HIV in sludge

["Mike Ewall" <MXE115@PSUVM.PSU.EDU>]

A personal friend of mine, who works in sewage treatment, tells me that
sludge is fairly similar to the human body as far as what would be needed to
keep "HIV" "alive" for quite a while.  Viruses are considered non-living
biological entities, so they can't "die", but "HIV" supposedly can be killed
by exposure to oxygen.  I've also heard from another source that "HIV" can
survive for up to 2 days in ocean water.

The reason I put "HIV" in quotes is that there is not one single "HIV"
virus, to the best of my knowledge.  Someone working in AIDS research told
me a few years ago that there were 55 KNOWN strains of "HIV" at the time.

I've also read a good bit from world-renown virologists claiming that "HIV" is
not necessary or sufficient to cause what is known as AIDS.  I sent this
materials to Stephen Lester at CCHW, but haven't heard any reaction yet.

>From what I've seen so far, we ought to be looking closer at the possibility
that AIDS can be caused by exposure to such well-known immune-damaging
agents as dioxin and ionizing radiation which we are exposed to predominantly
via meat and dairy products.

Mike Ewall
http://www.envirolink.org/orgs/action