Abstract
AbstractThis article presents a multidisciplinary approach to assess the hazards of ocean sewage sludge dumping. It combines physical and chemical sludge characteristics, estimated safe chronic levels and bioaccumulation potential with estimated environmental exposure (concentration and time) information. The hazard assessment was used to evaluate sewage sludges from 12 water pollution control plants operated by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. Using a mathematical dispersion model, the worst‐case minimum dilution after 4 h was predicted to be 11,500:1. Of the three marine species tested, mysid shrimp were found to be the most sensitive. Using an application factor of 0.05, estimated chronic safe levels were estimated, the values do not exceed the limiting permissible concentrations, after allowing for initial dilution. Also, the concentrations of the chemicals in the liquid sewage sludge phase were below ambient water quality criteria. The results suggest that the ocean disposal of sewage sludge does not appear to present the environmental hazard originally perceived.
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