For the first time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warns that sewage sludge used as fertilizer contains "forever chemicals" posing significant health risks, raising concerns about contaminated food and water supplies.
Hiroko Tabuchi reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- The EPA's draft risk assessment finds that PFAS levels in sludge fertilizer often exceed safety thresholds and can contaminate soil, water and livestock.
- Farmers in Maine, Texas and Michigan have discovered high PFAS contamination, sparking lawsuits and state-led actions to address the issue.
- Despite potential environmental benefits of sludge fertilizer, the EPA has not set PFAS limits, leaving federal regulation uncertain.
Key quote:
"Ultimately, the manufacturers of these chemicals must bear the responsibility and cost to remove these chemicals."
— Adam Krantz, CEO, National Association of Clean Water Agencies
Why this matters:
PFAS don’t break down, which is why they’ve earned the “forever” nickname. And when they show up in fertilizer, they don’t just disappear — they leach into groundwater, accumulate in livestock and come right back to us. The EPA’s move to finally address PFAS in sludge feels overdue, especially amid pursuit of environmental sustainability and public health.
Read more: Dead livestock and poisoned water — Texas farmers sue over PFAS contamination
