America’s food is being grown with human sewage tainted with toxic ‘forever chemicals,’ raising questions about what is ending up on dinner plates across the country.
The treated sewage sludge, known as biosolids, is commonly spread on farmland as fertilizer because of its nutrient and organic matter content, even though it can contain ‘forever chemicals.
Formally known as PFAS, these human-made chemicals do not break down easily in the environment or the body and have been linked to cancers, hormone disruption and immune system problems.
Nearly 70 million acres of US farmland could be contaminated with PFAS, according to estimates from biosolids industry groups.
Virginia appears to be bearing a disproportionate burden, emerging as a major destination for PFAS-contaminated sludge pushed out of neighboring Maryland after that state imposed stricter limits.
Virginia Sen Richard Stuart warned that the material is being spread on farmland without mandatory testing.
‘The sludge is coming onto our fields, and it’s got PFAS in it. The farmers don’t want it, and the last thing they want to do is pollute the land from which they make their living,’ Stuart told the Daily Mail.
Residents in affected areas have reported health concerns and impacts on well water where biosolids are applied.
The treated sewage sludge, known as biosolids, is commonly spread on farmland as fertilizer because of its nutrient and organic matter content, even though it can contain ‘forever chemicals
With no statewide PFAS testing requirement and regulatory limits still under debate, communities and lawmakers are pressing for action to stop the chemicals from entering the food supply.
Virginia grows a diverse range of foods, ranking in the top 10 nationally for products such as poultry, apples, peanuts, and tobacco, making the issue particularly consequential for the U.S. food system.
When asked if the PFAS in the sludge is accumulating in crops, Stuart said: ‘You would think, right?
‘You’re getting PFAS in your body every time you use dental floss and eat something. What’s the acceptable limit? I don’t know the answer to that. What’s the acceptable limit on land where you grow food?
Stuart is currently working on legislation that would require anyone generating or applying biosolids to certify that the material is PFAS-free.
He wants to begin with a zero-tolerance policy, though he acknowledges that such a standard may not fully pass, and instead aims to set limits lower than Maryland’s.
The proposal would allow random testing, with violators facing a minimum $5,000 fine per offense to help fund enforcement by the Department of Environmental Quality.
Officials have warned that the sludge contains high levels of PFAS that could be making their way into American’s food
‘I think it’s important that we at least meet or go below Maryland’s threshold, because if we don’t, they’re going to keep sending it across the river with us,’ Stuart said.
‘The EPA guidelines are much higher than Maryland’s threshold. So we’re not going to be able to rely on the EPA.’
Virginia currently has no specific regulatory threshold for PFAS in sewage sludge applied to farmland.
Maryland limits PFAS in biosolids used on farmland to five parts per billion, barring higher concentrations from agricultural use, while the EPA has not set any federal numeric limit.
In a Draft Risk Assessment, the EPA warned that exposure to certain PFAS chemicals, including PFOA and PFOS, could pose health risks at levels as low as one part per billion, particularly for farmers and nearby communities.
‘At a minimum, we’ve got to stop applying it on farmland while we figure out the rest of the problem,’ Stuart said.
‘Farmers don’t want this, and we can’t let it keep going into the food we eat.’
Maryland first uncovered widespread PFAS contamination at wastewater treatment plants in 2023, prompting officials to restrict the use of sewage-based fertilizer to protect food and drinking water.
As those restrictions took effect, biosolids operator Synagro began seeking permits to apply the same material on farmland across the border in Virginia.
Synagro is controlled by a Goldman Sachs investment fund.
Kip Cleverley, Synagro’s chief sustainability officer, said in a statement that the fact that the fertilizer ‘may contain trace levels of PFAS does not mean that they are contaminated.’
A Synagro spokesperson told Daily Mail: ‘Synagro supports legislation to remove PFAS from consumer products that may eventually get into waste products, including biosolids, and ultimately into our environment.
‘We also support setting PFAS effluent discharge limitations on manufacturers and businesses. For the effective development of rules, we also support science-based standards for PFAS and biosolids.
‘The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has already established PFAS guidance standards with tiered limits, and Synagro has opted to comply voluntarily with these standards while we and our stakeholders continue to collect more data.
‘Consistent with the assertions of our municipal customers, Synagro believes that there is a need for additional data collection in order to help determine appropriate guidance standards.’
Industry surveys from the National Biosolids Data Project estimate that about 18 percent of U.S. farmland, nearly 70 million acres, an area roughly the size of Nevada, may be treated with biosolids.
The estimate includes only Class B biosolids, which require permits and reporting.
Class A biosolids, which do not require the same oversight, are excluded, meaning PFAS contamination could be far more widespread than the data suggests.
