EPA Awards Two Texas Institutions $3.2 Million for Research on PFAS Exposure and Reduction in Agriculture

EPA Awards Two Texas Institutions $3.2 Million for Research on PFAS Exposure and Reduction in Agriculture

September 12, 2024

"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."

Texas A&M University which is based in College Station, Texas is receiving $1,600,000 to comprehensively understand PFAS uptake and bioaccumulation in plants and advance strategies to remediate PFAS in biosolids and biosolid-amended soils. Researchers will screen, design, and develop plant-based biosensors for PFAS detection in biosolids, soils, and water. They will also demonstrate the effectiveness of technologies in remediating PFAS in biosolids, reducing PFAS bioavailability to plants in biosolid-amended soils, and evaluating the sensitivity of developed biosensors in monitoring PFAS contamination. If successful, this research could empower agricultural communities,wastewater professionals, and decision makers to increase their ability to manage PFAS risk associated with the beneficial uses of biosolids and reclaimed water.

Texas Tech University which is based in Lubbock, Texas is receiving $1,600,000 to investigate potential non-traditional PFAS sources in farming operations. Through lab and modeling studies, researchers will conduct a detailed survey and characterization of the impacts of manure and biosolid pre-application treatment or processing. They will also conduct plant cultivation studies to measure PFAS partitioning and bioavailability as a function of soil type and biosolid amendment and look at fish cultivation to measure PFAS uptake, partitioning, and elimination due to exposure to water and dietary sources, among other potential PFAS sources. The team will use data from lab studies to evaluate PFAS management strategies in agricultural settings.

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:

Learn more about these research grants for Understanding PFASUptake and Bioaccumulation in Plants and Animals in Agricultural, Rural and Tribal Communities.

Learn more about EPA PFAS research.

Learn more about EPA Research Grants.

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