Anita Klein

It has only been in the last few years that the dangers and pervasiveness of PFAS chemicals in the environment have started to be recognized. It is now clear that PFAS is a carcinogen. PFAS is also a forever chemical; it doesn't break down. Sludge and biosolids are sold to farms for use as soil amendments. Treated sewage can be contaminated with PFAS. Last year, 82 farms in Maine were identified as having very high PFAS levels in milk from dairy cows and other farm animals. "High levels of PFAS ended up in some sludge spread on farm fields in Maine because it contained waste from papermills that used PFAS. Because the state licensed the sludge-spreading program for years, Maine lawmakers and state officials have earmarked tens of millions of dollars to investigate potentially contaminated sites and install water treatment systems in homes with contaminated wells (https://www.mainepublic.org/health/2025-01-22/state-officials-report-progress-challenges-identifying-pfas-on-farms-as-testing-continues). NH farms have not escaped this problem. HB1275 will start helping NH farms that have impacted. It is also important to impose a moratorium on the use of biosolids and sewage sludge, which may contain PFAS, as soil amendments on NH farms.