The EPA recently released a draft assessment admitting that PFAS chemicals in wastewater sludge are harmful to human health and our environment when applied on farmland. The EPA is seeking public comment on their assessment. Take this action to tell them you want to ban PFAS in sludge.
When you take action, we’ll deliver your message to the EPA as part of the public comment period that closes on March 17, 2025.
In Maine we have seen firsthand the effect of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination of farmland on farmers. As of January 2024, at least 59 Maine farms, both conventional and organic, have been found to be contaminated with PFAS. The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) has shifted our work to aid farmers addressing PFAS contamination and create better safety nets for those impacted, but this is a nation-wide problem and meaningful change will require federal action. To date, the primary source of PFAS contamination has been traced to the use of biosolids and paper mill sludges, either applied to farmland as soil amendments or “disposed of” by spreading on fields. The continued use of biosolids as fertilizers is contributing to widespread contamination of soil, water, and food with PFAS, posing significant risks to public health and the environment.