PFAS contamination in sewage sludge faces increased scrutiny

Regulators and researchers in the United States are increasing scrutiny of the use of sewage sludge, or biosolids, as fertilizer on agricultural land due to the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

In Pennsylvania, officials are looking to limit contamination from these ‘forever chemicals,’ which can enter the environment through wastewater treatment processes. For example, the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority in Pittsburgh processes waste from approximately 850,000 homes and 100 industrial sites, producing 30,000 tons of dewatered sludge annually that is distributed to farms.

In South Carolina, researchers from Yale are working to map PFAS hot spots to better understand the risks posed to soil, water, and local communities. Critics argue that while spreading sludge is often framed as a sustainable recycling practice, it may also serve as a way to move industrial waste onto rural lands where oversight is weaker, potentially threatening private wells, livestock, and crops.