“The farms were contaminated through no fault of their own”

The US Congress is considering giving $500 million to farmers affected by toxic PFAS, the Guardian reported.

PFAS, sometimes called “forever chemicals” because they never fully break down or disappear, have become incredibly ubiquitous – due to inadequate regulation, they are in our food, our water, and basically everywhere.

According to the National Resources Defense Council, these chemicals have been linked to a wide range of health problems, including “cancer, hormone disruption, liver and thyroid problems, interference with vaccine effectiveness, reproductive harm and abnormal fetal development.”

They are also present on our country’s farms via what the Guardian describes as “PFAS-contaminated sewage sludge used as a cheap fertiliser alternative (which has) poisoned crops and livestock.”

About 4,000 farms have also been contaminated with PFAS from nearby military bases, which operate somewhat mysteriously but appear to devote much of their time and effort to contaminating the groundwater around them with toxic chemicals.

“Farms were contaminated through no fault of their own, and farmers should not be the only ones who have to bear the responsibility for chemical contamination,” said Sarah Alexander, executive director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. “It’s critical that we address the PFAS problem holistically, and the agricultural side of this problem has not been addressed.”

The proposal making its way through Congress is modeled after legislation that was unanimously approved by the Maine legislature.

Even if American farmers received this $500 million in aid, PFAS would still pose a substantial risk to all of us—and the chemical industry intends to keep it that way. A recent study found that the industry spent $100 million over the last two election cycles lobbying to prevent PFAS regulation.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the government agency with the most direct mandate to prevent PFAS contamination, has been inconsistent in its enforcement efforts. And in Wisconsin, Republican lawmakers are refusing to release $125 million to clean up PFAS in drinking water unless responsible parties are granted legal immunity.

To truly address the impacts of PFAS, it is clear that we need stronger regulation and enforcement – ​​not just money handed out after the damage has already been done.

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