Something’s Poisoning America’s Land. Farmers Fear ‘Forever’ Chemicals

By Hiroko Tabuchi | The New York Times | August 31, 2024

Read the full article by Hiroko Tabuchi  (The New York Times)

"For decades, farmers across America have been encouraged by the federal government to spread municipal sewage on millions of acres of farmland as fertilizer. It was rich in nutrients, and it helped keep the sludge out of landfills.

But a growing body of research shows that this black sludge, made from the sewage that flows from homes and factories, can contain heavy concentrations of chemicals thought to increase the risk of certain types of cancer and to cause birth defects and developmental delays in children.

Known as “forever chemicals” because of their longevity, these toxic contaminants are now being detected, sometimes at high levels, on farmland across the country, including in Texas, Maine, Michigan, New York and Tennessee. In some cases the chemicals are suspected of sickening or killing livestock and are turning up in produce. Farmers are beginning to fear for their own health."

Topics:

• ChemicalsPFAS
• Environment
• Wildlife
• ImpactAgriculture
• Affected community
• Health