Recent research reveals escalating threats posed by PFAS contamination in bio-solids, raising alarms about public health and environmental safety.
**E.P.A. Issues Warning on PFAS Risks from Fertilizer Use**
**E.P.A. Issues Warning on PFAS Risks from Fertilizer Use**
The agency highlights serious concerns over 'forever chemicals' found in sewage sludge used as fertilizer, indicating potential health impacts.
Despite long-standing promotion of treated sewage sludge as an affordable fertilizer option, the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) has raised a significant concern regarding the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals." In a groundbreaking report released on January 14, 2025, the agency revealed that levels of PFAS found in sewage sludge could pose human health risks that, in some cases, surpass established safety thresholds by "several orders of magnitude."
PFAS are synthetic chemicals widely utilized in consumer products, including nonstick cookware and water-repellent fabrics, prized for their resistance to heat, water, and grease. However, their persistence in the environment has raised alarms as they break down very slowly, leading to accumulating contamination in water, soil, and ultimately, the food supply.
Historically, the E.P.A. has supported the use of treated sewage sludge, termed biosolids, as a cost-effective fertilizer without imposing any restrictions on PFAS levels. This recent risk assessment signals a potential shift in regulatory stance, marking the first step toward imposing limits on PFAS in biosolids. Currently, the agency regulates certain metals and pathogens, but PFAS have been unregulated to date.
Compounding the issue, past research has indicated that major chemical companies, such as 3M, were aware of PFAS contamination in sludge as early as 2000. Efforts are already underway by the Biden administration to curb PFAS risks, including the establishment of limits for PFAS in drinking water and classifying two specific types of PFAS as hazardous under Superfund cleanup protocols.
Although the E.P.A. maintains that the general food supply is not under immediate threat from PFAS in fertilizers, the revelations from this report underscore the critical need for ongoing scrutiny of wastewater practices and propose a significant paradigm shift in how biosolids are managed in the agricultural sector.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals widely utilized in consumer products, including nonstick cookware and water-repellent fabrics, prized for their resistance to heat, water, and grease. However, their persistence in the environment has raised alarms as they break down very slowly, leading to accumulating contamination in water, soil, and ultimately, the food supply.
Historically, the E.P.A. has supported the use of treated sewage sludge, termed biosolids, as a cost-effective fertilizer without imposing any restrictions on PFAS levels. This recent risk assessment signals a potential shift in regulatory stance, marking the first step toward imposing limits on PFAS in biosolids. Currently, the agency regulates certain metals and pathogens, but PFAS have been unregulated to date.
Compounding the issue, past research has indicated that major chemical companies, such as 3M, were aware of PFAS contamination in sludge as early as 2000. Efforts are already underway by the Biden administration to curb PFAS risks, including the establishment of limits for PFAS in drinking water and classifying two specific types of PFAS as hazardous under Superfund cleanup protocols.
Although the E.P.A. maintains that the general food supply is not under immediate threat from PFAS in fertilizers, the revelations from this report underscore the critical need for ongoing scrutiny of wastewater practices and propose a significant paradigm shift in how biosolids are managed in the agricultural sector.
