Sheila R. Cherry

Sheila R. Cherry argues in the following viewpoint that the recycling of sewer sludge into fertilizer endangers the health of people working in wastewater treatment plants and living near land where the fertilizer is applied. Children have died from exposure to recycled sludge, she contends, and numerous other people have grown seriously ill. Cherry claims that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fails to adequately oversee the recycling of sewer sludge and misleads the public about its dangers. Sheila R. Cherry writes for Insight on the News magazine.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Cherry, what health problems have residents of Osceola Mills experienced since recycled sewer sludge was applied to a mine-reclamation site near their town?
2. What recommendations did government officials make to minimize the health risk posed...