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r MAY 2 3 1984 SI -ATF OF FLORII)A DEPARTMENT OF BOOK 57 FADE 169• EXHIBIT "A" Bob Graham: Governor Health & Rehabilitative Services Epidemiology Research Center 4000 West Buffalo Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33614 William J. Stewart April 13, 1984 McKinnon & Stewart P. 0. Box 3345 Vero Beach, Florida 32964--3345 Dear Mr. Stewart: I have reviewed the data you sent but was unable to determine for certain that the aeration portion of the treatment plant was uncovered. It appears that it is and that there would be aerosols emanating from the treatment plant. I also noted on the drawings that there were some trees in the area between your property and the plant but they were not numerous enough to constitute an adequate barrier to_the aerosols. If a dense line of trees were there which would act as a barrier, it not only would prevent the aerosols from reaching your property but it would serve to improve the esthetics as well. A study done in 1980 in Louisville, Kentucky demonstrated aerosolized bacteria up to 930 m (3069 feet) downwind from sewage treatment plants. (Reference: Cronholm, L. S., 1980. Potential health hazards from microbial 1 aerosols in densely populated urban regions. Appl. and Environ. Microbiol. 39:6-12.) Another study has shown that indicator organisms (nonpathogenic) (total coliform, fecal coliform and coliphage) do not survive wastewater aerosolization nearly as well as do the pathogenic (disease causing) organisms (fecal strep, mycobacteria, and pseudomonads). (Reference: Camann, David H., 1978. A model for predicting pathogen concentrations in wastewater aerosols. In Proceedings of the Conference on Risk Assessment and Health Effects of Land Application of Municipal Wastewater and Sludges. Ed. B. P. Sagik and C.A. Sorber, Center for Applied Research and Technology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Atonio, Texas 78285 pp 240--271.) The survival and transport of disease producing organisms in aerosols is dependent upon several factors such as humidity, wind speed, wind direction and sunlight. It would appear that all of the necessary factors would be present in the case under consideration. The precise risk of contracting disease by individuals exposed to such conditions has never been established, but considering the very low levels of virus (1--10) which can produce infection, there would be at least some risk to the students using the atheletic field since it is within 100 feet of the source of the aerosol. In evaluating the above conditions, it would seem to me that unless an adequate barrier would be erected between your property and the treatment plant, moving the plant to the proposed location would not be a very wise decision. An outbreak of hepatitis among students using the athletic field would certainly lead to legal complications. There have been several other aerosol studies done but at the moment I could not put my hands on them. I can assure you though, that they are all in the same vein, i.e., aerosolized microorganisms can and do travel relatively long distances downwind of sewage treatment plants. I hope that these data will be of help to you. If you have any questions or if you think I may be of further help, please feel free to call me. Sincerely, Flora Mae We' iings, Sc.D. Director Epidemiology Research Center 50