Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey

Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey, a 2009 EPA study, concluded that all sewage sludge contains toxic and hazardous materials, including large numbers of endocrine disruptors.

Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey results are described in two EPA reports published in 2009. EPA found that dozens of hazardous materials, not regulated and not required to be tested for, have been documented in each and every one of the sludge samples EPA took around the USA. Hundreds of communities across the U.S. sell sludge products that are renamed biosolids and sold or given away as "organic fertilizer."

Survey Results
The survey found:


 * The four anions were found in every sample.
 * 27 metals were found in virtually every sample, with one metal (antimony) found in no less than 72 samples.
 * Of the six semivolatile organics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, four were found in at least 72 samples, one was found in 63 samples, and one was found in 39 samples.
 * Of the 72 pharmaceuticals, three (i.e., cyprofloxacin, diphenhydramine, and triclocarban) were found in all 84 samples and nine were found in at least 80 of the samples. However, 15 pharmaceuticals were not found in any sample and 29 were found in fewer than three samples.
 * Of the 25 steroids and hormones, three steroids (i.e., campesterol, cholestanol, and coprostanol) were found in all 84 samples and six steroids were found in at least 80 of the samples. One hormone (i.e., 17a-ethynyl estradiol) was not found in any sample and five hormones were found in fewer than six samples.
 * All of the flame retardants except one (BDE-138) were essentially found in every sample; BDE-138 was found in 54 out of 84 samples.

Metals

 * Aluminum
 * Antimony
 * Arsenic
 * Barium
 * Beryllium
 * Boron
 * Cadmium
 * Calcium
 * Chromium
 * Cobalt
 * Copper
 * Iron
 * Lead
 * Magnesium
 * Manganese
 * Mercury
 * Molybdenum
 * Nickel
 * Phosphorus
 * Selenium
 * Silver
 * Sodium
 * Thallium
 * Tin
 * Titanium
 * Vanadium
 * Yttrium
 * Zinc

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
The survey tested for four PAHs: Fluoranthene, Pyrene, Benzo(a)pyrene, 2-Methylnaphthalene

It found Fluoranthene in 77 samples in concentrations ranging from 45 to 12,000 micrograms per kilogram. Pyrene was found in 72 samples, ranging from 44 to 14,000 micrograms per kilogram. Benzo(a)pyrene was found in 64 samples, ranging from 63 to 4,500 micrograms per kilogram. Last, 2-Methylnaphthalene was only found in 39 samples, ranging from concentrations of 10 to 4,600 micrograms per kilogran.

Semivolatile organics

 * Bis (2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate
 * 4-Chloroaniline

Inorganic anions

 * Fluoride
 * Nitrate
 * Water-extractable phosphorus
 * Nitrite

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), including the Tetra, Hexa, Penta, and Deca congeners
The survey tested for each of the following Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) cogeners: Each cogener tested for was found in every single sample, with the exception of BDE-138 (found in 56 samples) and BDE-209 (found in 83 samples). The presence of BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, and BDE-154 indicates commercial PentaBDE, which is made up of these cogeners. BDE-209 indicates the presence of commercial DecaBDE.
 * BDE-28
 * BDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-TeBDE)
 * BDE-66
 * BDE-85
 * BDE-99 (2,2',4,4',5-PeBDE)
 * BDE-100 (2,2',4,4',6 penta-BDE)
 * BDE-138 (2,2',3,4,4',5',6 hexa-BDE)
 * BDE-153 (2,2',4,4',5,5'-HxBDE)
 * BDE-154 (2,2',4,4',5,6'hexa-BDE)
 * BDE-183 (2,2',3,4,4',5',6 hepta-BDE)
 * BDE-209 (2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6,6'-DeBDE)

Antibiotics and their degradation products, disinfectants, and other antimicrobials
The presence of antibiotics in sludge is of particular interest due to data that plants can uptake antibiotics in the soil. Of the antibiotics, etc, included in this category, two were found in all samples and a total of nine were found in more than 76 samples. However, 11 were not found at all, and another 16 were found in three or fewer samples.

Antibiotics, etc, found in over 70 out of 84 samples:
 * Ciprofloxacin: found in all samples
 * Triclocarban: found in all samples
 * Ofloxacin: found in 83 samples
 * Tetracycline: found in 81 samples
 * 4-Epitetracycline: found in 80 samples
 * Azithromycin: found in 80 samples
 * Triclosan: found in 79 samples
 * Erythromycin: found in 77 samples
 * Doxycycline: found in 76 samples

Antibiotics, etc, found in over half of the samples:
 * Anhydrotetracycline: found in 52 samples
 * Clarithromycin: found in 45 samples

Antibiotics, etc, found in more than 10 samples:
 * Minocycline: found in 32 samples
 * 4-Epianhydrotetracycline: found in 31 samples
 * Sulfamethoxazole: found in 30 samples
 * Norfloxacin: found in 29 samples
 * Oxytetracycline: found in 29 samples
 * Trimethoprim: found in 24 samples
 * Virginiamycin: found in 15 samples
 * Enrofloxacin: found in 14 samples

Antibiotics, etc, found in fewer than 10 samples:
 * 4-Epioxytetracycline: found in 8 samples
 * Sulfanilamide: found in 8 samples
 * Sulfadimethoxine: found in 5 samples
 * Demeclocycline: found in 3 samples
 * Lincomycin: found in 3 samples
 * Roxithromycin: found in 3 samples
 * Sulfadiazine: found in 3 samples
 * Lomefloxacin: found in 2 samples
 * Sarafloxacin: found in 2 samples
 * Sulfachloropyridazine: found in 2 samples
 * Sulfamethazine: found in 2 samples
 * 4-Epichlortetracycline: found in 1 sample
 * Anhydrochlortetracycline: found in 1 sample
 * Chlortetracycline: found in 1 sample
 * Isochlortetracycline: found in 1 sample
 * Ormetoprim: found in 1 sample
 * Oxolinic acid: found in 1 sample
 * Sulfamerazine: found in 1 sample
 * Sulfathiazole: found in 1 sample

Antibiotics, etc, not found:
 * 4-Epianhydrochlortetracycline: not found
 * Carbadox: not found
 * Cefotaxime: not found
 * Clinafloxacin: not found
 * Cloxcillin: not found
 * Flumequine: not found
 * Oxacillin: not found
 * Penicillin G: not found
 * Penicillin V: not found
 * Sulfamethizole: not found
 * Tylosin: not found

Other Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceuticals found in more than 70 of 84 samples:
 * Diphenhydramine: found in every sample
 * Carbamazepine: found in 80 samples
 * Miconazole: found in 80 samples
 * Fluoxetine: found in 79 samples
 * Gemfibrozil: found in 76 samples
 * Cimetidine: found in 74 samples

Pharmaceuticals found in more than half of the samples:
 * Diltiazem: found in 69 samples
 * Thiabendazole: found in 58 samples
 * Ibuprofen: found in 54 samples
 * Ranitidine: found in 46 samples
 * Naproxen: found in 44 samples

Pharmaceuticals found in more than a 10 of samples:
 * Caffeine: found in 39 samples
 * Cotinine: found in 39 samples
 * Codeine: found in 20 samples
 * Dehydronifedipine: found in 19 samples

Pharmaceuticals found in under 10 samples:
 * Metformin: found in 6 samples
 * 1,7-Dimethylxanthine: found in 4 samples
 * Acetaminophen: found in 2 samples
 * Albuterol: found in 1 sample

Pharmaceuticals not found:
 * Digoxigenin: not found
 * Digoxin: not found
 * Norgestimate: not found
 * Warfarin: not found

Steroids

 * Campesterol
 * Cholestanol
 * Cholesterol
 * Coprostanol
 * Desmosterol
 * Campesterol
 * Epi-coprostanol
 * Ergosterol
 * β-Sitosterol
 * β-Stigmastanol
 * Stigmasterol

Hormones

 * Androstenedione
 * Androsterone
 * 17α-Dihydroequilin
 * Equilenin
 * Equilin
 * 17α-Estradiol
 * 17β-Estradiol
 * β-Estradiol-3-benzoate
 * Estriol
 * Estrone
 * 17α-Ethynyl estradiol
 * Norethindrone
 * Norgestrel
 * Progesterone
 * Testosterone

Related SourceWatch articles

 * biosolids
 * sewage sludge