Helminth eggs inactivation efficiency by faecal sludge dewatering and co-composting in tropical climates.

This study investigates helminth eggs removal and inactivation efficiency in a treatment process combining faecal sludge (FS) dewatering and subsequent co-composting with organic solid waste as a function of windrow turning frequency. Fresh public toilet sludge and septage mixed at a 1:2 ratio were dewatered on a drying bed. Biosolids with initial loads of 25-83 helminth eggs/g total solids (TS) were mixed with solid waste as bulking material for co-composting at a 1:2 volume ratio. Two replicate sets of compost heaps were mounted in parallel and turned at different frequencies during the active composting period: (i) once every 3 days and (ii) once every 10 days. Turning frequency had no effect on helminth eggs removal efficiency. In both setups, helminth eggs were reduced to <1 viable egg/g TS, thereby complying with the WHO guidelines 2006 for the safe reuse of FS.

Distress of infertile males after fertility workup: a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: Former research has revealed that distress declines after fertility workup. It was the aim of the present study to explore whether this decline depends on such aspects as the diagnosis or the former usage of fertility services. METHODS: Patients attending an andrological clinic filled out questionnaires on distress and coping behaviour at clinic attendance as well as 4 months later. RESULTS: For distress scores there was an interaction between time and former usage of infertility services, indicating that only first-time consulters show a decline in distress after fertility workup. No impact of diagnosis on distress scores could be detected. Generally, patients showed a decrease of active coping behaviour after fertility workup, along with a greater tendency to accept infertility as one's fate. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that there are different processes working in first-time and repeat consulters with respect to the course of distress.

Decentralised composting of urban waste--an overview of community and private initiatives in Indian cities.

The national waste legislation, introduced in India in 2000, endorses the principle of "Recycle Before Disposal" and clearly stipulates composting as an option for organic waste treatment. It also recommends waste separation as prerequisite for treatment. Although various composting schemes of different scale, type and organisational structure currently exist in the country, a general overview is lacking and very little independent site-specific information is available. This paper presents the results of a study assessing 17 decentralised systems from the cities of Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, and Mumbai. The schemes were classified according to their organisational setup into: (1) citizens' and community initiatives; (2) business and institution initiatives operating on their premises; and (3) small and medium-size private sector initiatives. These categories also coincide with different operational scales. Community initiatives have developed from unreliable collection services, and composting emerged mainly as a spin-off activity from the collection system to reduce waste delivery to the communal containers emptied by the municipal services. The potential to launch and sustain decentralised composting schemes is dependent on the municipal provision of adequate space. This paper summarises further key issues pertaining to the assessed schemes and reveals overall deficiencies in the field of accounting and transparency, composting technique and marketing, as well as municipal authority involvement.