[Webinar] Land applied biosolids and PFAS exposure

November 1, 2024

Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues

Friday, November 1, 2024

2:00pm - 3:30pm

Register here

The presence of PFAS in biosolids raises many questions about how to safely manage biosolids and their uses. Wastewater treatment facilities have detected PFAS in the influent, effluent, and biosolids. These wastewater treatment facilities receive waste from residential, commercial, and industrial sources that may contain PFAS. Research is ongoing to better understand PFAS in biosolids and the impact on human health and the environment. Elevated levels of PFAS have been measured in soils with a history of land application of biosolids. Decision-makers have many questions about PFAS in biosolids including what are the sources of PFAS (e.g., residential or industrial sources) in the wastewater treatment facilities? What risks does land application of PFAS containing biosolids pose to groundwater and surface water? How do crops uptake PFAS and does this increase human exposure to PFAS? Are crops grown on land where biosolids have been applied safe for livestock or human consumption? How to manage waste from industrial users or manufacturers of PFAS? On November 1, 2024, AAAS EPI Center will host a panel of experts to discuss scientific evidence that can help address these and other decision-makers questions about PFAS in biosolids.  

Panelists

• Ian Pepper, University of Arizona 
• Andrew Smith, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention