You might think twice about reaching for that next leafy green vegetable after reading this. A legal battle is currently underway in the United States, aiming to drastically change the way in which agriculture operates under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The lawsuit in question, as reported by The Guardian, is pushing to put an end to the common practice of using toxic sewage sludge, or biosolids, as a budget alternative to fertilizer on American crop farms. Biosolids, a concoction of industrial and human waste left over from wastewater treatment, are currently being spread over crops as a nutrient-rich fertilizer.
Not only does this result in a discomforting origin story for your grocery store produce but it’s also raising serious health concerns. The use of sludge has been linked to a host of issues including illnesses amongst farmers, contamination of drinking water and meat, and overall environmental harm. The practice is justified by the biosolids’ rich nutrient content and as a cost-saving measure for waste disposal.
The lawsuit specifically calls out EPA for endorsing the use of waste laden with PFOS and PFOA. These substances are associated with serious health implications, contributing to cancer and fertility problems.
The group leading this legal action, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), gave the EPA notice of their intent to sue back in February. If amendments in the EPA’s policy aren’t made and the case proceeds to trial, the discovery process could further expose the disturbing realities of the agricultural industry’s waste management. Until then, the public is left grappling with the unpleasant facts regarding our food’s journey from farm to table.