In the early 2000s, 3M researchers discovered alarming levels of PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," in sewage sludge across the United States, as reported by The New York Times. These chemicals, widely used in products like nonstick pans and stain-resistant carpets, are nearly indestructible and have been linked to serious health issues, including cancer and birth defects. Shockingly, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encouraged using this sludge as fertilizer on farmland, inadvertently spreading these contaminants across millions of acres.

3M shared its findings with the EPA in 2003 but did not publicly release the research. Despite years of warnings from whistleblowers, scientists, and state officials, the EPA continues to promote sewage sludge as fertilizer without requiring PFAS testing. Only Maine has banned sludge fertilizer and begun systematic testing for PFAS contamination.

Sewage sludge contains numerous pollutants from businesses, factories, and households. Experts warn that modern sludge has evolved into a toxic mixture, permanently contaminating farmland. Studies confirm elevated PFAS levels in crops, milk, and groundwater on treated lands, exacerbating public health risks.

The EPA has acknowledged PFAS as an urgent issue, recently designating two types of PFAS as hazardous substances and mandating near-zero levels in drinking water. However, regulation of PFAS in biosolids remains elusive, leaving farmland and food supplies vulnerable.

The problem is not new. In the late 1990s, EPA microbiologist Dr. David Lewis sounded alarms about sludge dangers, highlighting its potential to introduce tens of thousands of chemical pollutants into soil and water systems. His warnings were ignored, and his position was eventually eliminated in 2003.

Today, experts like Arjun K. Venkatesan of the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Christopher Higgins of the Colorado School of Mines continue to call for stricter controls. They argue that regulating PFAS at wastewater treatment plants under the Clean Water Act could prevent these chemicals from entering sewage systems altogether.

While 3M plans to end PFAS production by 2025, the damage caused by decades of inaction persists. The Biden administration promises a risk assessment of PFAS in biosolids by the end of 2024, but advocates stress that immediate action is critical to safeguard public health and the environment.