Maryland lawmakers push bill to limit ‘forever chemicals' levels from wastewater treatment plants
Two Maryland lawmakers are leading an effort to address so-called 'forever chemicals' generated by wastewater treatment plants that pose a threat to human health.
Sponsored by state Sen. Sara Love, D-Montgomery, and state Del. Dana Stein, D-Baltimore Co., the bill seeks to limit the levels of polyfluoroalkyl substances — commonly known as PFAS — discharged into waterways from sewage sludge at wastewater plants. The toxic sludge is often used as farm fertilizer, thus contaminating both the food chain and public drinking water.
'A lot of people don't know that biosolids are used as fertilizer,' Love said Monday during a virtual news conference. 'And what this bill is looking to do is set a limit (on) how much PFAS … can be in these biosolids.'
The bill comes less than a week after a Consumer Reports investigation found PFAS chemicals contaminated 'almost all' popular brands of baby formula it tested.
Love says her legislation would target the two most studied PFAS sub-chemicals, which are known as PFOS and PFOA. These chemicals have been linked to testosterone loss and other health issues in humans.
The state senator proposes an initial chemical limit of 50 parts per billion, to be phased down to 25 parts per billion after three years — a standard she says 75% of Maryland's wastewater treatment plants could easily meet.
Despite this, Love said she was 'disappointed' by a recent call with waste industry leaders who shared her concerns about public health but stopped short of supporting her bill. Waste recycling companies like Synagro said they needed more data before backing it, according to Love.
'The particular roadblock we heard … was that they didn't have enough data,' Love said of her negotiations with waste industry organizations.
Wastewater treatment plants could not immediately be reached.
Stein noted the Baltimore region is home to two wastewater plants, meaning potential PFAS runoff could harm his constituents.
'As a Baltimore-area legislator, I have a particular interest in seeing that this legislation passes so that the biosolids that are produced at Baltimore-area wastewater treatment plants are safe to be land-applied,' Stein said.
A news release from the Potomac Riverkeeper Network says the legislation would make Maryland a national leader in addressing PFAS contamination.
'With this legislation, Maryland would lead the nation in setting a strict limit on toxic PFAS in sewage sludge used to fertilize farmland and establish setbacks from drinking water wells, schools, and other vulnerable sites,' the news release said.
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