Let them eat sludge, instead. (1 Viewer)

DavidM

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And we wonder what fuels distrust and spawns conspiracy theories...


Sludge tested as lead-poisoning fix

By JOHN HEILPRIN and KEVIN S. VINEYS, Associated Press Writers
16 minutes ago


BALTIMORE - Scientists using federal grants spread fertilizer made from human and industrial wastes on yards in poor, black neighborhoods to test whether it might protect children from lead poisoning in the soil. Families were assured the sludge was safe and were never told about any harmful ingredients.

...

In a 1978 memo, the EPA said sludge "contains nutrients and organic matter which have considerable benefit for land and crops" despite the presence of "low levels of toxic substances."

But in the late 1990s the government began underwriting studies such as those in Baltimore and East St. Louis using poor neighborhoods as laboratories to make a case that sludge may also directly benefit human health.

Meanwhile, there has been a paucity of research into the possible harmful effects of heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, other chemicals and disease-causing microorganisms often found in sludge.


Sludge tested as lead-poisoning fix - Yahoo! News
 
Interesting article, Dave. I think a lot of the fertilizers used today are not exactly safe either, like crop dusting and in the past having toxins in your lawn mower. To be fair the feds did say that the sludge did contain some low level toxins so we do have at least some admission of that from the other side. the article also mentions that the testing is unclear on whether or not the sludge is really hazardous. It may be that but the Yahoo article I saw said that testing is still going on as of now to see if the stuff is hazardous.

This kind of reminds me of Asbestos siding used in homes in the 50's and 60's. People did not know what potential harm it could do back then but when later research came out, it pretty took a big fall from grace and the housing industry took a huge hit with it.
 
Interesting article, Dave. I think a lot of the fertilizers used today are not exactly safe either, like crop dusting and in the past having toxins in your lawn mower. To be fair the feds did say that the sludge did contain some low level toxins so we do have at least some admission of that from the other side. the article also mentions that the testing is unclear on whether or not the sludge is really hazardous. It may be that but the Yahoo article I saw said that testing is still going on as of now to see if the stuff is hazardous.

This kind of reminds me of Asbestos siding used in homes in the 50's and 60's. People did not know what potential harm it could do back then but when later research came out, it pretty took a big fall from grace and the housing industry took a huge hit with it.

Anybody who eats the sludge in their yard, the asbestos shingles on their house or the chipping paint off their windows has a preexisting condition. Perhaps poison is the cure to their problem. Just sayin.
 
Anybody who eats the sludge in their yard . . . has a preexisting condition.

Kids have been known to eat dirt in simpler times. Beyond which, that's precisely what this study set out to prevent anyways

The Baltimore study concluded that phosphate and iron in sludge can increase the ability of soil to trap more harmful metals including lead, cadmium and zinc. If a child eats the soil, this trapping can let all the material pass safely through a child's system.

. . .

"Though the lot will be closed off to the public, if people — particularly children — get some of the lead contaminated dirt in their mouths, the lead will just pass through their bodies and not be absorbed," the newsletter said. "Without this iron-phosphorus mix, lead poisoning would occur."

I don't think any reasonable person would draw a "conspiracy" from this.
 
I have a glass of sludge with a bowl of frosted nuts and bolts every morning...
 
And we wonder what fuels distrust and spawns conspiracy theories...


Sludge tested as lead-poisoning fix

By JOHN HEILPRIN and KEVIN S. VINEYS, Associated Press Writers
16 minutes ago


BALTIMORE - Scientists using federal grants spread fertilizer made from human and industrial wastes on yards in poor, black neighborhoods to test whether it might protect children from lead poisoning in the soil. Families were assured the sludge was safe and were never told about any harmful ingredients.

...

In a 1978 memo, the EPA said sludge "contains nutrients and organic matter which have considerable benefit for land and crops" despite the presence of "low levels of toxic substances."

But in the late 1990s the government began underwriting studies such as those in Baltimore and East St. Louis using poor neighborhoods as laboratories to make a case that sludge may also directly benefit human health.

Meanwhile, there has been a paucity of research into the possible harmful effects of heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, other chemicals and disease-causing microorganisms often found in sludge.


Sludge tested as lead-poisoning fix - Yahoo! News

This compares to using unwitting soldiers in radiation and atomic weapons testing in the 50s and 60s, CIA testing hallucinagenic drugs on unwitting subjects, etc.

The question is, what else don't we know about what's been done?
 
This compares to using unwitting soldiers in radiation and atomic weapons testing in the 50s and 60s, CIA testing hallucinagenic drugs on unwitting subjects, etc.

The question is, what else don't we know about what's been done?


Eh, nothing else, just those 3 things and thats it.
 
And we wonder what fuels distrust and spawns conspiracy theories...

I don't think this is any big deal, but that won't keep some from making a big deal out of it.

This reminded of a story I read several years ago of a former barren field in Houston where sludge was spread. After a short while, tomato plants popped up all over the field. Apparently, the tomato seeds survived both the human digestion and sludge process, and turned a "wasteland" into a garden.
 
This compares to using unwitting soldiers in radiation and atomic weapons testing in the 50s and 60s, CIA testing hallucinagenic drugs on unwitting subjects, etc.

No, it doesn't. Those things don't compare at all. They aren't even in the same universe.
 
No, it doesn't. Those things don't compare at all. They aren't even in the same universe.

Right.

Subjecting someone to toxic or damaging substances without their knowledge, or informing them of the risks.

Riiiight.

I think you've had too many of these:

Erowid LSD Vault : Blotter Art Examples

I'm sure you'd volunteer for some sludge testing on your yard.
 
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I don't think this is any big deal, but that won't keep some from making a big deal out of it.

This reminded of a story I read several years ago of a former barren field in Houston where sludge was spread. After a short while, tomato plants popped up all over the field. Apparently, the tomato seeds survived both the human digestion and sludge process, and turned a "wasteland" into a garden.

Yeah, they made a movie about someone who ingested those tomatoes.

Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958)
 
Right.

Subjecting someone to toxic or damaging substances without their knowledge, or informing them of the risks.

Riiiight.

On one hand you listed weapons testing intended specifically to harm/hamper the enemy..

On the other hand you have a poorly researched experiment whose core purpose is to make soil safer for those most exposed to the danger, namely poor.

Not, even, close
 

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