Is our great nation contaminated? At this point, this has become a rhetorical question. Studies have found that around 131 million people still live in areas with severe pollution.
There are many reasons for such a sad state, including urbanization, burning of fossil fuels, municipal discharge, and industrial junk. Let’s not forget the thousands of different chemicals circulating the air, water, and even food.
In the past few decades, another method of contamination has been discovered. Farmers across our country have been using municipal sewage sludge as fertilizers. It’s produced from human waste, generated by municipalities and industries. Would affecting the food supply be the most effective way of contaminating America?
In this article, we will discuss the four key takeaways from the use of municipal sewage sludge.
Millions of Acres Have Been Affected
The municipal sewage sludge has already been poured over millions of acres of American land. This sludge may be a good fertilizer in the sense that it can accelerate crop growth, the main concern is per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
This group of chemicals has been found in the sludge, often released due to industrial activities. As per the Environmental Working Group (EWG), over 8,500 PFAS sites have been discovered across all 50 US states.
Since this sludge can be legally used, farmers nationwide are free to fertilize their crops with it. It is estimated that one-fifth of US agricultural land has permits to use the municipal sludge. That amounts to 70 million acres.
The sludge is available in such abundance that certain states are using it for landscaping across golf courses and forest land. This is alarming in light of the I’ll effects we will discuss below.
The EPA Has Been Aware
The second takeaway is the fact that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is not entirely ignorant of the use of municipal sludge. In fact, the EPA describes the sludge as a nutrient-rich biosolid extracted by treating domestic sewage in a wastewater treatment plant.
Though the agency agrees that biosolids and sewage sludge are often used interchangeably, it chose to use the former. The reason is that the biosolids are regulated as per Part 503 of the 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Once this is regulated, the sludge turns into biosolids that make good fertilizers for the soil. If only this were as harmless as the agency has made it appear. The next point will elaborate on this.
Human and Animal Lives Are in Danger
The outcome of using municipal sewage sludge as a fertilizer has proved that its usage has been a cruel experimentation. Texas farmers reported that the sludge not only killed livestock but also ruined the crops.
Besides this, ranch water became heavily polluted and farmers also became sick. This should not come as a surprise since PFAS have showcased the potential dangers associated with them through active litigation.
These chemicals have also been used to contain the spread of liquid-fuel fires. The foam manufactured using PFAS is called Class B firefighting foam or Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF). Firemen have been exposed to these chemicals directly for decades.
In ongoing litigation regarding AFFF foam, cancer has been the main injury. Thousands of firefighters have developed this condition, mostly affecting their testicles, kidneys, and bladder.
It has been alleged that PFAS manufacturers were aware of its toxicity but did nothing to warn the government or firefighters. According to TorHoerman Law, plaintiffs will be compensated for medical bills, emotional trauma, lost wages, and permanent disability.
Now, the same PFAS in the sludge are entering the crops, thereby making their way into human food. The indirect exposure can also have adverse risks that threaten to weaken the immune and neurological systems.
Corrective Action is Slow
Now, it may be true that a lot of Americans are still unaware of PFAS risks. However, the states are not, especially when it comes to municipal sewage sludge. Despite that, corrective action has been painfully slow.
Of all states, Maine is the only one to have banned municipal sludge from agricultural field use. It has started conducting rigorous tests across its farms for traces of sludge.
As for others like Michigan, no action has yet been taken. The main reason is that the state officials are concerned about the economic impact a ban will have on the agricultural industry. It has taken a different route by limiting the release of PFAS into wastewater treatment plants.
The problem has now reached historic proportions. Experts believe that a complete ban on municipal sewage sludge would force EPA to landfill the biosolids. The country would require new landfills dedicated exclusively to sludge disposal. All available technology would be directed towards sludge elimination.
Would it work? Sludge mass would be reduced by 50%. The big question is whether states will implement this before the damage worsens. The EPA is denying all responsibility regarding the contaminated farmlands.
If this continues, there may come a time when no commercially available food will be safe to consume. Will economic concerns override the threat to life itself? That’s a thought-provoking question that needs to be answered on state and individual levels.
Disclosure: This is a featured post.