Louisiana Ranchers Raise Concerns Over PFAS in Sewage Sludge

Louisiana ranchers have raised concerns about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in biosolids, which is treated sludge from municipal sewage used as fertilizer in parts of the state. Officials from the Louisiana Cattlemen's Association are asking state legislators for new rules to regulate these chemicals in the sludge. In Maine and Texas, ranching officials have noted that years of sludge application has led to contamination that has killed livestock or made farms unusable.

The use of biosolids as agricultural fertilizer raises long-term contamination concerns for ranching and farming operations. Louisiana environmental regulators currently lack data on PFAS in sewage sludge because federally adopted testing methods and concentration limits are absent. The concerns are heightened by contamination issues already observed in other states like Texas.