Non-polymer PFAS can build up in blood protein of animals, and is not always removed quickly. This means that predators eating PFAS-contaminated food will have higher levels in their bloodstream, and concentrations can increase up the food chain. Studies suggest that build up of PFAS is similar to those of other Persistent Organic Pollutants such as DDT.PFAS are estimated to be settling in arctic regions at rates of tens to hundreds of kilograms per year (25-850kg per year), depending on the specific PFAS chemical in question. Certain PFAS are released as gases to the environment and are blown a long way by wind and air currents in the atmosphere,. These gas PFAS will over time degrade to more persistent chemicals like PFOS and PFOA. This may be one reason why PFAS of environmental concern have been found in remote regions such as the Arctic as well as near PFAS production sitesPFAS including PFOS and PFOA have been found in air samples around Europe. The chemicals are found in small quantities, but appear in almost all samples tested. PFAS enters the atmosphere both from factories and the air inside our homes. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17554424 PFAS is found in treated waste water from industrial and domestic sources and has been found in both rivers and groundwater. Conventional drinking water processes will not remove PFAS.PFAS-coated clothes that are thrown away will often end up either incinerated or in landfill. Unless incinerated at very high temperatures (>1000oC), fluorinated polymers could release more harmful PFAS during burning. PFAS of environmental concern have also been found in landfill leachate. Non-polymer PFAS are used in the production of fluorinated polymers. The manufacture of stain-resistant finishes generally releases these PFASs into the environment, both by air and water emissions. They are very hard to remove during water treatment. Workers in textiles factories are some of the population most exposed to these potentially harmful chemicals. Small quantities of PFAS will be removed during wash and wear of products containing PFAS. This includes fluorinated polymers used on stain-resistant coatings, and non-polymers that remain on clothes after production (Lassen et al. 2015).Most UK waste still ends up in landfill, and this includes PFAS-containing products. Studies have shown that the liquid coming from landfills (known as leachate) often contain non-polymer PFAS chemicals. In the USA the total quantities were estimated at 563-638 kg in 2013. To properly break down PFAS chemicals high temperature (1000oC or more) incineration is recommended. Incineration of municipal waste does not necessarily reach these temperatures (min temp. required is 850oC), and the incomplete breakdown could release non-polymer PFAS.Wash and wear of clothing that contains PFAS-based stain-resistant or water repellent finishes release PFAS to the environment. Coatings are thought to lose effectiveness after 20-30 washes. This can include non-polymer PFAS, remnant from production or as a break-down product of side-chain polymers (Lassen et al. 2015). The manufacture of stain-resistant finishes releases PFAS into the environment, both by air and water emissions. PFAS are very hard to remove during water treatment. Industrial emissions are estimated to be the biggest source of these chemicals to the environment.

Farmers Hub

Many chemical contaminants remain unregulated, meaning farmers and land managers may unknowingly use pesticides and organic wastes that contain harmful cocktails of toxic chemicals ploughing fields

The hidden chemical contaminants in agricultural inputs

Many chemicals remain unregulated, meaning farmers and land managers may unknowingly use pesticides and organic wastes (like fertilizers or soil amendments) that contain harmful cocktails of toxic chemicals. These substances can damage the agricultural ecosystems you work hard to protect and pose risks to your health, your livestock, and the land you rely on.

Biosolids, for instance, can introduce a mix of persistent microplastics and chemical contaminants into soils, while pesticide products widely used in the UK can contain the “forever chemicals“, PFAS, that linger in the environment for centuries, impacting soil health for future generations. .

Fidra is calling on the UK Government to take the following actions to protect farmers and our natural environment from harmful chemical inputs:

  1. Restrict PFAS use in pesticides to prevent these persistent and toxic chemicals from entering agricultural systems.
  2. Improve transparency around pesticide inert ingredients by requiring clear disclosure throughout supply chains.
  3. Adopt legislation supporting the precautionary approach by limiting the agricultural use of biosolids until they are proven to be a clean and safe resource.

These measures are essential to safeguarding the health of farmers, livestock, and the environment.

Many farmers are already taking matters into their own hands and looking for affordable ways to transition to more sustainable practices that support healthy soils and food production avoiding chemical inputs.

PFAS in pesticides

PFAS are a group of over 10,000 industrial chemicals used in a wide array of everyday products and processes, from food packaging and clothing to pesticides and fire-fighting foams.

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Sewage Sludge

Sewage sludge contains a complex mixture of chemicals and microplastics, inevitably impacting soil health.

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What can you do?

We are working directly with farmers and agronomists to protect against PFAS pollution on agricultural land. If you are a farmer or agronomist and would like to know more about PFAS in pesticides, get in touch: info@fidra.org.uk.

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Resource Spotlight

New Fidra research shows widespread forever chemical contamination in UK rivers

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is a highly persistent and mobile ultrashort chain ‘forever chemical’ or PFAS that is widespread in the environment, and is a common breakdown product of PFAS pesticides. Our new study found widespread TFA contamination of UK rivers. 

Read our new report

Resources

How farmers are leading change

Farmer case studies

 

We are calling for tighter regulation and further support for farmers to move away from harmful chemcial inputs on their farms. However, many farmers have taken matters into their own hands and we have been working with them to share their experiences, tips and individual challenges. Read their stories to hear how they are shifting to more sustainable practises in order to protect soil, crops, and livelihoods for future generations.

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Moving away from PFAS pesticides

 

We’ve been working with local farmers to help them speak to their agronomists and transition away from pesticides with PFAS active ingredients.

“I was quite concerned to find out about PFAS in pesticides, and especially the lasting negative impacts PFAS could be having on our land. Thinking about active ingredients in terms of their half-life probably gave me a false sense that their impacts are relatively short term or at least reversible (excluding wider impacts on biodiversity).

It turned out that quite a few of the sprays we were using contained PFAS so I spoke to our agronomist about it. Fortunately, for each of the sprays we used that had PFAS as the active ingredient(s) there were PFAS free alternatives available, so we’ve switched to those. It’s a small step, but hopefully will make some difference – there’s still the issue of the undeclared adjuvants potentially containing PFAS, and more PFAS being identified. Long term, I’d like to reduce our pesticide use as much as possible.”

-CT, East Lothian Farmer

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Some PFAS can last for centuries in the environment, meaning the pollution we cause today could last for generations to come.

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