exposure, and
it doesn't require many days of exposure, and not
(
for a large portion of the population..
Q Is the fact that there is present a sewage
treatment plant there, in your, opinion, indicate that
the plant should be expanded?
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A No, I think that, again, the biological
systems In nature can handle a certain amount.
Now I don't know what the effects of this plant
are on the health of the people, but you have a
plant which produces a certain amount of material.
Again, the air and the winds and so on can, up to
a point, begin to clear. When you talk about pro-
cessing an 18-million gallon a day plant and pro-
ducing levels of So2 that you're talking about,
you're talking about a clear and present danger for
that community. ' • .
MR. SIEGEL: Nothing further.
MR. CONZELMAN: No more questions.
THE COURT:' The Court has a question, doctor.
THE WITNESS: A Yes, sir.
THE COURT: Maybe two. Did I understand you
to testify that downwind from one of these plants,
that this gas can be dangerous for an area "up to
seven or eight miles?
i
THE WITNESS: A No, sir.
THE COURT: What did you say?
THE WITNESS: A I was talking about -- see, the
gas, the danger of the gas depends on the meteorological
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conditions. On the high humidity there is,a much
higher production of sulphuric acid. Where you
have stagnation, what we call an inversion layer,
and don't have vertical exversion, or winds of 6
miles an hour or less, then you get high concen-
tration in the area . And this acts like an umbrella
over a fairly large area. What I was talking about
was up to .8 miles, they found fairly high- concen-
trations of bacteria. Now, they did not study
i
viruses. Viruses are much smaller particles which
tend to travel much further.
MR. CONZELMAN: May I ask a question in that
regard? I gather then the viruses could be beyond
,T + , »
the .8 miles?
THE WITNESS: A Yes, sir.
MR. CONZELMAN: Q, Does that have, to do with
the size of the treatment plant?
' t
THE WITNESS: A Yes, I believe that it does.
MR. CONZELMAN: Q Well, in connection with the
i
north side plant in Chicago, it would be miles and
miles, wouldn't it?
THE WITNESS: A Very possibly. I haven't studied
that. But very possibly, yes.
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MR. 'CONZELMAN: That's all. Thank you
(Witness Excused.)
4
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co provide-1 L:\ "chc i:;j:iediatc area. ~A 1-0 acre t"olock of donr:e grassy and
h^r"L';.jcou^ eov'c-r in the general area would be excellent and it, should be
no r.ore Vi^n one-half i::ile fro-.; the ponds. Anything trailer than 4-0 acres
wouli still oe wortlr./hile but of less value to wildlife. Cuch cover blocks
will do ir.uch to enhance the area for upland nesting ducks such as mallards,
teal, pintails and other upland wildlife species.
March edge and matted cattail and bulrush already in Lake St. Clair provide
nesting cover for divers such as canvasback and redheads.
Water level fluctuation during nesting can be a detriment to diving duck
nesting success.
Waterfowl Management techniques not in conflict with the primary purpose of
treating sewage would be of public benefit and would make the total operation
a raulti purpose project.
Historically i;ood ducks nested near the existing pond but have ceased since
the nesting trees were removed. The city of Detroit Lakes is now considering
erecting wood duck houses. We encourage this.
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