Economia circolare e sicurezza alimentare: caratterizzazione di pericoli microbiologici emergenti in top soil improvers e acque irrigue

Reclaimed water and soil improvers deriving from recycled sludges can lead to potential food safety non-compliance. The characterization of the hazards and risks associated with the use of municipal and livestock waste has not yet been framed in a comprehensive and combined assessment. In this work, the presence of pathogens such as Shiga-toxin producing E. coli and other E. coli pathogroups and Salmonella spp. was assessed in samples from different sources, such as reclaimed water and activated sludge from wastewater treatment plants, used to dress agricultural soils, in order to assess the potential risks for human and animal health.