Sludge at a municipal wastewater treatment plant. The proposed rules would largely have ended the use of such sludge, also called biosolids. Photograph: Jon G Fuller/VW Pics/Universal/Getty Images

EPA tosses out scientific research carried out under Biden and says toxic sludge not a significant threat to public

The Trump administration has killed the regulatory review of sewage sludge contaminated with Pfas and spread on farmland as fertilizer, a practice that has sickened farmers, destroyed their livelihoods, killed livestock, polluted water supplies, and poisoned meat and food products sold to the public.

The proposed risk assessment would largely have ended the use of sludge, also called biosolids, in the nation’s food system. But the Environmental Protection Agency tossed out its scientific research from less than two years ago that formed the basis for developing regulations. It justified the decision by declaring that sludge was not a wide threat to the public because it is mostly used on farms, and only a small percentage of cropland.

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A mixture of composted biosolids and wood chips is pictured at Merrimack Wastewater Treatment Facility. Debate over how biosolids should be regulated in New Hampshire has drawn in environmental groups, wastewater treatment professionals, and farmers throughout this legislative session. (Photo by Molly Rains/New Hampshire Bulletin)

Earlier this year, a proposal from the New Hampshire House sought to pause the practice of applying PFAS-containing sewage sludge to farmland in New Hampshire. But over the course of multiple packed hearings and after a handful of amendments, the bill’s provisions have changed shape, sparking concern among some early supporters.

The latest twist in the bill’s journey was a “replace-all” amendment adopted in the Senate May 7 that removed all references to sludge. Lawmakers and staff said that was a procedural error; some said they expected much of the bill to be reinstated later this week, when the Senate takes up the bill once more on Thursday.

Some stakeholders are not so sure that’s good news.

Allison Jumper, of Durham, said the bill had morphed from its original form into something completely different — harmful rather than protective. The version of the bill that existed just before the error lawmakers will aim to fix this week “not only fails to solve the PFAS problem — it entrenches it,” she said in a statement.

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by LISA FLETCHER ANDREA NEJMAN ALEX BRAUER NATHAN AARON | Spotlight on America | Mon, May 4th 2026 at 2:17 PM

(SOA) — For more than a year, we've been investigating what’s happening to family farms across the country and the growing concerns over toxic chemicals farmers say are contaminating their land, water and livelihoods. Now, one of those families is at the center of a federal lawsuit accusing the government of failing to protect farmers nationwide.

Abstract

Biosolids are a byproduct of wastewater treatment with potential value because of their rich nutrient, organic matter, and mineral content. However, due to the environmental and public health risks posed by contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), micro-/nano-plastics (MNPs), and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), the conventional practice of applying biosolids to land, especially on agricultural lands, can be unsustainable. These contaminants can accumulate in soil, disrupt ecosystems, and pose long-term risks to food safety and human health. Through the lens of a circular economy, biosolids should be valorized through holistic and sustainable approaches that prioritize both environmental protection and resource recovery. Advanced technologies, such as anaerobic membrane bioreactors, pyrolysis, and hydrothermal liquefaction, can extract valuable resources, such as energy and bioplastics, while also destroying harmful contaminants. In addition, biosolids and biosolids-derived biochar hold untapped potential for carbon capture and storage (CCS), offering a sustainable alternative to land applications while also helping mitigate climate change. Hence, a circular economy approach not only minimizes waste and reduces environmental impacts but also unlocks an important potential of biosolids as a renewable resource moving forward.

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On this Earth Day, we are called not only to celebrate the beauty of the natural world, but to confront the practices that quietly degrade it. 

The land application of sewage sludge—often marketed as “biosolids”—is contaminating the very systems that sustain life. When this material is spread across farmland, it introduces a complex mix of industrial chemicals, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and pathogens into the soil. These contaminants do not remain contained. They move through air as dust, leach into groundwater, and run off into rivers and streams—entering the food chain and affecting human and ecological health alike. 

The result is a slow but profound poisoning of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil that grows our food. Wildlife, livestock, pollinators, and entire ecosystems are exposed. Communities living near application sites bear disproportionate risks, often without full knowledge or consent. 

This is not a natural cycle. It is a systemic failure of responsibility. 

Those who design, approve, and defend these practices—whether in industry or government—are making decisions with long-term consequences. Accountability may not come immediately, and it may not always come through courts of law. But it will come through the enduring record of environmental harm and public health impacts that define our legacy. 

Earth Day is a reminder that stewardship is not optional. It is a duty. The health of our planet depends on the choices we make now—and the courage to change course when those choices cause harm. 

We owe that to the Earth, and to all life that depends on it.

by Dr. Tom Frieden, President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives. Former CDC director and NYC Health Commissioner. Focused on saving lives.

April 3, 2026

100 years ago, the United States reached a crossroads that would undermine the health of its people for the next half-century. It was a choice between public protection and industrial profit, and the government chose the latter.

Today, as the U.S. has dismantled systems that allow us to see modern health threats and the regulations to control them, we risk repeating the mistake. read full article

Corporations that profit by contaminating the air, water, soil, and harming both human and non-human life. View this film to learn more.

Sewage Sludge: How the spreading of PFAS-laden solids are impacting communities around New York

by Shannon Kelleher

A federal court’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit alleging US regulators failed to prevent widespread contamination of farmland with toxic PFAS chemicals was based on a “flawed interpretation” of the Clean Water Act, creating “dangerous real-world consequences for public health,” a watchdog group argued in a new court filing.

The appeal from Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) is the latest move in a battle over policy issues surrounding sewage sludge contamination. PEER sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2024 on behalf of two Texas farm families who experienced health problems after their properties were contaminated with PFAS per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals contained in sewage sludge spread as fertilizer on a neighboring property. Johnson County, Texas, the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and the Potomac Riverkeeper Network were also plaintiffs in the suit.
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Soybeans grow in a field in Steuben County where sewage sludge was spread for many years. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)