EPA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
09/04/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/04/2024 10:59
EPA Awards $15 Million for Research on PFAS Exposure and Reduction in Agriculture
EPA Awards $15 Million for Research on PFAS Exposure and Reduction in Agriculture
September 4, 2024
Contact Information
US EPA Press Office ([email protected])
"Farming communities are the lifeblood of this nation," said Christopher Frey, Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Research and Development. "The research supported by these grants will increase our knowledge of how PFAS is impacting our farmlands and food supply and help ensure our farming communities stay viable for years to come."
"Harmful 'forever chemicals' pose a significant threat to our food supply, farming communities, and public health, making it critical that we take bold steps to understand and mitigate their impacts. While Maine has been leading the nation in combating PFAS contamination, there is much to learn to be able to effectively address the threats created by the presence of these chemicals. Federal investments in research are essential to finding innovative solutions, and I am thrilled that this funding will support the University of Maine's and the Passamaquoddy Tribe's research projects. As other states begin to navigate PFAS contamination, this research will serve as a valuable resource and model for how we can effectively reduce contamination nationwide," said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01).
PFAS, also known as 'forever chemicals,' are prevalent and persistent in the environment. PFAS are a category of chemicals used since the 1940s to repel oil and water and resist heat, which makes them useful in everyday products. Some PFAS do not easily degrade and can bioaccumulate - or build up - in the environment and the human body over time resulting in potential adverse health impacts. Given their persistence and potential health impacts, it is important to understand how PFAS may impact our food system and people living in agricultural areas so we can develop strategies to reduce and prevent these exposures.
Using EPA's funding, research teams will investigate topics including how PFAS accumulates in crops and livestock; the effects of biosolids, compost and irrigation water on PFAS plant uptake and accumulation; and strategies to reduce the risks of PFAS contamination in the food supply. The following institutions have been selected for awards, which are contingent on completion of all legal and administrative requirements relating to the grant:
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan- Comprehensive Evaluation of Fate, Transport, Bioaccumulation and Management Solution of PFAS on a Crop and Livestock Farm that Received Biosolids.
- Passamaquoddy Tribe, Sipayik Environmental Department, Pleasant Point, Maine- PFAS Accumulation in Finfish and Shellfish Species within the Coastal and Inland Waters of the Peskotomuhkati (Passamaquoddy) Homelands.
- Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania- Investigating the Effects of Irrigation Water, Compost and Biosolid Qualities on PFAS Uptake by Edible Crops in Urban Gardens and Farms.
- Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas- PFAS-MAPS: PFAS Mitigation and Monitoring in Amended Plant Systems.
- Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas- Evaluating and Mitigating Bioaccumulation of PFAS in Plant, Mammalian and Aquaculture Systems.
- University at Albany, State University of New York Albany, New York- Practical Management of PFAS Contaminated Agricultural Soil Using an Innovative Platform Integrating Experimental Research and Machine Learning Approaches.
- University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois- Plant Uptake and Mitigation of PFAS Associated with Sewage Effluent and Biosolids Application in Tile-Drained Field.
- University of Maine, Orono, Maine- Developing Integrated Mitigation Strategies to Help Farmers Reduce PFAS Risks in Forage and Livestock Systems.
- University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah- PFAS in Land-applied Biosolids in Agricultural Settings: A Mechanistic Understanding on Fate and Mitigation.
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia- Novel, Bio-enabled Strategies to Prevent Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Accumulation in Crops and Food Webs.
Learn more about these research grants for Understanding PFAS Uptake and Bioaccumulation in Plants and Animals in Agricultural, Rural and Tribal Communities.