Waste disposal 

is a multibillion dollar industry in the United States.

However, there are many hazards inherent in the treatment and
disposal of wastewater (Fig. 5.11) and biosolid material. Figures 5.12–
5.16 illustrate the potential for bioaerosol production via various
methods of land application of biosolids and also loading operations.
Major hazards associated with waste effluents are
pathogenic microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and
helminths. Wastewater treatment plants utilize activated
sludge and trickling filter systems, and all of these treatment
processes potentially create relatively large amounts of aerosols,
which have been shown to include pathogenic microorganisms. Other
aspects of the treatment process such as composting and land
disposal are also associated with the generation of aerosols
containing pathogenic.

Waste disposal is an activity that is directly responsible for much environmental damage, and locating
waste disposal sites, determining what waste materials were disposed of through time and exactly
where, and determining ownership and whether disposal methods were proper or improper are
important issues in environmental litigation.