Dr. David Lewis

Dr. David Lewis

Dr. David Lewis, an internationally renowned microbiologist and former senior research microbiologist with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Office of Research & Development, found that the agricultural use of processed sewage sludge promoted by EPA programs was linked to illnesses and deaths, prompting the EPA officials who developed the Agency’s sewage sludge regulations to shut down his research. Nevertheless, he campaigned to force the EPA to apply appropriate health and safety standards to sewage sludge, supported by NWC.

Ultimately, his research in this area prompted the CDC to issue guidelines protecting workers handling processed sewage sludge, and in 2002, the EPA Office of the Inspector General validated Dr. Lewis’ reported safety concerns.