Bipartisan Push Urges Crackdown on Sewage Sludge Fertilizer Amid PFAS Fears

A broad coalition of farmers, truckers, scientists, and activists is pressing the Trump administration to regulate the use of sewage sludge, or “biosolids,” on U.S. farmland. While marketed as nutrient-rich fertilizer, sludge often contains PFAS chemicals linked to cancer, liver damage, and birth defects. Once spread, these “forever chemicals” seep into groundwater, contaminate crops and livestock, and ultimately enter the food chain.

Communities in states including Texas, Oklahoma, and Massachusetts have reported rare cancers, sick livestock, and polluted drinking water tied to sludge use. A draft EPA review has signalled potential restrictions, but a Republican-backed congressional rider could derail progress by cutting funding for oversight.

Coalition members argue that regulatory inaction leaves rural communities at risk while industry interests stall reform. As one activist put it: “We can all sit down and agree that we and our children shouldn’t be fed literal poison.”

28-08-2025