ARYA DARA
A state-wide environmental group is redoubling its efforts to ban the controversial substance following the recent discovery of a dangerous chemical family in Michigan cattle.
These chemicals are known as per- or polyfluoroalkyl substance (or PFAS) for short. You may have heard of the more common chemicals in this family, such as those used to make nonstick cookware.
Megan Tinsley is the water policy director for Michigan Environmental Council. She advocates for environmental policies.
Biosolids, colloquially known as biosludge, refers to the residue left over from waste that’s been treated at a wastewater treatment plant, Tinsley said.
It can be used to fertilize crops rather than being thrown away. Tinsley stated that PFAS buildup in the bodies of cows when they eat biosludge fertilized crops. This can contaminate the beef. People who eat the beef may then be adversely affected.
The idea of using biosludge as fertilizer is good in theory, “but obviously when you’ve got waste that is contaminated with PFAS, it is a big environmental problem,” Tinsley said.
Tinsley explained that another problem stemming from biosludge use is legacy farm contamination. When biosolids are left on top of the soil for a while, PFAS levels can slowly build up in the soil.
“Testing the soil could help us determine where we should no longer apply any sort of biosolids,” Tinsley said, “and it would give us more information as to where we should look further into testing crops. Having a greater network of soil testing can help us look for this type of problem that was just discovered.”
Tinsley stated that Tinsley also supports a cumulative standard for PFAS regulations.
“There’s over 4,000 chemicals in this group of chemicals that we call PFAS, and the state has developed drinking water standards for seven,” she said.
She said that although the chemicals have different names, they function in the same way as a group. The council wants the state’s drinking water standards to be established for all PFAS.
Tinsley stated that labeling products without PFAS as PFAS free would also help to combat contamination.
Using labels similar to those on non-GMO food, consumers could make informed decisions and make sure that their health isn’t at risk from the chemicals, Tinsley said.
“But we don’t have the laws in place to require that,” Tinsley said.
American scientist Roy Plunkett discovered PFAS in the 1930s, and they’ve been used extensively in the U.S. since the 1940s, said Wei Zhang, the associate department chair at Michigan State University’s Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences.
Zhang stated that PFAS are also found on paints, shampoos and firefighting foams, as well in fast food packaging and pesticides. And they didn’t stop there.
“Eventually they found their way to humans,” Zhang said.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, prolonged exposure poses a public health risk.
PFAS can cause attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and delay puberty when fetuses and infants are exposed to it. Zhang said that it can also cause other health issues, such as kidney disease and altered liver functions in non-pregnant women and preterm delivery in pregnant women.
Tinsley said, “We’ve done a really good job of looking for PFAS in the environment, and I think we’re ahead of the curve when it comes to detecting it and trying to address it when it comes to drinking water.”
Tinsley said that other states have done more and banned them in food packaging. Tinsley also stated that this is another source of exposure.
“A lot of food packaging products like takeout containers and the paper that sandwiches are wrapped in can contain PFAS,” Tinsley said.
She said that “there are certainly actions that we could be taking in Michigan that we have not yet,” including legislation that would more tightly regulate the chemicals.
Tinsley stated that banning PFAS completely is also part of the solution. However, bans take time and political willpower due to the 4,700 chemicals in PFAS.
“But if you remove something that’s used in a lot of products, that’s where we’ll start to run into a lot of opposition,” she said. “That’s why we think that’s part of the solution, but we have to be doing other things in the meantime.”