The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has alerted the public about potential risks associated with 'forever chemicals' found in sewage sludge used as fertilizer, indicating that some levels of PFAS could pose significant human health risks.
EPA Sounds Alarm Over 'Forever Chemicals' in Fertilizer
EPA Sounds Alarm Over 'Forever Chemicals' in Fertilizer
Agency warns that PFAS levels in sewage sludge may exceed safety limits, raising health concerns.
In a groundbreaking statement, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has raised concerns about the presence of 'forever chemicals' in sewage sludge, which is often repurposed as fertilizer. The agency revealed that certain levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in the sludge could potentially exceed safety thresholds by vast margins, suggesting possible human health risks. Despite these alarming findings, the EPA reassured the public that the broader food supply remains uncompromised.
Research shows that sewage sludge can often carry PFAS, synthetic chemicals commonly found in everyday items such as nonstick pans and water-resistant fabrics. These harmful substances resist breaking down in the environment and can lead to soil, groundwater, crop, and livestock contamination when applied as fertilizer.
Notably, a previous investigation by The New York Times disclosed that chemicals manufactured by 3M—whose presence was detected in sludge samples as early as 2000—were communicated to the EPA in 2003. Historically, the EPA has supported the application of treated sewage sludge as an economical fertilizer without regulations on PFAS levels. However, the new draft risk assessment from the agency indicates a potential shift in this policy. If adopted, it could represent the first step toward controlling PFAS in biosolids used for fertilization purposes, which is currently unregulated apart from certain heavy metals and pathogens.
The Biden administration has previously taken strides in addressing PFAS contamination, notably instituting drinking water regulations and declaring specific PFAS compounds hazardous under the Superfund cleanup law. These developments came on the heels of the 2023 announcement that indicated no safe exposure level exists for the stated PFAS categories, further promoting the critical need for public health protections against these persistent chemicals.
Research shows that sewage sludge can often carry PFAS, synthetic chemicals commonly found in everyday items such as nonstick pans and water-resistant fabrics. These harmful substances resist breaking down in the environment and can lead to soil, groundwater, crop, and livestock contamination when applied as fertilizer.
Notably, a previous investigation by The New York Times disclosed that chemicals manufactured by 3M—whose presence was detected in sludge samples as early as 2000—were communicated to the EPA in 2003. Historically, the EPA has supported the application of treated sewage sludge as an economical fertilizer without regulations on PFAS levels. However, the new draft risk assessment from the agency indicates a potential shift in this policy. If adopted, it could represent the first step toward controlling PFAS in biosolids used for fertilization purposes, which is currently unregulated apart from certain heavy metals and pathogens.
The Biden administration has previously taken strides in addressing PFAS contamination, notably instituting drinking water regulations and declaring specific PFAS compounds hazardous under the Superfund cleanup law. These developments came on the heels of the 2023 announcement that indicated no safe exposure level exists for the stated PFAS categories, further promoting the critical need for public health protections against these persistent chemicals.
