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To spread or not to spread? Assessing the suitability of sewage sludge and other biogenic wastes for agriculture reuse

  • 0Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Architettura, Territorio e Ambiente e di Matematica, Università degli Studi di Brescia. Via Branze 43, Brescia I-25123, Italy.
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February 21, 2024

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February 21, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Sewage sludge (biosolids) management requires careful assessment. This study introduces a multilevel protocol using bioassays and chemical analyses to evaluate the ecotoxicity and safety of biosolids for agricultural reuse.

Area Of Science

  • Environmental Science
  • Ecotoxicology
  • Agricultural Science

Background

  • Sewage sludge (biosolids) is increasingly recovered in agriculture, but potential pollutant risks necessitate robust safety assessments.
  • Standard chemical characterization alone cannot predict the ecotoxicity of complex mixtures in biosolids.
  • Evaluating the safety of biosolids for agricultural reuse is a critical global challenge.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To present a novel, multilevel characterization protocol for sewage sludge and organic residues.
  • To integrate bioassays with chemical, physical, and microbiological analyses for comprehensive risk assessment.
  • To establish reliable criteria for data processing and normalization in biosolid analysis.

Main Methods

  • Development of a multilevel protocol including sample pre-treatment, chemical-physical-microbiological characterization, and bioassays.
  • Classification of bioassays into baseline toxicity, specific mode of action, and reactive mode of action tests.
  • Application of original criteria for data normalization and processing for direct ecosafety assessment.

Main Results

  • The protocol enables direct ecosafety assessment of organic matrices intended for reuse.
  • Innovative bioassays and analytical procedures were adopted for enhanced accuracy.
  • Original data normalization and processing criteria were developed for reliable interpretation.

Conclusions

  • The integrated protocol provides a superior method for assessing biosolid safety compared to chemical analysis alone.
  • The multilevel approach enhances the reliability of ecotoxicity prediction for agricultural applications.
  • This study offers a framework for the safe and sustainable management of sewage sludge in agriculture.

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