The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a draft risk assessment linking PFAS chemicals found in sewage sludge used as fertilizer to an increased risk of cancer. Individuals who consume milk from cows raised on pasture treated with biosolids, fish from PFAS-contaminated lakes, or water containing PFAS are considered most at risk.
Chemicals found in sewage sludge used as fertilizer on pasture land are linked to cancer, according to the Environment al Protection Agency. The EPA 's draft risk assessment highlights individuals at the highest risk, including those who consume a quart of milk daily from cows raised on biosolid-treated pasture, eat one or two servings of fish weekly from PFAS -contaminated lakes, or drink water containing PFAS .
The risk assessment focused on farmers and nearby residents who regularly consumed these products over extended periods, not the general public. When people ingest or consume PFAS-laden foods and water, these 'forever chemicals' accumulate in their bodies, potentially leading to kidney, prostate, and testicular cancer. PFAS can also negatively impact the immune system and childhood development. Cities and towns treat sewage, separating liquids from solids. The solids, often referred to as sludge, require disposal and can be applied to farm fields. The EPA states that this sludge frequently contains toxic and persistent PFAS substances that conventional treatment plants cannot remove. \Acting EPA Administrator Jane Nishida emphasized the significance of this assessment, stating, 'This draft assessment provides important information to help inform future actions by federal and state agencies as well as steps that wastewater systems, farmers and other stakeholders can take to protect people from PFAS exposure, while ensuring American industry keeps feeding and fueling our nation.' Scott Faber, senior vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, described the assessment as a confirmation of what regulators, polluters, and utility operators have known for decades. He stated, 'There is no doubt that sending PFAS waste to wastewater treatment plants and then using that sludge as a fertilizer was a mistake. The only question is whether we’ll continue to make the same mistake.' \Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a vast and complex group of synthetic chemicals used in consumer products globally since the 1950s. They are found in various everyday items, including nonstick pans, firefighting foam, and other widely used products. The two most prevalent types of PFAS assessed by the EPA are no longer manufactured in the U.S. but persist in the environment and wastewater. Paper and textile manufacturers have contributed to PFAS contamination. Although the federal government has the authority to regulate harmful substances in sewage sludge, it currently does not regulate PFAS. The Biden administration has taken steps to mitigate PFAS levels in the environment, including establishing a rule to reduce PFAS in drinking water. Several states, including Maine and Connecticut, have implemented restrictions or bans on the use of PFAS-contaminated fertilizers derived from sewage
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