Let’s dive into an unfolding environmental story that’s raising eyebrows—and critical questions—across the nation. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), long a cheerleader of using treated sewage sludge (or “biosolids”) as fertilizer, has issued a new warning about so-called “forever chemicals” found lingering in this sludge. These manmade chemicals, known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are tainting the conversation about what’s safe for our food, our water, and ultimately, for us.
### What Are PFAS, and Why Should We Care?
Let’s start with the basics. PFAS are chemicals found in everyday items—nonstick cookware, stain-resistant carpets, and even food packaging. Their nickname, “forever chemicals,” speaks to their unsettling staying power. They don’t break down naturally in the environment and are tied to health risks like increased cancer exposure, liver and kidney problems, and more. The more we study PFAS, the more we realize how insidious they are. When they leach into sewage sludge and that sludge is used as fertilizer, a chain of contamination begins, snaking through soil, water, crops, livestock, and sometimes into our bodies.
### The EPA Turns a Corner
Here’s why this is a big deal: for decades, the EPA has not regulated PFAS in sewage sludge. Their promotion of sludge fertilizer was seen largely as a waste-management win. It offered a cost-effective, nutrient-rich alternative to synthetic fertilizers—cutting down on waste heading to landfills or being incinerated. But this week, the EPA’s tone changed. Their new draft risk assessment acknowledges that, in some cases, PFAS levels within sludge can exceed safety thresholds by “several orders of magnitude.” Translation? The health risks tied to PFAS-laden sludge are worse than anyone might have realized.
If this draft is finalized, it could pave the way for the first-ever federal regulations on PFAS in biosolids. For now, the EPA regulates things like heavy metals and pathogens in sewage sludge, but not PFAS. This step would mark a significant shift, aiming to minimize exposure risks to farmers, communities living near affected farmland, and ecosystems in general.
### The Slippery Scope of PFAS Contamination
The concern isn’t hypothetical—it’s already happening. Farmers across the country are grappling with PFAS contamination on their land. Let’s take Maine as a case study: it’s the only state that systematically tests farmland for PFAS. The results have been alarming. Dozens of dairy farms, for example, have been found to be contaminated. Some farms have had to shut down entirely, their milk and cattle deemed unsafe. In Michigan, a farm was closed after finding off-the-charts PFAS levels in its soil and grazing cattle.
The heartbreak is also legal. Last year, Texas ranchers sued a company providing sludge fertilizer after PFAS infiltrated their neighboring farm. They subsequently found chemical traces in their soil, livestock, and water. Cases like these amplify the pressure on the EPA to take decisive action.
### So, Is the Food Supply at Risk?
Let’s tackle a pressing question: should you panic about the food you’re eating? According to the EPA, not yet. They’ve assured the public that the general food supply is not currently at risk. Why? For one, only a small fraction—fewer than 1%—of farms across the U.S. use sludge as fertilizer in a given year, according to EPA estimates. That aligns roughly with data from the biosolids industry.
But contamination issues tied to PFAS have long shadows. Even sludge applied decades ago can continue to leach PFAS into the environment. The industry reported that more than 2 million dry tons of sludge were applied to 4.6 million acres of farmland in 2018. And national permits allow sewage sludge use on roughly 70 million acres—about a fifth of all U.S. agricultural land. In other words, the scale of potential exposure is far from trivial.
Those most at risk are not necessarily grocery shoppers buying milk or eggs from large-scale suppliers, but small-scale farms and households relying on local food systems and private wells. For example, family farms whose land was treated with sludge run the highest risk of contamination when it comes to drinking milk from pasture-raised cows, eating eggs from free-range hens, or consuming fish from nearby polluted water sources.
### States Take the Lead on Regulation
As federal regulations struggle to catch up, individual states are stepping up. Maine banned the use of sewage sludge on agricultural fields entirely in 2022. The ban wasn’t just symbolic—local farmers had already seen firsthand how devastating PFAS contamination could be. Maine’s actions stand alone for now, but other states are starting to explore their options. A new Texas bill proposes limits on PFAS levels in sludge used as fertilizer, while Oklahoma legislators are mulling over a moratorium on sludge use altogether.
These moves underscore a growing recognition: tackling PFAS contamination will require state and federal collaboration, stricter oversight, and—most importantly—a closer look at where these pollutants originate.
### The Root of the Problem: PFAS at the Source
Environmental experts argue that while regulating sludge is a step in the right direction, it’s not the ultimate answer. The real focus needs to be upstream. PFAS contamination starts long before biosolids hit farm fields. These chemicals originate from industrial processes and everyday products. By the time they reach wastewater treatment plants, it’s often too late.
One suggestion? Force manufacturers to take responsibility for removing PFAS from products and wastewater before it contaminates municipal systems. In essence, if fewer PFAS make it to the waste stream, fewer will end up in sewage sludge or the broader environment. It’s a simple concept—but implementing it is anything but easy. That’s why advocacy groups are pushing for stricter production and disposal rules for PFAS-heavy industries.
### The Dilemma of Waste Management
There’s no denying that sludge fertilizer comes with undeniable benefits. It offers a sustainable way to recycle waste while reducing dependency on fossil fuel-based synthetic fertilizers. Without it, we’d face other problems: skyrocketing landfill waste or ramped-up incineration, both of which carry their own environmental costs.
Maine’s ban on sludge fertilizer, for instance, has left wastewater treatment plants scrambling. With no local farmland to accept the sludge, much of it is getting shipped out of state. For other regions considering similar bans, this raises a tricky question: where will all the waste go instead?
### What’s Next?
The story of PFAS in biosolids is still unfolding. How the EPA proceeds with its draft risk assessment will be key. They’ve already taken groundbreaking steps to address PFAS in drinking water, setting initial limits and designating certain types of PFAS as hazardous substances. Extending these efforts to address biosolids seems like a logical progression, but it won’t happen overnight.
Meanwhile, advocacy organizations and public health experts agree that much is still unknown about PFAS exposure pathways, especially from food. Consumer watchdog groups, like Consumer Reports, are working to fill the gap, testing products for contamination and advocating for tougher regulations at every step of the food chain.
At the heart of the debate lies a fundamental question: how do we balance the need for sustainable waste management with the urgent demand to protect public health? It’s a challenge that requires cooperation between scientists, lawmakers, farmers, and industries.
### Final Thoughts
PFAS, the invisible villains of our modern era, serve as a sobering reminder of the long-term consequences of unregulated industrial chemicals. For now, the message from the EPA seems to be: awareness is spreading, action is forthcoming, but solutions are complex and far-reaching. Whether you’re a consumer, a farmer, or simply someone who cares about what’s in the food you eat and the water you drink, this story is one to watch closely. The stakes couldn’t be higher. After all, what’s at risk here isn’t just soil and water—it’s trust, safety, and the health of generations to come.
