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A Kurdziel  
#1 Posted : 18 April 2013 11:06:42(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

What are the biological risks posed by activated sludge as opposed to raw sewage? Does the treatment the sewage receives in the waste plant significantly reduce the levels of human pathogens in the sludge? One of our scientists is wants to do an experiment with sewage, and has a choice of using either raw sewage or activated sludge. Which would be safer?
User is suspended until 03/02/2041 16:40:57(UTC) Ian.Blenkharn  
#2 Posted : 18 April 2013 11:40:52(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian.Blenkharn

Rather simple questions about a hugely complex issue. Few risks as most pathogens would be reduced massively in numbers or eradicated. Smell too is massively reduced with aerated sludge, so more pleasant to work with. It seems irrelevant to ask if one product or the other would be safer - ask the 'scientist' what is required in the experiment. If activated sewage sludge is acceptable consider using that, since it will give you a more pleasant (?) and reproducible alternative. But the 'scientist' should be capable of managing the experiment and any inherent risks before embarking upon the work, so the question seems rather irrelevant. However, the biological activity, standardisation and reproducibility of this sewage reagent seems a not inappropriate issue here and for a successful experiment that alone may dictate the product to be selected.
blodwyn  
#3 Posted : 19 April 2013 11:53:43(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
blodwyn

As Ian has identified its not a simple question - and it depends at what stage of the process you decide to sample. I think providing he is not drinking the sewage/spreading it on himself/creating an aerosol then as Ian has said provinding proper precautions are taken it will matter not a lot. Sewage is sewage until it goeds back to the river as clean water!!
User is suspended until 03/02/2041 16:40:57(UTC) Ian.Blenkharn  
#4 Posted : 19 April 2013 12:06:25(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian.Blenkharn

I'd deliberately avoided the obvious but perhaps it's now worth putting this into some sort of context. Every one of us defecates daily. So managing raw sewage under laboratory conditions need not be that big a job..............!
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