Two accidents involving trucks hauling sewage sludge on busy highways raise serious issues of public health and safety.

A sewage truck traveling along the Maine Turnpike in Scarborough blew a tire and overturned end-over-end four times. Fortunately the driver was not seriously injured and little sludge was scattered.

Earlier, a sewage sludge truck spilled a three-quarter mile long swath of human waste along a freeway in Los Angeles. The spillage caused a string of collisions involving 13 vehicles. Several people were treated at hospitals for minor injuries; others were “decontaminated” at the scene.

Contamination of travelers in such highway mishaps can occur through skin contact with sewage sludge or by inhaling pathogens discharged by sludge into the air.

Much of the sewage sludge hauled and spread in Maine contains toxic materials. They include arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and dioxins. Sludge may also harbor more than 140 viruses from human wastes, as well as other disease organisms that affect humans, according to the National Research Council.

Our legislators have a responsibility to protect the public against highway sludge accidents. They should enact a law with at least these two provisions:

First, require all trucks hauling sewage sludge to bear prominent warning signs.

Second, require Maine public health officials to develop and publish sewage sludge decontamination protocols for distribution to sewage sludge truck drivers, police, emergency medical personnel and hospital emergency rooms.

The need for such legislation grows urgent as more sewage sludge generated out of state is being transported throughout Maine.

Russell P. Kaniuka, Farmington Falls

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