Research Reports

 

Assessing the Fate and Significance of Microconstituents and Pathogens in Sewage Sludge

Posted on the N-Viro website July 26, 2010

www.n-viro.ca/bank/pageimages/Assessing-the-Fate-Report-2010.pdf
 

Results of the First Test Ever Conducted in Canada on 119 Emerging Substances of Concern (ESoC's) Present in Plants Grown with N-Viro Soil Amendment

N-Viro is committed to marketing a safe and beneficial soil amendment and regularly embarks on additional non-prescribed testing to address emerging concerns related to the land application of Non-Agricultural Source Material (NASM) to agricultural lands.  At present, we are voluntarily participating in a number of research programs on biosolids including:

-          Vineland Research Station, University of Guelph
-          CCME Biosolids Contaminants Testing Program
-          Nova Scotia Agricultural College Biosolids Contaminants Testing Program
-          Ag Canada – London Ontario Biosolids Contaminants Testing Program 

Much discussion surrounds Emerging Substances of Concern (“ESoC”) that may be present in biosolids and the effects of environmental exposure to these ESoC’s when biosolids are applied to agriculture land.  The CCME study noted above will investigate the presence of a list of 119 ESoC’s in incoming biosolids and the final product produced by N-Viro, known as N-Viro Soil Amendment (NVSA).  The results of this study are due in late 2010. 

Dr. K. Helen Fisher is currently investigating the impact of various NASM materials on grape vine growth and fruit bearing capacity. This study has been conducted for the past three (3) years in Vineland, Ontario. In September, 2009, Dr. Fisher agreed to provide N-Viro with composite samples of grapes grown from vines that had been fertilized with NVSA. A composite control sample was also provided.

N-Viro proceeded to send these grapes to Axys Analytical Laboratory located in British Columbia; the only laboratory in Canada that is able to do a full analysis of the 119 analytes that have been identified by the CCME as significant.
 
It is to be noted that the rate NVSA was applied to the vines was three (3) to seven (7) times the rate recommended to our agricultural customers.  Even at these excessive application rates, of the 119 ESoC’s that have been identified by the CCME and that were tested, only six (6) were found. Three (3) of the six (6) also appeared in the composite control samples. Axys Analytical is capable of testing materials in ppb (parts per billion) and the highest compound found was 22 ppb and the lowest was 0.3 ppb. The charts below illustrate the test results.
 
We will continue our efforts to ensure that NVSA is a safe soil amendment. 

 


 

Biosolids Emissions Assessment Model (BEAM)

The Canadian Council of Ministers for the Environment (CCME) established a Biosolids Task Group (BTG) which is preparing information that can be used as a guide for biosolids management practices.  The BTG retained SYLVIS to prepare the Biosolids Emissions Assessment Model (BEAM), the BEAM user guide and the BEAM final report.

One of the case studies presented in the BEAM final report is based on a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Nova Scotia (Mill Cove WWTP) that delivers its biosolids to the Halifax Biosolids Processing facility.  The biosolids processing facility employs the N-Viro Process™ for effective stabilization of biosolids and production of N-Viro Soil Amendment.  Of all the case studies presented in the report, the Mill Cove WWTP ranked third-best with an overall carbon credit of (-0.15) MgCO2eq/Mg dry solids. 

The link below will allow the reader to review the BEAM, the BEAM user guide and the BEAM Final Report.

http://www.ccme.ca/ourwork/waste.html?category_id=137

This following link is the BEAM Final Report titled "The Biosolids Emissions Assessment Model (BEAM): A Method for Determining Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Canadian Biosolids Management Practices."

http://www.ccme.ca/assets/pdf/beam_final_report_1432.pdf

 

Examples of Scientific Studies Relating to the Use of Biosolids

Surveys, Literature Review and Analytical Results for Biosolids

 

  1. WEAO literature review study titled Fate and Significance of Selected Contaminants in Sewage Biosolids Applied to Agricultural Land Through Literature Review and Consultation with Stakeholder Groups (WEAO, 2001)
    http://www.weao.org/report/Fate _and_Significance.html

 

  1. Field Survey of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in Sewage Biosolids Treated Ontario Agricultural Soils (OMAFRA, MOE and WTI. 1998) http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/nm/nasm/field/s98toc.htm

 

  1. Analytical Results, Findings and Recommendations of the 1995 OMAFRA Sewage Biosolids Field Survey (OMAFRA. 1995)
    http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/nm/nasm/field/s95res/htm

 

  1. Biosolids Project (Golden Horseshoe Regional Soil and Crop Improvement Assocation. 2004) http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/field/news/croptalk/2004/ct_0304a5.htm

 

  1. Unregulated Metals in Municipal Biosolids: Determinations of Sn and Tl. Hargreaves, J., Smith, P., Hale, B., Canadian Journal of Analytical Science and Spectroscopy. 2004, 49(2), 1-7.

 

  1. 2003 MSc Thesis – The Development of Method for the Analyses of Tin and Thallium in Biosolids and Their Determinations in Representative Ontario Biosolids. Jennifer Hargreaves, University of Guelph

 

Journal Articles and Proceedings on PPCPs in Sewage Treatment Plants

 

  1. Runoff of pharmaceuticals and personal care products following application of biosolids to an agricultural field. Topp E., Moteiro S.C., Beck, A., Coelho B.B., Boxall A., Duenk P.W., Kleywegt S., Lapen D.R., Payne P., Sabourin L., Li H., Metcalfe C. D. Science of the Total Environment, 2008.

 

  1. Effect of Liquid Municipal Biosolids Application Method on Tile and Ground Water Quality, Lapen, D. R., Topp, E., Edwards M., Sabourin L., Curnoe W., Gottschall N., Bolton, P., Rahman, S., Ball-Coelho, B., Payne. M., Kleywegt, S., McLaughlin N. Journal of Environmental Quality, 2008, 37, 925-936.

 

  1. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in tile drainage following land application of municipal biosolids, Lapen, D.R., Topp, E., Metcalfe, C.D., Li, H.X., Edwards, M., Gottschall, N., Bolton, P., Curnoe, W.E., Payne, M., Beck, A., 2008., Science of the Total Environment, 399, 50-65.

 

  1. Sample Storage and Extraction Efficiencies in Determination of Polycyclic and Nitro Musks in Sewage Sludge; SA Smyth, L Lishman, M Alaee, S Kleywegt, L Svoboda, J-J Yang, H-B Lee and P Seto; Chemosphere, 2007, V. 67 pp 267-275.

 

  1. Fate of Polycyclic and Nitro Musks during Aerobic and Anaerobic Sludge Digestion; SA Smyth, L Lishman, EA McBean, S Kleywegt, J-J Yang, ML Svoboda, H-B Lee and P Seto; IWA Specialist Conference on Moving Forward Biosolids Sustainability, June 2007, Moncton, NB.

 

  1. Polycyclic and nitro musks in Canadian municipal wastewater: occurrence and removal in wastewater treatment. Smyth, S.A., Lishman, L., McBean, E.A., Kleywegt, S., Yang, J.J., Svoboda, M.L., Ormonde, S., Pileggi, V., Lee, H-B., and Seto, P. Water Quality Research Journal of Canada, 2007, 24 (3), 138-152.

 

  1. Seasonal occurrence and removal of polycyclic and nitro musks from wastewater treatment plants in Ontario, Canada. Smyth, S.A., Lishman, L., McBean, E.A., Kleywegt, S., Yang, J.J., Svoboda, M.L., Lee, H-B., and Seto, P. Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science, 2007, 7, 299-317.

 

  1. Occurrence and Reductions of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products and Estrogen by Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants in Ontario, Canada;  L. Lishman, SA Smyth, K. Sarafin, S Kleywegt, J. Toito, T Peart, H-B Lee, M Servos, M. Beland and P Seto; Science of the Total Environment. 2006.

 

Journal Articles and Proceedings Related to the Land Application of Biosolids

 

  1. Persistence associated with liquid swine manure and liquid municipal biosolids in repacked sand columns with artificial macropores. Rahman, S., Topp, E., Edwards, M., and Lapen, D.R. 2006. ASABE Paper number: 062194, 2006 Annual International ASABE Meeting, Portland Oregon, 11p.

 

  1. Using MACRO to simulate liquid sewage biosolids transport to tile drains for several land application methods. Akhand, N, Lapen, D.R., Topp, E., Edwards, M., Sabourin, L., Ball-Coelho, B., Duenk P., Payne, M. 2008. Trans. ASABE, 51, 1235-1245.

 

  1. Potential of brilliant blue dye to inform timing of liquid biosolid application. Turpin, K.M., D.R. Lapen, M.J.L. Robin, E. Topp, M. Edwards, W.E. Curnoe, B. Ball-Coelho, N.B. McLaughlin and M. Payne, 2007. Biosystems Eng., 98, 235-247.

 

  1. Prediction of liquid municipal biosolids and precipitation induced tile flow in a Southern Ontario agricultural field using MACRO. Akhand, D.R., Lapen, D.R., Edwards, M., Topp, E., Sabourin, L., Ball-Coelho, B., Duenk, P., Payne, M. 2006. Agricultural Water Management, 83, 37-50.

 

  1. Biosolids Expert Panel Report (HJ694-2007 Session). Commonwealth of Virginia. December 22, 2008.

 

  1. Pathogen Characterization of Fresh and Stored Biosolids and Implications of a Screening Level Microbial Risk Assessment. Flemming, C., Soller, J., Simhon, A., Seto E. 2009. Water Environment Federation Residuals and Biosolids conference, Portland, Oregon. May 2009.

 

  1. Epidemiological Surveillance and Investigation of Illness Reported by Neighbours of Biosolids Land Application Sites, Phase I, (WERF 06-HHE-5PP). Aitken, M., Crump, C., Heaney, C., Lowman, A., MacDonald, P., and Wing, S. 2007. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

 

 

 

Dr. K. Helen Fisher is currently investigating the impact of various NASM materials on grape vine growth and fruit bearing capacity.  This study has been conducted for the past three (3) years in Vineland, Ontario.  In September, 2009, Dr. Fisher agreed to provide N-Viro with composite samples of grapes grown from vines that had been fertilized with NVSA.  A composite control sample was also provided.

N-Viro proceeded to send these grape samples to Axys Analytical Laboratory (Axys) for testing.  Axys is the only laboratory in Canada that is able to do a full analysis of the 119 analytes that have been recognized by the CCME as significant.

It is to be noted that the rate NVSA was applied to the vines in Dr. Fisher's study was three (3) to seven (7) times the rate recommended to our agricultural customers.  Even at these excessive application rates, of the 119 ESoC’s that were tested, only six (6) were found; three (3) of the six (6) also appeared in the composite control samples.  Axys Analytical is capable of testing materials in ppb (parts per billion).  The highest level of compound found was 22 ppb and the lowest was 0.3 ppb.  The charts below illustrate the test results.

We will continue our efforts to ensure that NVSA is a safe soil amendment. 

 

 

Dr. K. Helen Fisher is currently investigating the impact of various NASM materials on grape vine growth and fruit bearing capacity. This study has been conducted for the past three (3) years in Vineland, Ontario. In September, 2009, Dr. Fisher agreed to provide N-Viro with composite samples of grapes grown from vines that had been fertilized with NVSA. A composite control sample was also provided.
 
N-Viro proceeded to send these grapes to Axys Analytical Laboratory located in British Columbia; the only laboratory in Canada that is able to do a full analysis of the 119 analytes that have been recognized by the CCME as significant.
 
It is to be noted that the rate NVSA was applied to the vines was three (3) to seven (7) times the rate recommended to our agricultural customers. Even at these excessive application rates, of the 119 ESoC’s that have been identified by the CCME and that were tested, only six (6) were found. Three (3) of the six (6) also appeared in the composite control samples. Axys Analytical is capable of testing materials in ppb (parts per billion) and the highest compound found was 22 ppb and the lowest was 0.3 ppb. The charts below illustrate the test results.
 
We will continue our efforts to ensure that NVSA is a safe soil amendment.