ABSTRACT
Although sewage sludge (SS) generated from wastewater treatment is very useful as an agricultural fertilizer, it constitutes high hazardous source to waste handlers and the immediate environment when not detoxified. Consequently, this chapter considers the detoxification of SS using natural attenuation methods that do not add more toxins to the environment. SS sources and possible contaminants, various natural attenuation methods and different models for the evaluation of effects of heavy metal pollution from SS are presented. Furthermore, different remediation techniques and application of artificial intelligence techniques in treatment of sewage wastewater and its sludge are presented. This chapter suggests proper evaluation and understanding of cocktail effects of several pollutants present in SS and the application of ecotoxicological analysis on SS prior to disposal. Effective awareness and orientation in household refurbishment and waste disposal from domestic, industrial and agricultural sources are primary and efficient steps towards SS release control and toxicity minimization.
