For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has alerted the public about potential human health risks linked to "forever chemicals" found in sewage sludge used as fertilizer. The study indicates that the levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can at times exceed safety thresholds by significant margins. Although the agency states that the overall food supply remains safe, the implications for soil and water contamination could be severe, according to experts.
EPA Raises Alarm on 'Forever Chemicals' in Fertilizer
EPA Raises Alarm on 'Forever Chemicals' in Fertilizer
The agency warns that PFAS in sewage sludge used as fertilizer may pose serious health risks.
In recent years, research has uncovered alarming levels of PFAS in treated wastewater sludge, common in fertilizer applications. These manmade chemicals, widely found in consumer products such as nonstick cookware, are associated with various illnesses, including an elevated cancer risk. They do not degrade easily in the environment, which raises concerns when they infiltrate agriculture through contaminated sludge.
A pivotal moment came when 3M, a major manufacturer of PFAS, acknowledged that these substances were present in sludge samples as early as 2000 and informed the EPA about their findings in 2003. Historically, the EPA has endorsed the use of treated sludge as a cost-effective fertilizer without imposing limits on allowable PFAS levels. However, the agency's latest draft risk assessment suggests a shift in regulatory strategy, potentially paving the way for the first regulations on PFAS in sludge categorized as biosolids.
The Biden administration is also addressing PFAS contamination in other areas, having set limits for these chemicals in drinking water and designating certain types as hazardous under the Superfund cleanup guidelines. These actions followed assertions from the EPA that no safe level of exposure exists for these harmful substances. As the discussion on PFAS intensifies, the agricultural industry will be closely watching the EPA's upcoming decisions, which could significantly alter guidelines for sludge used in farming practices.
A pivotal moment came when 3M, a major manufacturer of PFAS, acknowledged that these substances were present in sludge samples as early as 2000 and informed the EPA about their findings in 2003. Historically, the EPA has endorsed the use of treated sludge as a cost-effective fertilizer without imposing limits on allowable PFAS levels. However, the agency's latest draft risk assessment suggests a shift in regulatory strategy, potentially paving the way for the first regulations on PFAS in sludge categorized as biosolids.
The Biden administration is also addressing PFAS contamination in other areas, having set limits for these chemicals in drinking water and designating certain types as hazardous under the Superfund cleanup guidelines. These actions followed assertions from the EPA that no safe level of exposure exists for these harmful substances. As the discussion on PFAS intensifies, the agricultural industry will be closely watching the EPA's upcoming decisions, which could significantly alter guidelines for sludge used in farming practices.
