Wastewater and Fertilizer Program in King County Reveals Presence of Toxic Chemical PFAS
Toxic Chemicals in Your Backyard: The PFAS Crisis in King County
King County officials have discovered "forever chemicals" in the region's waste and fertilizers, raising concerns about potential health risks and environmental contamination. But fear not, King County officials assure us that the levels are relatively low, and they don't anticipate crops grown with these fertilizers being contaminated.
The emergence of this data comes at a time when states nationwide grapple with the worsening toxic legacy of per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS). Agricultural lands, aquifers, and vast tracts of land have been polluted by these hazardous chemicals, known to cause cancer and a range of other health issues. Some states have even banned the use of fertilizers made from human waste or initiated lawsuits against chemical manufacturers. In Washington, legislators are pushing for new testing requirements.
PFAS—the nastiest chemicals you didn't know you were exposed to—are found not only in your food, cookware, clothes, furniture, and fire-fighting foams but also in your very own rainwater. Given their non-degradable nature, it's no surprise they're present in your waste, and a substantial portion of it moves from your toilet to biosolids production plants, where it's transformed into fertilizer for the state's forests and croplands.
Unlike some regions, King County's biosolids contain comparatively lower levels of PFAS, indicating fewer major industrial sources in the area, a year-long analysis indicates. However, everyday items like Teflon pans, Gore-Tex jackets, hamburger wrappers, cosmetics, and more are the most likely sources of these chemicals. Waste treatment plants merely serve as recipients of the pollutants we flush down the drains.
"The frightening part is that you're exposed at home," stated Sally Brown, a research professor of environmental and forest sciences at the University of Washington.King County officials expected these chemicals in their waste streams and the subsequent biosolid fertilizers. Other states grapple with alarmingly high contamination levels and growing alarm. In Maine and Connecticut, they've even prohibited the use of biosolids on agricultural land.
To delve deeper into the local PFAS levels, King County initiated monthly testing regimens at three treatment plants in October 2023. Levels at King County's plants proved comparable to those in California's Bay Area Clean Water Agencies' treatment plants serving the San Francisco area.
Washington has yet to regulate these compounds in biosolids. On the other hand, Michigan enforces a series of standards, with anything below 20 parts per billion considered safe for land application. Levels at the West Point West Point treatment plant occasionally surpassed this mark, necessitating further investigation.
Addressing these elevated PFAS levels could involve investigating leaking landfills and stormwater systems, and excess PFAS discharge into treatment plants. While these findings are promising, the authorities want to reassure the public that there's no cause for immediate alarm. Stay tuned for data-driven recommendations that will shape future regulations.
For now, the best way to avoid these chemicals remains avoiding products containing them whenever possible. However, realizing that's easier said than done, authorities encourage citizens to keep abreast of the evolving regulations and take proactive steps to safeguard their health and the environment.
- King County government, facing the PFAS crisis, has discovered 'forever chemicals' in waste and fertilizers, raising concerns about potential health risks and environmental contamination.
- Fear not, as King County officials assure us that the levels are relatively low and don't anticipate crops grown with these fertilizers being contaminated.
- In Seattle, a city within King County, legislators are pushing for new testing requirements to combat the worsening toxic legacy of PFAS.
- Agricultural lands, aquifers, and vast tracts of land nationwide have been polluted by these hazardous chemicals known to cause cancer and a range of other health issues.
- Some states have even banned the use of fertilizers made from human waste or initiated lawsuits against chemical manufacturers.
- PGAS are found not only in food, cookware, clothes, furniture, fire-fighting foams, and rainwater but also in your waste, with a substantial portion moving to biosolids production plants.
- Unlike some regions, King County's biosolids contain comparatively lower levels of PFAS, indicating fewer major industrial sources in the area.
- Everyday items like Teflon pans, Gore-Tex jackets, hamburger wrappers, cosmetics, and more are the most likely sources of these chemicals.
- Sally Brown, a research professor of environmental and forest sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle, stated that you're exposed to these chemicals at home.
- The University of Washington, a leading institution in environmental and forest sciences, plays a crucial role in addressing locally the PFAS levels.
- King County officials expected these chemicals in their waste streams and the subsequent biosolid fertilizers, but other states grapple with alarmingly high contamination levels and growing alarm.
- In Maine and Connecticut, they've even prohibited the use of biosolids on agricultural land due to high contamination.
- To analyze the local PFAS levels, King County initiated monthly testing regimens at three treatment plants in October 2023.
- Michigan already enforces a series of standards for PFAS in biosolids, with anything below 20 parts per billion considered safe for land application.
- For now, the authorities encourage citizens to avoid products containing PFAS whenever possible and keep informed about the evolving regulations to safeguard their health and the environment.
