Warning over 'dirty secret' of toxic chemicals on farmers' fields
Summary
Each year, about 3.5 million tonnes of sewage sludge are spread on farmland in England and Wales to act as a fertilizer. Concerns have been raised about the presence of harmful chemicals in this sludge, which can include "forever chemicals" known for being persistent and possibly harmful to health. Efforts to update regulations to address these issues have faced difficulties.Key Facts
- Around 3.5 million tonnes of sewage sludge are used as fertilizer on farmers' fields in England and Wales every year.
- Sewage sludge can contain harmful substances, including chemicals linked to cancer and microplastics.
- "Forever chemicals," synthetic substances that do not break down easily in the environment, have been found in the sludge.
- The Environment Agency has known since 2017 about these potential contaminants in sewage sludge.
- There is currently no routine testing for these chemicals in sewage sludge in the UK.
- Water companies are worried farmers might stop using sludge due to these chemical concerns.
- Regulatory updates aimed at managing these contaminants have faced setbacks, with calls for government action to improve regulations.
- In 2022, Maine in the United States banned sludge spreading due to concerns about "forever chemicals."
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