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PFAS found in widely used home garden fertilizers

By May 25, 2021May 26th, 2021PFAS in the news

“Forever chemicals” have made their way into widely available fertilizers used in home gardens, according to a new study out today that warns of stark implications for human health.

Samples taken from nine different widely available fertilizers used for home gardening contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, according to the findings from the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., and the Sierra Club. Eight of those nine fertilizers exceeded PFAS screening guidelines established by Maine, the state that has taken the most sweeping actions on PFAS in agricultural land application.

The report traces the chemicals back to biosolids — the nutrient-rich organic matter left over following traditional wastewater treatment practices. Fertilizer products are commonly made using that waste. Read more…