Recent comments

Dear Sir or Madam: Now you have revealed yourself. It is stunning that despite the evidence in the Atlanta case, a case that resulted in a judicial verdict with substantial financial damages and also an over a million dollars in a settlement you still have the nerve to use the phrase "if true" regarding the poisoning of the land that resulted in those damages awards. And the sworn affidavit of the whistle-blower describes a pattern of unreliable studies attempting to whitewash the safety of putting sludge on farmland: "How senior-level U.S. EPA employees violated the False Claims Act by funding a national network of “gatekeepers” to promote land application of sewage sludge (biosolids) and cover up adverse health effects." But, it is sure is nice of you to try to use this comment section to advance your little misinformation campaign. And, of course you ignore that samples from the SFPUC give-away tested positive for dioxins and DEHP and other substances. Dioxins bioaccumulate which means that small exposure over time can lead to cancer and birth defects. DEHP is a phthalate that has been shown to adversely affect reproductive health. And, more extensive testing than the inadequate, minimal standard EPA test in other cities shows that even though there are some differences in different cities, there was a great deal in common: " * The four anions were found in every sample. * 27 metals were found in virtually every sample, with one metal (antimony) found in no less than 72 samples. * Of the six semivolatile organics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, four were found in at least 72 samples, one was found in 63 samples, and one was found in 39 samples. * Of the 72 pharmaceuticals, three (i.e., cyprofloxacin, diphenhydramine, and triclocarban) were found in all 84 samples and nine were found in at least 80 of the samples. However, 15 pharmaceuticals were not found in any sample and 29 were found in fewer than three samples. * Of the 25 steroids and hormones, three steroids (i.e., campesterol, cholestanol, and coprostanol) were found in all 84 samples and six steroids were found in at least 80 of the samples. One hormone (i.e., 17a-ethynyl estradiol) was not found in any sample and five hormones were found in fewer than six samples. * All of the flame retardants except one (BDE-138) were essentially found in every sample; BDE-138 was found in 54 out of 84 samples." And, this is from the study we discussed earlier that kicks the can down the road by calling for more study. But, it does reveal that current standard testing is not adequate. And your other arguments are straw men. I never suggested that all substances are cumulative but that you had ignored the fact that many of the substances at issue are, just as I never suggested that the nitrates in horse manure are toxic. You deliberately misread and misdirect. Of course, I am just wasting my breath explaining this to you since you prefer to hide behind your anonymity and try to distort the record while claiming you are simply being a skeptic. It guess it is vogue for deniers on a host of issues to assert that they are merely skeptics and open to being persuaded. There is ample evidence of the dangerous substances in sewage sludge. You are engaging in magical thinking that somehow only San Francisco sludge is miraculously free of the industrial pollutants that have been documented in other city sludge across the country and in other countries, even if you ignore the tests of the "organic biosolids" recently given away by the SFPUC. Hope you enjoy having your food grown in flame retardants and dioxins.... But leave the rest of us out of it.