Linking agro-ecosystem impacts to emerging contaminants from land applied municipal biosolids

Title: Linking agro-ecosystem impacts to emerging contaminants from land applied municipal biosolidsLand applying municipal sewage biosolids on agricultural land is a widespread practice in North America. Across most jurisdictions, sewage biosolids must meet specific quality guidelines for heavy metal concentrations and pathogens in order to be certified for use in agriculture. Recently, groups of chemicals originating from pharmaceutical and personal care products, called Emerging Contaminants (ECs), have been found in treated wastewaters and in soils. These ECs have been identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) as chemicals which may be of concern. Mounting scientific evidence suggests ECs, which include flame retardants, antibiotics, and endocrine disrupting substances, may persist in the environment and cause harm to invertebrate organisms. Some of these compounds may become bio-available to different organisms through chronic exposure in their habitat. Limited information exists on the contribution of agricultural activities to the fate, persistence, and ecotoxicological impact of ECs in soils. The focus of Dr. Price's research program is to evaluate the impact of certain ECs on specific terrestrial organisms which serve as ecosystem bio-indicators. This research will improve our understanding of the potential consequences of these chemicals in our agricultural soils and provide management recommendations for the safe use of municipal biosolids.