Coming to a Farm Near You?

Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a 'family' of circa 9000 synthetic chemicals, produced to make a vast array of manufactured products heat, water or stain-resistant. PFAS have been dubbed 'forever chemicals', as they persist for very extended periods in the environment. Several have also been shown to have detrimental effects on human health. It transpires that manufacturers of PFAS discharge their waste directly into the sewage system. This has started to worry the US Environmental Working Group (EWG) (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/may/08/us-cropland-may-be-contaminated-forever-chemicals-study). Organic material, from US sewage sludge, is sold as 'biosolids'. Biosolids are used as fertiliser on agricultural land. The EWG are concerned that a) sludge is untested for PFAS contamination and b) no records are kept, of where biosolids are spread on crops. Over 8m hectares (20m acres) of US croplands, may consequently be contaminated with PFAS-tainted sewage sludge. This is a very worrying state of affairs. Remind me not to buy US vegetables!