Study Explores PFAS-Contaminated Dust Risks for Maine Farmworkers

A new study in Unity, Maine, is investigating how PFAS-contaminated soil becomes airborne during farming, raising health concerns for farmworkers. PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” can linger in soil for years after being applied via contaminated sludge. When fields are tilled, dust containing PFAS may be inhaled by workers, posing serious risks.

Over 80 farms and 500 homes in Maine are affected, forcing some farms to switch to alternative crops or solar projects. Funded by Maine’s PFAS fund, researchers will collect soil samples during tilling to assess dust dispersal and exposure levels.

Findings aim to guide safer land management and protect both workers and nearby communities. PFAS exposure has been linked to cancer, liver damage, and reproductive issues, highlighting new air quality concerns in rural areas where dust pollution was rarely considered a threat.

01-07-2025