The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $3.2 million in research grant funding for two Texas institutions to study and mitigate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure in agriculture. Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University will each receive $1,600,000 to conduct community-engaged research projects aimed at understanding PFAS bioaccumulation in agricultural plants and livestock and exploring strategies for reducing PFAS exposure.
"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, based in College Station, Texas, will use its grant to study PFAS uptake and bioaccumulation in plants. The university aims to advance strategies for remediating PFAS in biosolids and biosolid-amended soils. Researchers plan to develop plant-based biosensors for detecting PFAS in biosolids, soils, and water. They will also demonstrate technologies to remediate PFAS in biosolids, reduce PFAS bioavailability to plants, and evaluate the sensitivity of developed biosensors.
Texas Tech University, located in Lubbock, Texas, will investigate non-traditional sources of PFAS in farming operations through lab and modeling studies. Researchers will survey the impacts of manure and biosolid pre-application treatment or processing on PFAS levels. Additionally, they will conduct plant cultivation studies to measure PFAS partitioning based on soil type and biosolid amendment as well as fish cultivation studies to measure PFAS uptake from water and dietary sources.
PFAS are a category of chemicals used since the 1940s that repel oil and water and resist heat. These chemicals are prevalent in everyday products but do not easily degrade; they can bioaccumulate in the environment and human body over time, potentially causing adverse health effects.
The funded research teams will investigate how PFAS accumulates in crops and livestock; the effects of biosolids, compost, and irrigation water on PFAS plant uptake; and strategies to reduce risks of contamination in the food supply.
