Recently, the Oregon Senate passed HB2947 directing Oregon State University’s Extension Service and College of Agricultural Sciences to study the occurrence and distribution of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in biosolids at select sites across the state.
Biosolids, a byproduct of treated wastewater, are nutrient-rich organic materials and are a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers used on pastures and non-food agricultural lands. In other states, biosolids have been found to have high levels of PFAS that disperse into soil, water and crops.
Under HB 2947, OSU will partner with the Department of Environmental Quality and wastewater treatment facilities to examine PFAS levels in biosolids, test soils from application sites and evaluate whether these chemicals leach into groundwater or persist in surrounding land…