A growing number of U.S. residents and lawmakers are opposing the use of human waste as fertilizer, citing health and environmental risks linked to toxic chemicals like PFAS.
Joshua A. Bickel and Sean Murphy report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Sewage sludge, or biosolids, from wastewater treatment plants has been used for decades to fertilize farmland, but residents in places like Oklahoma now report foul odors, fly infestations, and potential health effects.
- Concerns are centered on PFAS — so-called forever chemicals found in the sludge — that have been linked to cancer, liver disease, and other health problems, and are not routinely tested for in states like Oklahoma.
- Legislative efforts to ban or regulate the practice are increasing; meanwhile, cities defend the cost savings, and environmental officials admit oversight gaps, including a lack of PFAS testing.
Key quote:
“I think we’re rapidly approaching an emergency issue in our state and across the nation. It is absolutely at the top of my list as needing traction on it immediately.”
— Oklahoma State Rep. Jim Shaw
Why this matters:
The use of sewage sludge as fertilizer brings urban waste into rural farm fields, creating an invisible pipeline for industrial pollutants to enter soil and water. This sludge, a byproduct of wastewater treatment plants, is marketed as a nutrient-rich alternative to synthetic fertilizers. But biosolids often contain a cocktail of persistent industrial chemicals, including PFAS, which are commonly found in everything from food packaging to firefighting foam. Once spread on farm fields, these "forever chemicals" seep into groundwater, bind to crops, and linger in soil for generations.
While city governments benefit by avoiding costly landfill or incineration options, rural residents are left dealing with the fallout: foul odors, invasive flies, and growing fears over contaminated wells and food. Mounting scientific evidence now links PFAS-laced sludge to cancer, liver damage, and reproductive issues, raising red flags not just for farmers, but for anyone connected to downstream water systems or food chains.
Related EHN coverage: Opinion: A solution to the challenge of land-disposed sewage sludge.
