by Trinity Gore, current Howard University law student
and PRKN 2024-2025 Howard Law Environmental Justice Fellow
Many often wonder about what, exactly, is in the food that we eat and how it might impact our health. During the holiday season, when gathering with family and friends often revolves around an abundance of food, it is especially important to reflect on where that food comes from and what it contains. Of late, one concern gaining attention is the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, otherwise known as PFAS, in our foods.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals that are often called “forever chemicals” because they remain in the environment and our bodies far after use or consumption. Farmlands across the country are routinely fertilized with sewage sludge containing PFAS, which can lead to the chemicals being present in the crops that feed livestock, like cows and chickens. This contamination doesn’t stop there, but can make its way into animal products like milk, beef, and chicken, potentially affecting anyone who consumes them. In this blog, we’ll dive into how PFAS can wind up on our plates, look at real-life case studies, and discuss why this issue matters for all of us.
There is growing evidence that elevated levels of PFAS can be found in beef, chicken, and other animal products when these animals are fed fodder grown on fields fertilized with sewage sludge, which industry markets as “biosolids.” When sewage sludge containing PFAS is used as fertilizer, these chemicals can be taken up by crops and enter the food chain. Livestock consuming these crops can accumulate PFAS in their tissues.
Studies have shown that PFAS can persist in soil for long periods and be taken up by plants grown in contaminated soils. This includes common fodder crops such as corn and hay. Research conducted on livestock exposed to PFAS through their diet has indicated that these chemicals can bioaccumulate in animal tissues. For example, a study on dairy cows showed that PFAS could be detected in milk after the cows ingested contaminated feed.
A well-documented case from Maine involved a dairy farm where cows were exposed to PFAS-contaminated water and feed grown on fields fertilized with sewage sludge. Elevated levels of PFAS were found in the milk produced by these cows, leading to concerns about the broader food supply. The contamination resulted in the destruction of the farm milk and other dairy supply and ultimately, the end of the family business. Another instance in Michigan highlighted elevated PFAS levels in beef cattle linked to contaminated water and soil, again pointing to the use of sewage sludge as a contributing factor.
A report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) entitled “Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in eggs, spotlighting need for action” discusses how the use of biosolids as fertilizer can lead to the contamination of food crops and animal products with PFAS. Furthermore, an article from The Guardian entitled “Michigan beef found to contain dangerous levels of ‘forever chemicals’” provides information on PFAS contamination in beef cattle, including case studies and testing results.
While the specific health impacts of consuming meat and dairy products with elevated PFAS levels are still being studied, PFAS are known to be persistent in the human body and environment and have been linked to various health issues, including cancer, liver damage, and suppression of the immune system, among others. There is evidence suggesting that the use of sewage sludge as fertilizer can lead to elevated PFAS levels in animal products. This highlights the dire need for controlling PFAS in land application of sewage sludge – something that the U.S. EPA and some state regulators in the Potomac watershed have failed to do under their federal and state legal authorities to regulate pollution in land applied sewage sludge.
It’s clear that the use of sewage sludge on farmland is leading to PFAS entering our food supply, which pose important questions about safety. While scientists are still studying exactly how PFAS exposure from food impacts us, the fact that these chemicals are linked to various health issues means we can’t ignore this issue.
The bottom line? There’s an immediate need for more information about PFAS contamination in sewage sludge and controls to prevent its contamination of our food and drinking water. Until then, staying informed and advocating for safer agricultural practices can help protect not only our health but also the health of our environment.
