Online Program

287837
Odors from sewage sludge and livestock: Associations with self-reported health


Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 1:30 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.

Steve Wing, PhD, Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Amy Lowman, MPH, Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Stephen W. Marshall, PhD, Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Alexander Keil, MSPH, Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Robert Hale, PhD, Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, Gloucester Pt, VA
Yasuyuki Akita, PhD, Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Marc Serre, PhD, Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Municipal waste water sludge contains microbes and toxicants and is commonly applied to land. Some neighbors of land application sites report sludge-associated malodors and illness. We evaluated sludge and livestock odors, 14 physical symptoms, and quality of life indicators reported by neighbors of fields applied with class-B sludge and residents of comparison areas with no sludge application, and measured concentrations of brominated flame retardants on pine needles as an indicator of sludge aerosol dispersal. 157 adults living near liquid sludge application sites, 85 near cake application sites, and 188 in comparison areas responded to a household survey. Sludge exposure was classified as none or faint vs. moderate, strong, or very strong sludge odor separately for residents of liquid and cake application vs. comparison areas. Livestock odor was classified as none or faint vs. moderate, strong, or very strong. We identified upper respiratory, lower respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin symptom factors by principle components analysis. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) linear models were used to compare factor scores for sludge and livestock odor adjusted for race, gender, education, smoking, passive smoking, and odors from burning and agricultural chemicals. Adjusted factor scores for lower respiratory symptoms (standard error) were 0.28±0.19 higher among residents who reported moderate to very strong odor from liquid sludge than in comparison areas, and 0.28±0.11 higher among residents who reported moderate to very strong livestock odor compared to no or faint livestock odor. Factor scores for skin symptoms were 0.27±0.21 higher for participants who reported moderate to very strong liquid sludge odor. Other factor scores were similar between groups. GEE logistic models of specific symptoms suggest that wheezing contributes most to the association of lower respiratory symptoms with liquid sludge, and that difficulty breathing, cough and wheezing contribute most to its association with livestock odor.

Learning Areas:

Environmental health sciences
Epidemiology
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Identify agents and pathways that could lead to acute symptoms among neighbors of sites where soil amendments are applied to land. Describe the design and results of an epidemiologic study of acute symptoms and odors from municipal sludge and livestock. Explain how brominated flame retardant levels in pine needles can be used to estimate off-site migration of particles from land-applied sludge.

Keyword(s): Environmental Health Hazards, Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been principal investigator of several federally funded grants focusing on health impacts of animal and municipal wastes on health of neighboring residents. I have authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed studies on these topics.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.