130 years -- Health Studies -- EPA Studies and lawsuits
A Work in Progress -- 1,200 + documents
Jim Bynum, VP 12/4/2010
Help for Sewage Victims
Death and disease from spreading pathogens and chemicals in the environment funded by EPA and/or
Congress. Dilution is not the solution to pollution with hazardous substances or pathogens.
The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money.
Luntz Speak, Public Relations expert, "The core of the Democrat argument depends on the belief that
"Washington regulations" are the best way to preserve the environment. We don't agree."
This period saw the medical profession struggling with the discovery that E. coli, Klebsiella and other
coli-like-forms (coliforms) of gram negative bacteria were serious human pathogens that caused death to
both infants and their mothers as well as wound infections, blood infections, etc. With the discovery that E.
coli was thermotolerant and the only primary coliform that could grow at elevated temperatures it was
chosen as an indicator for fecal contamination in water. Public drinking cups were banned because they
were found to spread disease. It became the scientific assumption that only thermotolerant E. coli was from
human fecal material and other coliforms growing at the human body temperature was from environmental
sources. Antibiotic were developed and scientists discovered genes could be transferred between bacteria
and some were antibiotic resistant. E. coli K12 was isolated and cultured in the laboratory for research and
commercial applications as a nonpathogen. According to EPA over the past 90 years of cultivation it has
lost the ability to inhabit the human body and lost the capability to cause disease. Escherichia coli K12 and
the genetic derivatives of E. coli K-12 are what is meant when we are assured most E. coli are not
This period saw the development of genetic engineering capabilities. The medical profession discovered
even more serious infections caused by bacteria even as the Public Health Service was trying to decide the
significance of coliform contamination in water and food using indole; methyl red; Voges-Proskauer, and
citrate in laboratory growth media to establish the family Entrobacteriaceae which cause about 50% of
hospital acquired infections. There was an explosive expansion of antibiotic resistant bacteria in Japan
which was ignored by the health agencies of other countries even as they reported on the phenomenon.
This period saw the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. Scientists expanded the research on
antibiotic resistance and genetic engineering. The first patent application was filed to create bacteria which
could not exist in nature. About the same time the first E. coli 0157:H7 infection was recorded which
incorporated a shiga-toxin gene from a Central American outbreak. Scientists also reported the survival of
antibiotic resistant bacteria in chlorinated sewage and drinking waters. Bacteria survival was also reported
in compost. USDA and EPA reported that liming sludge caused Salmonella to go dormant for about 30 days
until the pH dropped at which time Salmonella returned to the original levels. In spite of the infectious nature
of sludge which makes it a hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
EPA started promoting sludge use claiming it was first practiced by order of the Lord in the Old Testament.
This period saw the development of a new coliform test to determine E. coli and other members of the
family Enterobateriaceae, acceptable methods for sludge use based on current knowledge and a policy to
spread the infectious sludge on fruits and vegetables signed by EPA, FDA, and USDA. EPA documented
the transfer of antibiotic resistance in wastewater treatment plants. Antibiotic resistant markers were used in
genetic engineered plants to confirm DNA transfer. At the same time studies were being done on the
potential health effects among sewage plant workers. EPA studies also documented the regrowth of
bacteria in sludge and composts. Moreover, EPA documented bacteria could survive on grazing land for up
to sixteen months. Studies also confirmed a transfer of Salmonella from humans: to sludge; to grazing land;
to cattle; and back to humans. In its proposed part 503 sludge regulation EPA documented 25 primary
pathogen groups and 21 carcinogens in sludge, five of which were carcinogenic by inhalation.
This period saw EPA Office of Water ignore all previous science concerning infectious agents and
carcinogens in sludge and dropped the previous information from the final sludge rule. Scientists report the
survival of bacteria in sludge aggregates (biofilms) and that sludge use puts the national economy at risk.
EPA split the solid waste sludge disposal regulation 40 CFR 257 into three parts: Part 257 - industrial
treatment plant sludge; Part 258 -- municipal treatment plant sludge co-disposed in a landfill; and Part 503
-- "Standards apply to publicly and privately owned treatment works that generate or treat domestic sewage
sludge" from humans or household operations for use as a fertilizer and/or soil amendment or disposed of
in a sludge only landfill (monofill) or incinerated. The closer to the public -- the less regulation. Scientists
discovered sludge was actually biofilms that could damage health and the environment. EPA created its
public relations campaign to cover up the damage with its "Candidates for the Rest of the Story" to be run
by the Water Environment Federal funded by EPA and Congress. While some scientists and organizations
produced studies claiming sludge use was safe if the laws and regulations were followed, other scientists
were following the damage done by gene swapping bacteria without making the connection. Writers also
followed the lack of science behind the rules and damages caused by sludge use.
Water Environment finishes PR fact sheets for "Candidates for the Rest of the Story". Antibiotic resistance
spreads. Bacteria causes heart problems. EPA OIG reports Compliance and Enforcement Office has
withdrawn from the sludge program. Congress investigates and ignores problems. Necrotizing infections
(flesh eating bacteria) is recognized as a major problem. Scientist admit to dumping genetically engineered
bacteria down the laboratory drains. Security and Bioterrorism Act enacted to protect agriculture -- but it
only applies to laboratories. Biofilms are acknowledge as cause of chronic illness. Bacteria are found to
survive treatment in parasites. Antibiotic genes are used as markers in genetically modified plants.
Studies link deaths to sludge use and the lack of a high level of disinfection.
Legionnaires Disease Linked to Cooling Towers. MRSA infections and deaths explode from 1,900
hospitalizations in 1993 to 368,300 in 2005 with 20,000 deaths. Endotoxin caused lung disease and
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals research expands. Viable but Nonculturable found in sludge and reclaimed
water. Antibiotic gene research continues. EPA approves new tests for fecal coilform (thermotolerant E.
coli). Contaminated vegetable outbreaks cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Black plague bacteria
becomes antibiotic resistant. Viruses are found to cause Obesity. Bacteria are found to cause blood clots.
Viable but Nonculturable Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria found in Drinking Water. Court finds
municipality lies about sludge tests. Senior Agency officials who support sludge policy earn more than Vice
Klebsiella picks up gene to cause Antibiotic-Associated Hemorrhagic Colitis. Bacteria reactivated after 28
years. FDA only tests for thermotolerant gram negative bacteria in food. Gram negative bacteria cause
endocarditis. Gram negative bacterial hospital acquired infections kills 99,000 patients annually. Viruses
cause Ischemic strokes. Antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus found in animals and food products. Plants take
up drugs, chemicals and pathogens. Federal Agencies claim to be studying antibiotic resistance. Still
ignoring it after 30 years.