The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced over $15 million in research grant funding to ten institutions for studies aimed at reducing exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from food and protecting farmlands and farming communities. These projects will gather data on PFAS bioaccumulation in agricultural plants and livestock, exploring strategies to mitigate PFAS exposure, a key aspect of the EPA’s commitment to safeguarding human health and the environment.
“Farming communities are the lifeblood of this nation,” stated 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.”
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) emphasized the importance of addressing PFAS contamination: “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... Federal investments in research are essential to finding innovative solutions.”
PFAS have been used since the 1940s due to their ability to repel oil and water as well as resist heat. However, they do not easily degrade, leading them to accumulate in the environment and human bodies over time with potential adverse health effects. Understanding their impact on the food system is crucial for developing strategies to reduce exposure.
Research funded by the EPA will investigate various aspects such as PFAS accumulation in crops and livestock, effects of biosolids on plant uptake, and methods for mitigating contamination risks. The selected institutions include:
- Michigan State University: Comprehensive evaluation of PFAS fate on a crop and livestock farm using biosolids.
- Passamaquoddy Tribe: Study on PFAS accumulation in finfish and shellfish within their homelands.
- Temple University: Effects of irrigation water quality on PFAS uptake by edible crops.
- Texas A&M University: Mitigation strategies for PFAS in amended plant systems.
- Texas Tech University: Evaluating bioaccumulation of PFAS in various systems.
- University at Albany: Management of contaminated agricultural soil using experimental research combined with machine learning.
- University of Illinois: Plant uptake mitigation associated with sewage effluent application.
- University of Maine: Integrated strategies for reducing risks in forage and livestock systems.
- University of Utah: Mechanistic understanding of biosolid-applied settings.
- University of Virginia: Bio-enabled strategies preventing accumulation in crops.
Further information about these research grants can be found through relevant EPA resources.
