The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Tuesday that harmful substances found in sewage sludge used as fertilizer on agricultural land are linked to increased cancer risks. This risk is particularly pronounced for individuals who frequently consume dairy, beef, and other farm products sourced from areas where such sludge has been applied. The agency noted that the contamination levels are “significantly higher” than what is typically deemed acceptable.
During the sewage treatment process, liquids are separated from solids, with the latter often forming a nutrient-rich sludge that is spread across farm fields. Unfortunately, this sludge frequently contains hazardous, persistent chemicals known as PFAS, which wastewater treatment facilities struggle to eliminate effectively.
Research indicates that ingestion of food and beverages contaminated with these “forever” chemicals can lead to a buildup in the human body, potentially causing various cancers, including kidney, prostate, and testicular cancer. Additionally, PFAS exposure can compromise immune function and adversely affect child development.
The group with the highest risk includes those who drink a quart of milk daily from cows grazing on PFAS-treated pastures, who consume fish from pollution-affected lakes, or who drink water contaminated with PFAS. Importantly, the EPA’s assessment focused on the health risks faced by farmers and nearby residents consuming these products over long periods rather than the general population.
For consumers concerned about PFAS in their food sources, organic farms are prohibited from using sewage sludge, potentially easing worries among those purchasing organic grass-fed beef, although some previously non-organic farms may have used sludge before transitioning.
While the federal government holds the authority to regulate harmful substances in sewage sludge and has previously imposed limits on certain metals, it currently lacks regulation on PFAS substances.
EPA Acting Administrator Jane Nishida emphasized that the draft assessment serves as crucial guidance for upcoming actions by federal and state agencies, as well as measures that wastewater facilities, farmers, and other stakeholders can take to mitigate PFAS exposure while continuing to support American agriculture.
In recent developments, President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Lee Zeldin to lead the EPA, who was indicated to pursue regulatory decisions that favor industry while ensuring clean air and water standards are upheld.
For many years, sewage sludge has been utilized as fertilizer. Wastewater treatment facilities produce vast amounts of this sludge, which has been applied across millions of acres of farmland, with the EPA reporting that it covers less than 1% of fertilized agricultural land annually.
Though PFAS chemicals have been phased out of production in the U.S., they persist in the environment due to their previous widespread use in products like nonstick cookware and firefighting foams. The two primary PFAS types reviewed by the EPA remain in the environment and within wastewater systems, as businesses in paper and textile manufacturing have contributed to their environmental release.
Some farmers could face a greater health risk than the EPA’s evaluation suggests, as PFAS concentrations on individual farms may exceed the assumptions made in the study. The EPA’s risk assessment did not consider exposure to PFAS from multiple sources, despite evidence that many individuals do experience such exposure.
Scott Faber, from the Environmental Working Group, stated that the assessment confirms long-held suspicions among regulators and utility operators that PFAS-laden fertilizers are contaminating food and animal products. He urged for tighter regulations on these fertilizers and called on the EPA to enforce stricter limits on PFAS released into waterways.
“There is no doubt that the practice of routing PFAS waste through treatment facilities and then utilizing that sludge as fertilizer was erroneous. The critical issue now is if we will repeat that error,” Faber commented.
In response to PFAS contamination, the Biden administration has initiated several programs aimed at lowering PFAS levels in the environment, including a new rule aimed at reducing acceptable PFAS levels in drinking water.
A handful of states, including Maine and Connecticut, have started to limit or prohibit the application of PFAS-tainted fertilizers derived from sewage sludge. The EPA has reassured the public that they monitor the food supply to shield citizens from forever chemical exposure.
