Sewage sludge used as fertilizer across the U.S. may contain unsafe levels of “forever chemicals,” posing risks to those who live near agricultural sites or consume crops they produce, according to a sweeping new federal report.
Released Tuesday, the draft report from EPA adds to growing concerns from scientists and environmentalists about the spread of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in the environment. It could spur more states to limit or ban the use of sewage sludge as fertilizer, as Maine did in 2022 after farms that applied sludge became highly contaminated with PFAS.
Used in products like cookware, carpets, plastics and prescription drugs, PFAS are human-made chemicals that are extremely difficult to destroy. Versions of the substances have been linked to health problems and deadly diseases such as cancer.
With PFAS now present in the blood of most Americans, the chemicals can enter the waste stream through both municipal sewage and industrial waste. Traditional treatment processes at sewage treatment plants do not remove or destroy PFAS.