Crops can bioaccumulate PFAS when grown in agricultural soils amended with biosolids or irrigated with treated wastewater. Crops can be consumed directly by the public or indirectly by livestock, resulting in public health concerns.
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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals introduced in the 1940s. PFAS are used to make a variety of products, including water-resistant clothing, nonstick cookware, and firefighting foam.
Unfortunately, PFAS can have negative health effects, including increased cholesterol levels and changes in liver function. Using products containing PFAS can result in their presence in treated wastewater and treated sludge (called biosolids). Crops can bioaccumulate PFAS when grown in agricultural soils amended with biosolids or irrigated with treated wastewater. Crops that have accumulated PFAS can be consumed directly by the public or indirectly by livestock, resulting in PFAS in the food supply and raising public health concerns.
Dr. Kun Hui (Bella) Chu, a professor in the Zachry School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and her collaborator, Dr. Libo Shang, a professor at the University of Michigan, received $1.6 million in funding from environmental groups. Institute researching PFAS mitigation and monitoring technologies.
“The main outcome of this project is to improve the ability to manage PFAS risks associated with the beneficial use of biosolids and reclaimed water, empowering the farming community and wastewater professionals,” Chu said.
In 2021, the United States produced approximately 4.5 million dry tons of biosolids, with 25% used for agricultural uses. In 2018, approximately 1.5 million acres of agricultural land in the United States was irrigated with recycled or reclaimed water to address water scarcity concerns. Land-based use of biosolids and water recycling are economically beneficial. However, the potential for PFAS contamination raises concerns about the safety of these practices. The ability to accurately monitor and mitigate PFAS could reduce contamination risks and make their beneficial use a safer and more common practice.
“Our long-term goal is to comprehensively understand PFAS uptake and bioconcentration in plants across a variety of nutritional conditions, advance PFAS remediation strategies in biosolids/soil, and minimize PFAS uptake by plants. to develop real-time monitoring tools for PFAS in biosolids-amended soil and irrigation water.”
