EPA Under Fire for Continued Use of Toxic Sewage Sludge as Fertilizer

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Scientists have raised concerns over the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) promotion of sewage sludge as fertilizer, despite discovering high levels of toxic perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the mid-2000s. According to a report by The New York Times, researchers from 3M revealed in 2003 that these "forever chemicals," which do not break down in the environment, were accumulating in sludge meant for agricultural use.

The EPA has yet to mandate testing for PFAS in sewage sludge, allowing its continued use without adequate safeguards. Only Maine has enacted systematic testing for such contamination. Critics, including former EPA microbiologist David Lewis, warn that these substances pose serious health risks, including cancer and immune system suppression, as they seep into soil and crops.

Although the EPA has classified certain PFAS as hazardous in drinking water, it has not addressed their presence in fertilizers. As states like Oklahoma consider similar bans to Maine's, the push for regulatory reform is gaining momentum, reflecting growing public concern over food safety and environmental health.

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