The toxic, genotoxic and teratogenic potential of a municipal sewage sludge was assessed using the micronucleus assay on the larvae of the amphibian Xenopus laevis and with the tobacco somatic mutation test using the yellow-green xanthi Dulieu mutant a(1)(+)/a(1) a(2)(+)/a(2). The teratogenic potential was assessed by means of the Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay-Xenopus (FETAX). Various doses o...

The effect of biodegradation on the consolidation characteristics of an anaerobically digested, dewatered municipal sewage sludge was studied. Maintained-load oedometer consolidation tests that included measurement of the pore fluid pressure response were conducted on moderately degraded sludge material and saturated bulk samples that had been stored under static conditions and allowed to anaer...

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs, prion diseases) are a class of fatal neurodegenerative diseases affecting a variety of mammalian species including humans. A misfolded form of the prion protein (PrP(TSE)) is the major, if not sole, component of the infectious agent. Prions are highly resistant to degradation and to many disinfection procedures suggesting that, if prions enter wa...

Chemical forms of Zn, Ni, Cu, and Pb in municipal sewage sludge were investigated by adding humus soil to sludge and by performing sequential extraction procedures. In the final sludge mixtures, Zn and Ni were mainly found in Fe/Mn oxide-bound (F3) and organic matter/sulfide-bound (F4) forms. For Zn, exchangeable (F1), carbonate-bound (F2), and F3 forms were transformed to F4 and residual forms...

Municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants produce large amounts of sludge. This excess sludge is an inevitable drawback inherent to the waste activated sludge process. Both the reduction of the amount of sludge produced and improving its dewaterability are of paramount importance. Novel pre-treatment processes have been developed in order to improve sludge dewatering, handling and di...

A series of interlaboratory comparison exercises were conducted to assess the accuracy of dialkyl phthalate ester (DPE) concentration measurements in environmental and biological samples. Five laboratories participated in analyses to determine DPE concentrations in standard test solutions; marine sediments; three certified reference materials, including CARP-2 (fish muscle) and BCR-07 (fortifie...

this fertility experiment was carried out using split plots based on a randomized complete block design of three replications in 2006 at sari agricultural sciences and natural resources university. the aim of the experiment was to investigate some macronutrient and micronutrient accumulation in leaves of different soybean cultivars as influenced by some organic fertilizer types and levels. main...

Attempts should be made to recycle, re–use and utilize waste. Paper manufacturing is a complex industry involving multiple processes where different products are produced and large quantities of waste of primary, biological or de–inking origin are generated, waste water treatment sludge, primary sludge, and secondary sludge among them.1,2 The primary sludge is generated in the largest quantitie...