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Mutagens, toxicants, and other constituents in small city siudges in New York State

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Abstract

An analytical survey was conducted of sewage sludges from 15 small cities in New York State for mutagens, forty-four elements, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and radioactivity. Low levels of mutagenicity were detected in several of the samples. PCBs were very high in only one sample. A number of toxic elements were found at elevated concentrations in specific sludges but it is not possible to relate these to specific industrial sources with certainty. The concentrations of specific toxicants in five city sludges were above presently suggested federal guidelines for their suitability for land application. Gamma emission was comparatively low in all samples. The problems of analytical sampling and possible sources of specific constituents in sludge are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pesticide Research Laboratory and Breazeal Nuclear Reactor Facility, Pennsylvania State University, 16802, University Park, Pennsylvania

    Ralph O. Mumma, Kamal A. Rashid & Dale C. Raupach

  2. Institute for Environmental Studies, Louisiana State University, 70803, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

    Barbara S. Shane

  3. Department of Clinical Sciences, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, USA

    Janet M. Scarlet-Kranz

  4. Toxic Chemicals Laboratory, New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, New York

    Carl A. Bache, Walter H. Gutenmann & Donald J. Lisk

Authors
  1. Ralph O. Mumma
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  2. Kamal A. Rashid
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  3. Dale C. Raupach
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  4. Barbara S. Shane
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  5. Janet M. Scarlet-Kranz
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  6. Carl A. Bache
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  7. Walter H. Gutenmann
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  8. Donald J. Lisk
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Mumma, R.O., Rashid, K.A., Raupach, D.C. et al. Mutagens, toxicants, and other constituents in small city siudges in New York State. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 17, 657–663 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01055835

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01055835

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