The new report signals potential regulatory shifts as the agency examines the pervasive presence of PFAS in agricultural practices.
**EPA Raises Alarm on PFAS Contamination in Fertilizers**
**EPA Raises Alarm on PFAS Contamination in Fertilizers**
In an unprecedented warning, the EPA raises concerns over 'forever chemicals' in sewage sludge used as fertilizer, stressing risk levels that may far exceed safety standards.
In a groundbreaking alert, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has raised concerns regarding the presence of “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, in sewage sludge that is widely utilized as fertilizer. A recent study revealed that concentration levels of PFAS in this sludge can surpass safety thresholds by significant margins, although the EPA has assured the public that the overall food supply remains secure.
Research has increasingly found that sewage sludge can contain harmful manufactured chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly found in everyday items like nonstick pans and stain-resistant materials. PFAS are notorious for their persistence in the environment, raising alarm for human health as they are associated with various illnesses, including increased cancer risk. When contaminated sludge is applied to agricultural lands, it threatens to degrade soil quality and contaminate crops, groundwater, and livestock.
Documents revealed that as early as 2000, 3M, a major producer of PFAS, reported finding these chemicals in samples taken from municipal wastewater plants across the United States. Despite this knowledge, regulatory oversight has lagged, as the EPA has long promoted the use of treated sewage sludge as a low-cost fertilizer without constraints on PFAS levels.
However, the EPA’s new draft risk assessment may pave the way for crucial reforms. If adopted, it could represent a significant advancement towards regulating PFAS contamination in agricultural biosolids. Currently, while heavy metals and pathogens in sewage sludge are regulated, PFAS substances remain unaddressed.
In recent years, the Biden administration has made strides in confronting PFAS contamination, including establishing limits on PFAS in drinking water and categorizing certain types of PFAS as hazardous under the Superfund cleanup law. These initiatives stemmed from the agency's conclusion in 2023 that no safe level of exposure exists for these harmful substances.
