Officials from the town of Ellis County in Milford want fertilizers made from human waste tested for PFA. The companies that make it say it’s safe.
Milford, Texas – Living in a small town in Milford is usually peaceful, but recently there’s something in the air where residents have been asking questions.
Residents say the foul smells drift through the community almost every morning, and many believe it comes from biosolids spread by nearby ranchers. Biosolids treat human waste used as fertilizers, and while they are legal in Texas, they are increasingly controversial due to potential health risks.
“It’s very clear that everyone is smelling,” said Mayor Bruce Perryman, who is overflowing with calls and complaints from residents involved.
The bigger concern is that these biosolids may lie. The Environmental Protection Agency warns that biosolids can also be called PFAs (eternal chemicals), also known as “eternal chemicals,” because they have resistance to decomposition in the environment. Some PFAs are linked to cancer, liver damage and other health issues.
“The more you read about PFA, the more you are at least concerned about the smell,” Perryman said.
So far, no PFAS tests have been performed on Biosolids spread across Milford. Local and county leaders say efforts are underway to begin the process.
This is not the first time a biosolid has been scrutinized in North Texas. In Johnson County, just west of Ellis County, ranchers say the ingredients made the animals sick and killed fish in the pond. Currently, some farmers in Ellis County fear that the same could happen here.
“I know the farmers and ranchers around here too… At this point, I’m very worried that it might bleed on their property,” said Milford Fire Chief Carlos Felix.
Ellis County Commissioner Louis Ponder said he doesn’t think biosolids should be applied to farmland without proof of safety.
“I don’t think they should be put on any farm until they can show me that something like this is safe,” Ponder said.
Some states, including Maine and Vermont, have banned the use of biosolids due to PFAS contamination, but Texas continues to allow them. Ponder said there is more testing needed.
“If they can prove to us that they have cleaned up the PFA and proved that we are pathogen-free, then they can prove that we are not in trouble.
Synagro, the company behind the biosolid in question, said in a statement that its product is safe.
“Biosolids meet all state and federal requirements for land applications and are a beneficial part of sustainable agriculture,” the company said.
Synagro president Pam Racey defended the safety of the product by sharing personal anecdotes.
“I have two kids and I have a garden, I have products like granulite, not from Texas, but from Baltimore.
She also said that PFA contamination is not inherent to biosolids.
“So PFA does a lot of things, like pesticides, pesticides, fracking fluids, and more. It’s ubiquitous,” she said.
Still, critics argue that state regulators are slower to act and that tougher tests are expired.
“Essentially, you need to test all the loads remaining there for the PFA,” Ponder said.
Synagro argues that the risk of PFA exposure from biosolids is relatively low compared to everyday sources.
“But the amount of biosolids is not as high as the products we use in our homes, and being exposed to them for everyday citizens is not nearly as exposure in the home,” Racey said.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said in a recent interview with the WFAA that PFAS contamination has been growing statewide concerns and is likely not limited to just one county.
“There’s a real problem in Johnson County, but it’s probably not quarantined in Johnson County. It’s probably the tip of the iceberg when it comes to PFOs,” Miller said, referring to the type of PFA. “We know that there are ranchers who are losing cows, and you can’t sell them. You don’t want to send them to someone else and give your problems… It’s like having mumps or measles, as you know.”
Miller said he was closely monitoring the issue and discussed it with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, who is planning to visit Texas soon.
“They filed a lawsuit. I discussed this with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,” Miller said. “We have to deal with this. These are eternal chemicals. They won’t go away.”
Miller said it must start by requiring Texas to be tested before it can be applied to farmland, rather than banning biosolids.
“If it’s in, it won’t be applicable,” Miller said. “We use a lot of organic fertilizers. Chicken trash, pig fertilizer, fertilizer from feedlots or dairy products… PFOs come mostly from urban waste.”
He added that PFA could become one of the next major environmental battles, similar to the previous battle over asbestos and lead paints.
“It’s very serious and serious and we’ll have to stop it,” he said.
For now, the smell and uncertainty remains.
