The team from Cornell believes that there is no way to protect the public from leaching and flooding that may spread live pathogens. Despite these justifiable concerns, Washington state allows sludge to be dumped in every county. Thode's neighbors are not impressed with his farming practices and equate living downstream from him to living downstream from a flushing toilet. Levels of all metals have increased drastically. Levels of pharmaceutical drugs were not tested, nor were the presence of prions tested.
Plants absorb metals and other soil components so long as the particles are small enough.