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February 11, 2002Letters to the Editor
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Box 85333
Richmond, Virginia 23293
Via e-mail: letters@timesdispatch.com
Dear Editor:
Your article, "Toxins found in sludge" (2/4/02) neglects to mention a key fact about the safety of alkylphenols in sewage sludge: the levels of alkylphenols in sludge are significantly reduced when sludge is used as soil fertilizer.Sludge has been used for fertilizer for many years because it is a low-cost environmental solution for safely replenishing lost nutrients in soil. The use of sludge is controlled by appropriate federal/state regulations, which are principally directed at the microbiological contaminants and metals. If these controls are followed, the presence of residual levels of alkylphenols in sludge will be several hundred fold lower than levels found to be toxic to earthworms, plants or other soil organisms and continue to be reduced over time due to the natural break down in the environment.
Sincerely,
Robert J. Fensterheim
Executive Director
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