“Sewage-sludge” fertilizers like Milorganite are being found with high levels of PFAS. These chemicals are already in the sewage, and when processed into fertilizer, they become more concentrated. This leads to soil contamination and PFAS showing up in plants, which eventually makes its way into the food chain. PFAS has been detected in cows that graze on contaminated grass, showing up in their meat and milk.
I think this forum should reconsider recommending sewage-sludge fertilizers.
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I’m curious, what exactly is the harm of using this on a lawn? Does it hurt wildlife? Could it get into the water we drink? And what would happen to this sewage if we didn’t turn it into fertilizer?
I agree with you, I wouldn’t want to use this stuff on food crops, but for lawns, I’m not so sure. I’m open to hearing more though.
@Noe
The problem is that PFAS takes forever to break down, so it stays in the soil for decades. Some of it could seep into the groundwater, and plants can absorb it too. This means it could end up in leafy greens, and then wildlife eats those plants, spreading it further. Also, someone in the future might want to grow food on that same lawn.
From the article:
“Unknown to them, her family’s farm was fertilized decades ago with sewage sludge contaminated by chemicals linked to cancer, liver disease, and more. Their cows grazed on it, and now the beef and milk are too dangerous to consume.”
At 62g per square meter, with a 38 pbb concentration, it’s so diluted that one heavy rain will wash it away, and rainwater might have more PFAS anyway.
Think of it like adding one match to a fire of 1000 logs—it doesn’t make a difference.
So saying, “every bit counts” is like saying turning off the faucet will save the Titanic. The difference is huge.
I’m sticking with Milorganite, but thanks for bringing this up.
@Darby
Just because it’s everywhere doesn’t mean we should ignore it. Your comment is like saying, “There are wildfires everywhere, so it’s fine to toss embers on dry grass.”
We should still do what we can to make things better.