(bump)
Or set aside one small compost heap to be used only under bushes or on the lawn. Anywhere you'll never grow veggies, and where runoff and seepage are away from vegetable beds.
I know that "seem to recall" is not very reassuring, but I seem to recall reading about one experiment where someone found that no bacteria actually made it through the roots and up the stem into leaves and fruits. But that experiment would have been with just a few crops, and was just one experiment.
I think the rules for Class B biosolids include different time periods between application and harvest for vegetables vs. leafy crops, but I can't swear to that. And anyway, even Class B biosolids have
greatly reduced pathogen counts compared to raw poop.
On the other hand, "greatly reducing" a billion per gram might be as high as 100 per grqm ... I don't know.
http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/...
The EPA says:
"The federal biosolids rule is contained in 40 CFR Part 503. "
"Class A biosolids contain no detectible levels of pathogens. Class A biosolids that meet strict vector attraction reduction requirements and low levels metals contents, only have to apply for permits to ensure that these very tough standards have been met. Class B biosolids are treated but still contain detectible levels of pathogens. There are buffer requirements, public access, and crop harvesting restrictions for virtually all forms of Class B biosolids."
A Plain English Guide to the EPA Part 503 Biosolids Rule
http://water.epa.gov/scitech/w...
A Guide to the Biosolids Risk Assessments for the EPA Part 503 Rule
http://water.epa.gov/scitech/w...
I wallowed around in it for a while but couldn't find actual numbers for class B pathogen levels. Even then, it wouldn't mean much to me unless I could compare them to ACTUAL pathogen levels in fast food restaurants, salad buffets and public buses.
