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The Unseen Risks of Fertilizer:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been promoting a potentially toxic fertilizer – a fact that chemical manufacturing company 3M warned them about way back in 2003! In a tale worthy of a page-turning crime novel, years-old documents uncovered by the New York Times have revealed that the raw material used for the fertilizer, sewage sludge, carries toxic "forever chemicals." And get this, the fertilizer with this last-forever problematic guest is being spread across farmlands nationwide. A bit like an uninvited dinner guest who makes a mess and never leaves!
From the Lab to the Land:
The intrepid scientists at 3M stumbled upon this slightly scary spectacle early in the 2000s. Amidst their flasks and test tubes, they found high levels of PFAS (that's poly and perfluoroalkyl substances, the notorious forever chemicals) in the nation's sewage. These toxic chemicals, showing up in everyday items from non-stick pans to carpets, are virtually indestructible. That's great for when you're frying an egg or spilling coffee, but not so handy when they start showing up in the environment. Even worse, company research had linked exposure to these chemicals to birth defects, cancer, and more.
Speaking Up But Not Being Heard:
So, 3M did what any responsible party would do – they alerted the EPA about their findings. They challenged the agency with this toxic truth during a meeting in 2003. But instead of fireworks, it seems their revelation fizzled out. Today, despite warnings from whistle-blowers, academics, and even their own internal studies, the EPA continues to parade sewage sludge as the perfect fertilizer, and there's still no requirement for PFAS testing.
The Chilling Reality:
David Lewis, a former EPA microbiologist, raised early concerns about the risks of spreading this sludge on our farmland. He likens the situation to a complicated cocktail of chemicals, a mixture that results in permanently contaminated soil. With this ongoing issue, unwanted and hazardous dinner guests are being spread across fields nationwide. Looking at this recent revelation, it seems it's past time for a change!
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been promoting a potentially toxic fertilizer – a fact that chemical manufacturing company 3M warned them about way back in 2003! In a tale worthy of a page-turning crime novel, years-old documents uncovered by the New York Times have revealed that the raw material used for the fertilizer, sewage sludge, carries toxic "forever chemicals." And get this, the fertilizer with this last-forever problematic guest is being spread across farmlands nationwide. A bit like an uninvited dinner guest who makes a mess and never leaves!
From the Lab to the Land:
The intrepid scientists at 3M stumbled upon this slightly scary spectacle early in the 2000s. Amidst their flasks and test tubes, they found high levels of PFAS (that's poly and perfluoroalkyl substances, the notorious forever chemicals) in the nation's sewage. These toxic chemicals, showing up in everyday items from non-stick pans to carpets, are virtually indestructible. That's great for when you're frying an egg or spilling coffee, but not so handy when they start showing up in the environment. Even worse, company research had linked exposure to these chemicals to birth defects, cancer, and more.
Speaking Up But Not Being Heard:
So, 3M did what any responsible party would do – they alerted the EPA about their findings. They challenged the agency with this toxic truth during a meeting in 2003. But instead of fireworks, it seems their revelation fizzled out. Today, despite warnings from whistle-blowers, academics, and even their own internal studies, the EPA continues to parade sewage sludge as the perfect fertilizer, and there's still no requirement for PFAS testing.
The Chilling Reality:
David Lewis, a former EPA microbiologist, raised early concerns about the risks of spreading this sludge on our farmland. He likens the situation to a complicated cocktail of chemicals, a mixture that results in permanently contaminated soil. With this ongoing issue, unwanted and hazardous dinner guests are being spread across fields nationwide. Looking at this recent revelation, it seems it's past time for a change!
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