PFAS Compounds Stay In Municipal Biosolids That Are Used As Fertilizer

People are worried about food safety and long-term soil degradation because PFAS-contaminated sludge from wastewater treatment plants is being dumped on farms

Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - Across the United States, municipal wastewater treatment plants are making sludge, or "biosolids," that has measurable amounts of PFAS compounds in it. These chemicals are known to last a long time and be harmful to human health. People in both rural and suburban regions are using these biosolids, which are often processed and utilized as fertilizer for farmland, to improve the soil. But new research shows that PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, do not break down when wastewater is treated. They stay in the sludge and are then put directly into the ground. Because of this, crops cultivated on soil that has PFAS in it may take up these chemicals, which can subsequently get into the food chain. Environmental and public health groups are becoming more worried that this common practice, which has been around for a long time, could have long-term effects that aren't yet known. A PFAS water pollution lawyer said that PFAS lawsuits are growing to encompass exposures connected to farming and biosolids, especially in states where farm soil has been found to be over health recommendation levels.

The U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that biosolids are employed on more than 19 million acres of farmland across the country. Recent scientific investigations have shown that the levels of PFAS in these biosolids can be hundreds of times greater than what is safe for drinking water. Researchers say that PFAS can stay in soil for a long time and enter into groundwater or be taken up by plants, especially leafy greens and root vegetables. Animals that consume or drink contaminated food or water may also have PFAS in their tissues. Even if there are hazards, the rules for dealing with PFAS in biosolids are still not very good and are not always the same. The EPA has warned people about the health risks of PFAS in drinking water, but there are no federal rules that must be followed for PFAS in compost or fertilizer. Because of the loophole in the rules, cities and farmers are in a tough spot: they can either use biosolids on their fields without knowing the PFAS risk or cease using a cheap supply of nutrients completely.

A number of states have started testing municipal biosolids and finding PFAS levels that are cause for concern. For instance, in Maine, dozens of farms have been shut down or limited because PFAS pollution from sewage sludge made their milk and products hazardous to eat. Some of these farmers are now seeking damages in PFAS water cases, saying that they weren't told of the long-term health and environmental consequences of using the sludge. Lawyers think that similar instances will happen all around the country, especially in areas where municipal biosolids are very important to farming. Food safety groups are also asking for a stop to the use of biosolids until PFAS contamination levels can be properly measured and controlled.

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