Key facts
- The Trump administration has halted proposed regulations for PFAS-contaminated sewage sludge used as fertilizer.
- The EPA discarded its own scientific research supporting the need for these regulations.
- The agency stated sludge is not a widespread threat and advised public self-research on sludge companies.
- PFAS, or "forever chemicals," are linked to severe health issues including cancer and liver disease.
- Critics argue the decision prioritizes industry profits over public and farmer health.
- Most sludge exceeds the EPA's proposed 1 ppb health risk threshold for PFAS.
The Trump administration has decided against implementing proposed regulations for sewage sludge contaminated with PFAS, commonly known as "forever chemicals," which is spread on farmland as fertilizer. This decision effectively dismisses the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) own scientific research from less than two years prior that had formed the basis for these proposed rules.
The EPA justified its decision by stating that sludge is not a widespread threat to the public, citing its limited use on cropland. However, in comments published to the federal register, the agency also advised the public to conduct their own research into sludge companies to protect themselves from the highly toxic chemicals found in home fertilizer products.
Environmental advocates and legal experts have strongly criticized the EPA's move. Laura Dumais of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Peer) called the decision "bonkers" and shocking, questioning the agency's willingness to discard scientific findings and stating, "farmers’ lives don’t matter." PFAS are a class of about 16,000 compounds that persist in the environment and human body, and are linked to serious health issues such as cancer, liver disease, and birth defects.
Sludge, a byproduct of treating human and industrial waste, has been permitted for use on cropland since the 1990s due to its nutrient content, despite public health concerns about introducing toxic byproducts into the food supply. Regulators in states like Maine and Michigan have consistently found PFAS in sludge samples. Current EPA regulations only mandate monitoring for nine heavy metals, leaving thousands of other human-made chemicals, including PFAS, unaddressed. Peer has previously sued the EPA for failing to regulate PFAS in sludge under the Clean Water Act.
In its final days, the EPA had issued a draft health risk assessment indicating that PFAS levels above 1 part per billion (ppb) in sludge increase cancer and other health risks for farmers. Most sludge samples exceed this threshold, meaning the proposed regulations, if finalized, would have significantly restricted its use. The assessments specifically examined PFOA and PFOS, two of the most toxic PFAS compounds, focusing on risks to farmers but not fully examining public exposure through contaminated produce, dairy, and meat.
The Southern Environmental Law Center highlighted research demonstrating risks to farmers, their families, and the general public, including a calculation showing a significantly increased cancer risk for children consuming milk from cows on farms where sludge with high PFOA levels was spread. Jean Zhuang, a senior attorney at the center, stated the administration is "tossing aside a comprehensive, science-based assessment" and prioritizing polluters over rural communities.
Industry groups that profit from sludge disposal have opposed regulations and lobbied the EPA. The agency's claim that sludge is spread on only 1% of farmland is unsubstantiated, as no government agency tracks its distribution. Furthermore, testing has revealed that chemicals spread decades ago continue to contaminate land and water sources, even affecting organic farms.