Horticultural Studies (HortiS) 2002, Vol 19, Num, 2     (Pages: 38-49)

Potential Effects of Heavy Metals in Municipal Solid Waste Composts and Sewage Sludge on Plants and the Environment and Pollutant Limits

Bülent TOPÇUOĞLU 1

Viewed : 1392 - Downloaded : 638 Undesirable heavy metal accumulation which presents a risk on crop production, environment and consumers, and sustainable soil management in municipal solid waste compost and sewage sludge applied soils may be occured. According to risk-based approach there have been updated regulations and guidelines for the agricultural use of sewage sludge. It is stated that as long as the agricultural use of sludge follows current regulations and guidelines, it present a manageable risks on crop production, environment and consumers. In the present case there are no internationally accepted quality standards or laws for heavy metal contents of municipal solid waste compost. Depending on the based approaches for compost quality, heavy metal limits in municipal solid waste compost can be variable in a wide range in various countries. Because of similarities in many ways between sewage sludge and municipal solid waste derived compost, most of the infomation regarding the use of sewage sludge can be applied for municipal solid waste compost. Keywords :