Survival of Bacterial Pathogens During Storage of Animal Waste and Wastewater Treatment Sludge and Their Subsequent Application to Clay–Loam Soil

Globally, large quantities of animal waste and human sewage sludge are generated annually. Their application as soil amendments can enhance soil quality and support a circular economy. However, these wastes may harbour pathogenic bacteria, posing contamination risks to soil and water and potential transmission to animals and humans. This study investigated the survival of five bacterial pathogens during six months of storage in five types of organic waste and following their subsequent application to soil. During storage, T90 values ranged as follows: Salmonella Typhimurium (2.3–17.7 days), Campylobacter jejuni (0 to 23.9 days), Escherichia coli O157:H7 (4.3 to 57.8 days), and Listeria monocytogenes (1.9 to 170.4 days). In soil, T90 values were S. Typhimurium (4.2 to 17.4 days), C. jejuni (4.8 to 26.8 days), E. coli O157:H7 (4.3 to 52.9 days), and L. monocytogenes (2 to 83.7 days). Clostridium sporogenes remained stable throughout both experiments, preventing T90 calculation. Contrary to our initial hypothesis that soil microbiota would accelerate pathogen decline, T90 values were higher during storage in 11 cases and higher in soil in nine scenarios. These findings highlight the need for pre-treatment strategies for animal waste and biosolids before land spreading to consistently mitigate risks of pathogen transmission and environmental contamination.