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From: TSS ()
In Reply to: BSE ALABAMA Epidemiology Update March 23, 2006 posted by TSS on March 23, 2006 at 2:14 pm:
> The calf was appropriately disposed of in a local Disposal of meat and bone meal (MBM) derived from specified risk material (SRM) and over thirty month scheme carcasses by landfill The Committee was asked whether, in the light of the results of the risk assessment, it held to its earlier published (June 1999) view that landfill was an acceptable outlet for MBM of any origin, although it retained a preference for incineration. The Committee reiterated that it had a strong preference for incineration as the favoured route for the disposal of MBM and were uneasy about the use of landfill for the disposal of this material. If there were cases where incineration was not practical the Committee felt it would be preferable for any material going to landfill to be pressure-cooked first or possibly stored above ground prior to incineration. http://www.seac.gov.uk/summaries/summ_0700.htm Disposal of BSE suspect carcases http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bse/publichealth/notification.html#disp OPINION ON THE USE OF BURIAL FOR DEALING WITH ANIMAL CARCASSES AND OTHER ANIMAL MATERIALS THAT MIGHT CONTAIN BSE/TSE ADOPTED BY THE SCIENTIFIC STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING OF 16-17 JANUARY 2003 The details of the SSC’s evaluation are provided in the attached report. The SSC concludes as follows: (1) The term “burial” includes a diversity of disposal conditions. Although burial is widely used for disposal of waste the degradation process essential for BSE/TSE infectivity reduction is very difficult to control. The extent to which such an infectivity reduction can occur as a consequence of burial is poorly characterised. It would appear to be a slow process in various circumstances. (2) A number of concerns have been identified including potential for groundwater contamination, dispersal/transmission by birds/animals/insects, accidental uncovering by man. (3) In the absence of any new data the SSC confirms its previous opinion that animal material which could possibly be contaminated with BSE/TSEs, burial poses a risk except under highly controlled conditions (e.g., controlled landfill). SNIP... 4. CONCLUSION In the absence of new evidence the opinion of the SSC “Opinion on Fallen Stock” (SSC 25th June 1999) must be endorsed strongly that land burial of all animals and material derived from them for which there is a possibility that they could incorporate BSE/TSEs poses a significant risk. Only in exceptional circumstances where there could be a considerable delay in implementing a safe means of disposal should burial of such materials be considered. Guidelines should be made available to aid on burial site selection. 4 PAGES; http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/ssc/out309_en.pdf During the 2001 outbreak of FMD in the UK, the Department of Health prepared a rapid qualitative assessment of the potential risks to human health associated with various methods of carcass disposal (UK Department of Health, 2001c). The most relevant hazards to human health resulting from burial were identified as bacteria pathogenic to humans, water-borne protozoa, and BSE. The main potential route identified was contaminated water supplies, and the report generally concluded that an engineered licensed landfill would always be preferable to unlined burial. In general terms, the findings of the qualitative assessment relative to biological agents are summarized in Table 13. TABLE 13. Potential health hazards and associated pathways of exposure resulting from landfill or burial of animal carcasses (adapted from UK Department of Health, 2001c). PLEASE SEE TABLE AT; http://www.k-state.edu/projects/fss/research/books/carcassdispfiles/PDF%20Files/CH%201%20-%20Burial.pdf PART 2 Rendering and fixed-facility incineration were preferred, but the necessary resources were not immediately available and UK officials soon learned that the capacity would only cover a portion of the disposal needs. Disposal in commercial landfills was seen as the next best environmental solution, but legal, commercial, and local community problems limited landfill use. With these limitations in mind, pyre burning was the actual initial method used but was subsequently discontinued following increasing public, scientific, and political concerns. Mass burial and on-farm burial were last on the preferred method list due to the complicating matter of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and the risk posed to groundwater (Hickman & Hughes, 2002). http://www.k-state.edu/projects/fss/research/books/carcassdispfiles/PDF%20Files/Introduction%20to%20Part%202%20-%20Cross-Cutting%20&%20Policy%20Issues.pdf Carcase disposal: A Major Problem of the 2001 FMD Outbreak Gordon Hickman and Neil Hughes, Disposal Cell, FMD Joint Co-ordination Centre, Page Street snip... 3. Prof. A. Robertson gave a brief account of BSE. The US approach snip... PAUL BROWN SCRAPIE SOIL TEST TSS
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