This commentary is by John Brabant of Vermonters for a Clean Environment, Caroline Gordon of Rural Vermont and Maddie Kempner of NOFA-VT for the Protect Our Soils Coalition, based in Montpelier.
Farms on which excess levels of PFAS are found in their fields or products face a sudden end to their business ventures with generations of work at risk. Farmers facing this threat are in need of support on all levels.
In an effort to build support for the PFAS Relief for Farmers Act (S.747) in the 2023 farm bill, the Protect Our Soils Coalition is gathering signatures from across Vermont to endorse the national bill that aims to provide critical financial and technical assistance to farmers whose operations and revenue are seriously reduced or halted entirely due to PFAS contaminants.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) are a group of human-made chemicals widely used in various industrial and consumer products for their water- and grease-resistant properties. They have been used in products like nonstick cookware, water-resistant clothing, stain-proofing (Scotchgard), firefighting foams, and ski wax.
These “forever chemicals” (as PFAS and PFOS are commonly called) are a group of synthetic compounds known for their persistence in the environment due to their strong chemical bonds that resist degradation over time. These chemicals present serious concerns due to this persistence in the environment and potential health risks. PFAS and PFOS accumulate in the environment, including water bodies and soil. They also accumulate in cells of our bodies, posing risks to human health, as they have been linked to various adverse effects, including developmental and reproductive issues, liver damage, and an increased risk of certain cancers.
PFAS contamination in the food supply chain is a significant concern and is caused in many different ways but is often associated with wastewater treatment plant sludge and septic waste (aka “biosolids”) that is spread on farmland. When wastewater treatment plants treat water contaminated with PFAS, the chemicals accumulate in the sludge generated during the treatment process. This sludge, rich in organic matter and nutrients, is often used as a fertilizer and soil amendment on farmland.
Similarly, septic waste from households that use products containing PFAS can also contain these chemicals, which can end up being spread on agricultural fields. Crops uptake this contamination, which then enters the food chain when consumed by livestock and humans.
The extent of contamination and its impact on agricultural products is an area of active research and concern — especially since more farms in Maine and other states with a history of using sewage sludge as fertilizer are known to have been irreparably harmed from PFAS contamination.
Notably, organic farming standards have banned the practice of land-applying biosolids since their codification in the 1990s. While testing is required for the land applications of biosolids in Vermont, to date only limited data exists in Vermont on the movement of PFAS compounds in agricultural commodities, including animal feed and forage, and the risks they may pose.
PFAS contamination presents a largely unexamined challenge to farmers across the country. Two recent webinars feature farmers sharing about how PFAS contaminants have affected them and their farms.
- Vice News released a powerful documentary about Teresa and Jason Grostic’s third-generation farm in Michigan. The Grostic Cattle Co. is a small, direct-market operation that has been completely upended by PFAS contamination.
- In this Defend Our Health/ Sierra Club webinar, Susan Gordon and Art Schaap share how they lost their farm businesses to contamination leaching off nearby U.S. military bases. Adam Nordell and Jason Grostic’s farms were contaminated by previous, EPA-approved use of sewage sludge as an agricultural fertilizer.
Join us in calling on your elected leaders to ensure farmers, families, and all community members are protected from this emerging threat to human and planetary health.
