Tom D
Elite Member
- Joined
- May 22, 2015
- Professional Status
- Certified Residential Appraiser
- State
- Pennsylvania
Multiple Texas farming families have discovered that their land and animals were poisoned by fertilizer containing PFAS, human-made chemicals found in everyday products. The fertilizer, made from processed sewage sludge called biosolids, was promoted as an environmentally friendly option for years.
"This is destroying our lives," said Tony Coleman, a rancher in Grandview, referring to his dead livestock in the article. "You never know what you're going to get every day when you get down here."
When heavy rains washed the fertilizer onto neighboring properties in Johnson County, livestock began dying and water sources showed dangerous contamination levels. County testing found 27 types of PFAS chemicals in the fertilizer, leading affected farmers to file lawsuits against the fertilizer companies and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The contamination creates an impossible situation for farmers and ranchers. They can't ethically sell potentially contaminated meat, but continuing to care for livestock they can't sell threatens financial ruin.
An estimated 5% of all U.S. crop fields — up to 20 million acres — may have used similar fertilizer made from processed sewage sludge containing PFAS. These "forever chemicals" don't break down in the environment and can accumulate in the human body, potentially causing cancer, birth defects, liver damage, and other serious health problems.
"This is destroying our lives," said Tony Coleman, a rancher in Grandview, referring to his dead livestock in the article. "You never know what you're going to get every day when you get down here."
When heavy rains washed the fertilizer onto neighboring properties in Johnson County, livestock began dying and water sources showed dangerous contamination levels. County testing found 27 types of PFAS chemicals in the fertilizer, leading affected farmers to file lawsuits against the fertilizer companies and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The contamination creates an impossible situation for farmers and ranchers. They can't ethically sell potentially contaminated meat, but continuing to care for livestock they can't sell threatens financial ruin.
An estimated 5% of all U.S. crop fields — up to 20 million acres — may have used similar fertilizer made from processed sewage sludge containing PFAS. These "forever chemicals" don't break down in the environment and can accumulate in the human body, potentially causing cancer, birth defects, liver damage, and other serious health problems.
