Soil and water tests in Tennessee have revealed dangerous levels of PFAS, prompting calls to end the use of contaminated sewage sludge as fertilizer across the state.
Caroline Eggers reports for WKMS.
In short:
- The Sierra Club found PFAS in soil, groundwater and drinking water in northeastern Tennessee near sites where sewage sludge is used as fertilizer.
- PFAS, linked to cancer and reproductive issues, can contaminate water and soil when biosolids are applied to land.
- Some states have banned the use of sewage sludge as fertilizer due to these concerns, and Tennessee may follow suit.
Key quote:
“An immediate thing we can do is stop applying the biosolids now.”
— Dan Firth, Sierra Club Tennessee Chapter
Why this matters:
PFAS are toxic chemicals that persist in the environment and accumulate in living organisms, posing long-term health risks. The continued use of contaminated biosolids could jeopardize public health and safety.
