Fertilizer Maker Confirms Products Contain PFAS

Texas farms are crumbling under toxic PFAS contamination, and Synagro, the nation’s top biosolid fertilizer maker, points fingers elsewhere. Their “independent” study stays hidden, leaving ranchers and regulators in the dark. Let’s dig into what’s poisoning the land and what you can do.

A Toxic Crisis in Texas

Johnson County, Texas, is reeling—ranches devastated by PFAS contamination linked to Synagro’s biosolid fertilizer. Fish and livestock carry staggering levels of these “forever chemicals,” threatening livelihoods and health. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) calls out Synagro’s claim that its product isn’t the culprit, demanding transparency. For farmers, it’s a betrayal rooted in their soil.

On March 12, Synagro issued a press release, citing an “independent scientific study” that clears its fertilizer of blame. The study, they say, found PFAS levels “well within background soil concentrations.” But Synagro hasn’t shared the study, leaving PEER and ranchers skeptical of their conclusions. For communities, it’s a truth obscured by corporate spin.

PFAS—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—are manmade, persisting in environments and bodies. Linked to cancers and immune damage, they’ve tainted Johnson County’s fish at 57,000–74,000 parts per trillion (ppt) and calf liver at 610,000 ppt. With no safe ingestion level for some PFAS, the risks are dire. For families, it’s a hidden danger in their food chain.

Unpacking Synagro’s Claims

PEER’s Kyla Bennett, a former EPA scientist, debunks Synagro’s “background soil concentrations” claim. “PFAS don’t exist in nature,” she says—they’re synthetic. EPA warns that just 1 part per billion (ppb) in sludge can pose risks, yet PEER’s tests found PFOS in Synagro’s biosolids at 13 ppb. For scientists, it’s a red flag waved off.

Synagro didn’t test the contaminated ranches where PEER and Johnson County found high PFAS levels. They claim one PFAS on the farms doesn’t match their biosolids, ignoring that it’s a breakdown product of others present. “They offer no alternate explanation,” PEER notes, as losses mount. For ranchers, it’s a dodge that deepens the wound.

PEER’s Laura Dumais urges Synagro to release the study for scrutiny. “Lay your cards on the table,” she says, pushing for EPA regulation of PFAS in biosolids under the Clean Water Act. Johnson County seeks emergency aid to offset catastrophic losses, but answers remain buried. For locals, it’s a plea for accountability.

The Bigger Picture

EPA has no safe consumption level for PFOS and PFOA, yet biosolid fertilizers escape strict oversight. Synagro’s refusal to share data stalls progress, leaving farms vulnerable. “There’s no safe ingestion level,” PEER stresses, as PFAS taint soil, water, and food across Texas. For regulators, it’s a blind spot with real victims.

The Chemours plant, a PFAS polluter, burns as a symbol of industry’s toll—much like Synagro’s biosolids poison Texas land. Both cases expose gaps in trust and regulation. Johnson County’s fish and livestock aren’t isolated; PFAS threatens ecosystems and communities nationwide. For the environment, it’s a slow-burning disaster.

Johnson County’s emergency declaration plea underscores the human cost—farms failing, futures at risk. Synagro’s hidden study fuels distrust, as PEER demands open science. “Independent evaluation is critical,” Dumais says, to protect those living with PFAS’s legacy every day. For Texans, it’s a battle for survival.

Protect Your Water Now

PFAS at 610,000 ppt in calf liver isn’t a statistic—it’s a crisis for families and farms. With Synagro dodging transparency, reverse osmosis and whole-home conditioners offer water safety you control. For your household, it’s peace amid uncertainty.

Source: PEER