ENSP 400: Capstone in Environmental Science and Policy

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Fertilizer Daily. Forever Chemical in biosolids draw scrutiny in Virginia and Maryland. May 2, 2025 ‘Forever chemicals’ in biosolids draw scrutiny in Virginia and Maryland — Fertilizer Daily

PFAS & Sewage Sludge Bill 2025 - Waterkeepers Chesapeake

USEPA.  Basic information about sewage sludge and biosolids. Updated March 12, 2025. https://www.epa.gov/biosolids/basic-information-about-sewage-sludge-and-biosolids

USEPA. EPA unable to assess the impact of hundreds of unregulated pollutants in land-applied biosolids on human health and the environment Report No. 19-P-0002 November 15, 2018, https://www.epaoig.gov/sites/default/files/2018-11/documents/_epaoig_20181115-19-p-0002.pdf

USEPA. Draft sewage sludge risk assessment for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) casrn 335-67-1 and perfluorooctanoic sulfonic acid (PFOS) casrn 1763-23-1. January 2025, draft-sewage-sludge-risk-assessment-pfoa-pfos.pdf

Washington Post.  As EPA weakens rules on ‘forever chemicals’  states  are moving forward. August 2, 2025 print edition

Background

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals that resist heat, grease, and water. Since their creation in the 1950’s they have been used in numerous industrial and commercial applications, including the production of nonstick cookware, water and stain-resistant fabrics, artificial turf, and firefighting foams. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) are long-chain PFASs that were once used to produce the aforementioned products. They have since been replaced by other substances. PFOA and PFOS are exceptionally persistent in the environment and can bioaccumulate in plants and animals. In mammals, PFOA and PFOS  accumulate in protein-rich organs, which can lead to multiple health issues.

Municipal sewage that is conveyed to a wastewater treatment plant is screened, allowed to settle, and centrifuged (ie, dewatered) to create sewage sludge. The sludge is then disinfected using lime and or UV light to create biosolids. Biosolids disinfected to the point of being essentially free of pathogens  (ie, biosolids of exceptional quality) are classified as Class A biosolids, whereas biosolids that contain some pathogens are classified as Class B biosolids.  Land application of Class B biosolids is limited to agricultural lands, with a utilization permit typically being required to allow application of biosolids to specific locations. Biosolids are a nutrient-rich source of organic matter valued by farmers as a way to improve soil fertility, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for fertilizer.

Wastewater treatment plants can receive wastewater from many sources, each of which may be contaminated with PFAS. The treatment process results in the enrichment of PFAS substances in biosolids, with the concentration of PFAS being significantly higher than in the wastewater source.

Land application of biosolids can result in PFAS contamination of soil, water and food sources leading to potential harm to plants, animals, aquatic life and human health. Concerns about exposure to PFAS have resulted in “at least 250 bills being introduced this year in 36 states to address one or more aspects of PFAS contamination (Washington Post, 2025). Examples specific to the mid-Atlantic include Pennsylvania House Bill 1116 which seeks to examine PFAS chemicals in biosolids to determine the potential pathways of FPAS contamination in food supplies, and Maryland Senate Bill 732 which would establish PFOS and PFOA concentration limits in biosolids applied to state lands. Stakeholder groups   seeking to limit or stop the land application of biosolids containing PFAS would benefit from an advocacy toolkit that provides materials that could be used to promote the passage of PFAS legislation. At the local level, toolkits could aid stakeholders in strengthening protections in permits allowing PFAS contaminated biosolids to be spread over agricultural lands. In this project 2025 PFAS and biosolids legislation that was proposed but not passed in states surrounding the Chesapeake Bay will be identified and serve as the basis for developing an advocacy toolkit that can be used by stakeholders to urge passage of the these bills in the coming year.