Farmers across the U.S. are facing an unprecedented crisis because they followed government recommendations. For decades, American agriculture has embraced an “environmentally friendly” practice: using nutrient-rich sewage sludge as fertilizer. This sludge comes from municipal sewage, containing waste from homes and industries. This practice, endorsed by government bodies (like the EPA and FDA) for its dual benefit of recycling waste and enriching soil, has now revealed a dark side. The sludge, while rich in nutrients, is also laden with PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known colloquially as “forever chemicals” due to their environmental persistence.
This issue has just received renewed attention due to an article in the New York Times.
"For decades, farmers across America have been encouraged by the federal government to spread municipal sewage on millions of acres of farmland as fertilizer." https://t.co/nWo9bfXz5n
— Garance Franke-Ruta (@thegarance) August 31, 2024
Perilous PFAS
PFAS, used in a myriad of industrial and consumer products from nonstick cookware to firefighting foam, do not degrade naturally. When these chemicals enter sewage systems, they accumulate in the sludge, which is then spread across millions of acres of farmland. These “forever chemicals” do not break down easily in the environment or the human body, leading to widespread contamination and health concerns. Exposure to PFAs has been linked to a variety of health issues, including an increased risk of certain cancers, such as kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, and high cholesterol. They can also affect the immune system and have been associated with developmental effects in infants and children.
Farmers’ Plight
Farmers like Jason Grostic in Michigan found their livelihoods threatened when PFAS contamination was discovered in their soil and livestock.
Jason Grostic is a Cattle Rancher from Michigan. He was given free fertilizer to use on his 400-acre hay fields. It turns out that the fertilizer was tainted with PFOS, and his farm has been shut down. Please help this Farmer keep his Farm 🙏🚜 #SavetheFarms #NaturaSolve pic.twitter.com/HfcWII02jZ
— Farmer Tom (@FarmerTom19) June 19, 2023
Grostic’s case, where his farm was forced to shut down due to high PFAS levels, is not isolated. Across states like Michigan, Maine, and Texas, similar stories unfold, where once fertile lands are now contaminated, and livestock either sick or dead due to PFAS exposure.
TX Farmer spread fertilizer from human waste on his property. His neighbor, an organic farmer, tested a calf on his farm + found PFAS that were 152,000 times higher than EPA’s PFAS limits for drinking water. Incredible reporting from @zteirsteinhttps://t.co/xUFz6ONx8A
— Jane van Dis MD 🌎 (@janevandis) April 20, 2024
The Broader Impact
The contamination doesn’t just affect the farmers; it’s a food safety issue. The long-term exposure through food chains poses significant health risks to consumers. PFAS have been detected in produce and milk, indicating a broader contamination of the food chain. This revelation has sparked public concern and calls for stricter regulations not just on the use of biosolids but on the industrial sources of PFAS entering the waste stream.
It’s not just happening here in the United States either.
The UK puts 89% of its sewage sludge back onto agricultural land as fertiliser.
All sewage sludge contains PFAS compounds from cookware, food wrapping, clothes, paints, personal care products etc https://t.co/u2iJrAdmAV
— Prof Alex Ford (@DrAlexFord) June 17, 2024
Response by State Governments
Maine was the first state to ban sewage sludge use on agricultural fields, and it’s the only state systematically testing farms for PFAS. States like Michigan have taken drastic actions, like prohibiting contaminated land from agricultural use, but widespread testing is avoided due to potential economic impacts on the agriculture industry.
The Failures of the EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been criticized for its slow response and inadequate regulation of these substances, leaving farmers in a dire situation. This is seen as a betrayal by the very institutions meant to protect both producers and consumers. The EPA’s lax oversight on the use of biosolids, which are often recommended for use as a cost-effective and “sustainable” fertilizer, has led to a catastrophe.
The EPA, while acknowledging the issue, has been cautious in its approach, focusing on risk assessments rather than immediate bans or stringent regulations on PFAS in biosolids. This hesitance stems from not wanting to admit their failures and the economic implications of halting a practice integral to many farmers’ operations. The agency’s approach has been reactive rather than proactive, only beginning to fund research and risk assessments after the damage was already done.
“Climate-smart” Contamination by Corporations
Meanwhile, companies like Synagro, which process and distribute biosolids, argue against stringent regulations, citing the environmental benefits of recycling waste. They want to continue contaminating agricultural land because it’s supposedly good for the climate.
Follow me down the rabbit hole of why the @US_FDA
is allowing the destruction of farm lands by allowing #PFAS forever chemicals in our fertilizers to kill off small farms.@SYNAGRO provides a wastewater "environmental" service, by turning human waste into fertilizer and other… https://t.co/r0e9OFIJtG
— FAFO Farms (@FAFOFarmsTX) May 3, 2024
Northwest Biosolids says on its site, “Biosolids provide long-term carbon storage—for every truck of biosolids applied to the land, 33 tons of CO2 is stored.” They encourage people to use their products to “take a proactive role in changing the course of climate change—one flush at a time.”Â
Legal Battles
Farmers and environmental groups are now turning to lawsuits, not just against industrial sources of PFAS but also against the EPA for not protecting them. They are demanding accountability for the contamination. This legal route underscores the desperation and the lack of trust in government bodies to rectify the situation without external pressure.
A Maine organic farm group is joining a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its alleged failure to regulate PFAS in sludge. These chemicals pose a threat to our health, and some want to see the lawsuit taken a step further.”
A group of five Texas farmers and ranchers sued the EPA on Thursday for its alleged failure to properly regulate PFAS in fertilizer. The complaint, filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, says the Environmental Protection Agency’s inaction allowed per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from sewage sludge fertilizers to contaminate farmlands, livestock, crops, and water supplies.”
Farmers deserve compensation and support for transitioning away from government-sponsored “sustainable” practices that contaminated their lands. The economic impact of losing farmland to contamination is devastating, pushing many toward bankruptcy.
Searching for Solutions
Research, such as that conducted at the University of Maine, is exploring how different crops absorb PFAS, aiming to guide farmers toward safer cultivation practices. This research could potentially offer a lifeline to farmers by identifying crops that can be grown without significant PFAS uptake, thereby allowing contaminated lands to remain productive.
Reconsidering “Sustainability”
This dangerous debacle has prompted a re-evaluation of what constitutes “sustainable” and “climate-smart” farming practices. While solar panels on farmland might seem like a green solution, concerns are rising about the long-term effects on soil health. The chemicals used in solar panel production or potential leaks could introduce new contaminants, mirroring the PFAS issue. Initiatives like carbon capture pipelines, intended to mitigate climate change, could pose risks if not properly managed. The infrastructure might lead to soil disturbance or contamination, further endangering farmland.
Farmers are now more skeptical of government and industry-backed “green” solutions. The PFAS crisis has taught them that what’s marketed as sustainable might come with hidden costs. There’s a growing movement towards practices that genuinely enhance soil health without introducing new contaminants. This includes a return to traditional farming methods, cover cropping, and minimal soil disturbance.
Conclusion
The presence of PFAS poses a significant threat to agricultural integrity, food safety, and public health. This should be a stark reminder of how government policies and oversight can fail the very people they’re meant to serve. Farmers are now at the forefront of demanding change, not just in how fertilizers are regulated but in redefining what “sustainable agriculture” truly means. This crisis might be the catalyst needed for a more farmer-centric approach to land management, where the health of the soil and the longevity of the lands are genuinely prioritized over short-term economic gains or unchecked industrial practices.