Understanding PFAS Risks and their Impact on Michigan Agriculture

By Andi Anderson

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals,” are a large group of human-made chemicals used for their resistance to water, oil, and stains.

They are found in many everyday products including firefighting foams, food packaging, personal care items, non-stick cookware, textiles, and carpets.

Because of their widespread use, PFAS now appear in water, soil, wildlife, livestock, and humans worldwide. PFAS have also been detected on agricultural land, although more research is needed to understand the full scope of this contamination.

PFAS persist in the environment and do not break down easily. They can move through the water cycle and build up in living organisms, which may pose health risks.

Studies suggest that high exposure to certain PFAS may lower pregnancy chances, increase high blood pressure in pregnant women, raise thyroid disease risk, elevate cholesterol, affect immune function, and increase cancer risks such as kidney and testicular cancers.

PFAS can reach farmland through several pathways. These include applying biosolids, paper sludge, or tannery waste with high PFAS levels, irrigating with contaminated water, or applying pesticides or septage that may contain PFAS.

Since 2021, Michigan has followed an interim strategy to limit biosolids with high PFAS levels from being applied to farmland. Before this strategy, some fields may have received biosolids containing higher PFAS concentrations.

Once PFAS enter soils, removal can be difficult. Current remediation options like excavation and incineration are not practical for large fields. However, research shows some crops absorb PFAS differently.

Corn grain, for example, tends to accumulate very little PFAS, while leaves may hold more. Farmers with contaminated soils may choose to grow crops less likely to accumulate PFAS or use uncontaminated fields for forages and grazing.

PFAS can also build up in animals, affecting meat, milk, and eggs. While there are no federal PFAS food safety standards, states like Maine and countries in the European Union have established threshold levels. These guidelines help determine if products are safe for sale.

Michigan State University Extension supports producers through confidential soil sampling, education, and mitigation planning. Farmers seeking assistance can contact Faith Cullens-Nobis at 517-388-1078 or cullensf@msu.edu.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-zoran-zeremski