Are crops grown on biosolids safe for human consumption?
When the biosolids used to fertilize a food crop meet the EPA standards for heavy metals and destruction of pathogens, that crop is safe for human consumption. Current Federal standards have no restrictions as to what crops may be grown when a biosolid meets the Exceptional Quality and Class A Pathogen Reduction standards found in 40 CFR Part 503. Materials such as compost, or the AASS material which meet this standard, could be used to grow any crop consumed by humans. Much research has gone into examining how food crops are affected by biosolids application. Where pathogens have been destroyed, such as through composting, and heavy metal levels are at or below the Exceptional Quality standards, there is no contamination of the edible portion of the crop through the use of biosolids. It may be of interest that many commercial fertilizers used by farmers and home gardeners contain levels of heavy metals similar to or greater than those found in biosolids meeting the Exceptional Quality
