Bayer considers Monsanto bankrupcy as one way to settle thousands of Roundup lawsuits

Roundup is used by farmers
around the world.

 

Despite being the most popular herbicide in the world, Roundup continues to be at the heart of thousands of lawsuits alleging the product's active ingredient, glyphosate, is linked to human cancers. Bayer, which owns Roundup, is working on resolving the lawsuits while "exploring a bankruptcy filing for its Monsanto agriculture business," report Andrew Scurria, Akiko Matsuda, Patrick Thomas and Alexander Gladstone of The Wall Street Journal.

Because Bayer has already attempted and failed to resolve much of its Roundup litigation, the "German drug and agriculture conglomerate is preparing a bankruptcy filing," intended to "cover the weedkiller’s U.S. manufacturer, Monsanto," the Journal reports. "A Chapter 11 filing by Monsanto would pause lawsuits against the division and open a path to settling its share of Roundup-related liability in bankruptcy court."

Roundup was developed by Monsanto and sold to U.S. farmers and gardeners beginning around 1974. The product was used for roughly 40 years before lawsuits against Monsanto began following a study published in 2013 that suggested glyphosate may cause human cancer. The Journal reports, "Lawsuits alleging a link between glyphosate — the key ingredient in Roundup — and cancer have dogged Bayer since its 2018 acquisition of Monsanto."

Roundup litigation, payouts and company stock slumps have cost Bayer billions and led the company to warn "farmers, suppliers and retailers that it may stop producing Roundup absent a resolution of the tort claims. . . . Bayer’s shares are down about 75% since it acquired Monsanto in 2018," according to the Wall Street Journal report. "The Roundup litigation has cost the company about $10 billion in legal payouts as part of the $16 billion it has so far set aside for settlements."

Nonetheless, the company said it "is committed to resolving its litigation headache in the next 12 to 18 months," the Journal reports. "About 67,000 cases alleging it caused plaintiffs’ cancer are pending. . . . U.S. farmers rely on Roundup to produce soybean, corn and cotton crops that are genetically modified to withstand the weedkiller."

To read how Bayer could use bankruptcy to carve out lawsuit resolutions, click here.

Upcoming 'Make America Healthy Again' report targeting farming chemicals is already under review

U.S. farmers apply almost 300 million pounds of
glyphosate, or Roundup, per year. (Adobe Stock photo)

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may want his "Make America Healthy Again" strategy to include rooting out farm herbicides and pesticides as a national health concern, but the idea is already facing pushback, report Kristina Peterson, Josh Dawsey and Liz Essley Whyte of The Wall Street Journal. "Some White House and agency officials are concerned the move would disrupt the food-supply chain."

Kennedy plans to use MAHA's May 22 report to push U.S. food producers away from heavy chemical use. "White House officials have raised concerns about the pesticide push and are closely reviewing the coming report," the Journal reports. Although President Trump committed to investigating pesticides during his campaign, where he will finally stand on the issue remains unclear.

The report will likely target glyphosate, the primary ingredient in Roundup, as an ongoing danger to human health; however, removing it from the U.S. food supply seems nearly impossible. Not only is glyphosate the world's most popular herbicide, "more than 90% of soybean, corn and cotton crops planted in the U.S. are genetically modified to withstand glyphosate-based weedkiller," the Journal reports. "American farmers apply almost 300 million pounds of glyphosate to their fields each year, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey." 

The report is also expected to call out "atrazine, a herbicide used on grasses and corn, as a possible problematic toxin," Peterson, Dawsey and Whyte add. Between glyphosate and atrazine, glyphosate is more popular with farmers, and limiting its use could prove detrimental.

U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (Rep., Md.), during a Wednesday hearing, "told Kennedy that going after pesticides could hurt farmers," the Journal reports. "Kennedy said he shared that concern and that the government 'cannot be putting [farmers] out of business.'"

Comments by a White House spokesman depicted MAHA's first report as a foundational review that could guide further research into chronic health issues in the United States.

Bayer threatens to end Roundup production, but American farmers depend on it. They may have to get it from China.

A farmer spreads pesticide on a field.
(Adobe Stock photo)

Despite its long run as many farmers' first choice for an effective weedkiller, Roundup's time on the market may be almost over. "Pharmaceutical and agriculture conglomerate Bayer said it could stop producing the world’s most popular weedkiller, unless it gets court protection against lawsuits blaming the herbicide for causing cancer," reports Patrick Thomas of The Wall Street Journal.

Roundup was patented by agriculture and science research giant Monsanto in 1971, and the company began marketing the glyphosate-based herbicide in 1974. Over time, Roundup made billions of dollars in sales for Monsanto and later for Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018. Thomas writes, "Bayer currently produces about 40% of the world’s glyphosate, which farmers spray across fields to tame crop-threatening weeds."

Over the past 10 years, Roundup has had strong U.S. sales; however, Bayer is now drowning in "waves of litigation," Thomas explains. The suits caused Bayer's stock price to plunge and cost the company roughly "$10 billion in payouts to plaintiffs. In early March, Bayer told farmers, suppliers and retailers that it may stop selling Roundup, which would leave U.S. farmers reliant on imported glyphosate from China."

While some Americans may question the use of glyphosates, American farmers depend on it. "American farmers apply almost 300 million pounds of glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, to their fields each year," Thomas reports. Stu Swanson, who is president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, told Thomas, “Roundup [glyphosate] helps us produce in an economic way and for products we raise to be cheaper.”

Given production costs and lawsuits, producing Roundup is no longer profitable for Bayer. Some state legislatures are "discussing Bayer-supported bills that would protect pesticide companies from claims that they failed to warn that their product allegedly causes cancer if their product labels have been approved by the EPA without such designation," Thomas explains. "Plaintiffs’ attorneys have vowed legal challenges to such laws, if passed."

If Bayer stops producing Roundup, it's unlikely that another company would be willing to replace it and accept the product's ongoing and future liability.

Is sewage sludge used on farms and golf courses in your community? Tips for journalists to investigate issues.

A sewage sludge treatment tank in Scottdale, Penn.
(USDA photo, Lance Cheung via Flickr CC)

It may not sound pretty, but looking into sewage sludge disposal practices can be a story that helps your community's health. "There was a time when the Environmental Protection Agency renamed toxic sludge as 'biosolids,' and journalists went along with it," reports Joseph A. Davis of the Society of Environmental Journalists. "As we are becoming aware of more and more toxic chemicals, it is hardly a surprise that we are finding them in sewage sludge. The surprise is that some farmers are spreading them on their fields."

The multiple contaminants within sewage sludge are a health threat to humans and the environment because PFAS or "forever chemicals" can be present in sludge; however, sludge pollutants can also include "heavy metals like lead, other toxic organics like dioxins, PCBs, pharmaceuticals whose names you can’t even pronounce," Davis explains. "The problem gets much harder when you realize there are thousands of individual PFAS chemicals. Not to mention all the other chemical families."

The problems with sludge, even when treated, or labeled "biosolids" remain extensive. EPA rules may not be enough to keep people and nature safe because current rules "allow — some say encourage — sterilized, dried sludge to be spread on fields, golf courses, etc," Davis writes. "The big question is whether harmful chemicals are getting into people’s food and water."

Davis offers the following story ideas:

• Where does your sewage go when you flush the toilet? Talk to your local sewage treatment agencies and ask them what they do with their sewage sludge.
• Ask who takes the bulk of processed sludge from your local agencies? There may be companies who distribute it in large quantities to farmers, golf courses, etc., who apply it to land. Talk to them. Talk to their customers.
• The EPA has to review its 'biosolids' rules every two years to see whether they should be updated as new contaminants come to light. What do local sewage officials and environmental advocates think about the EPA’s performance?
• Some disposal of sewage sludge on land requires a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (water pollution) permit. Check the permit database for permittees. Check the EPA’s ECHO enforcement database for violators. Talk to permittees and permitting agencies.
• Does your local sludge go into the retail market? What companies and brands sell it? Ask for their test results on chemical contamination. Figure out what they didn’t test for.
• Talk to groundskeepers or managers at local golf courses. Do they use sludge products on their courses? What can you learn about the run-off situation?
• Go to meetings of local garden clubs and community gardens. Or visit on-site. Ask members what they do, especially with vegetable gardens.

Reporting resources:

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: The agency sets the standards for land application of sludge.
• Local sewage treatment agencies: You can find them in the EPA’s ICIS-NPDES database using SIC code 4952.
• National Association of Clean Water Agencies: The NACWA is a lobby and professional group of municipal sewage treatment agencies.
• Center for Food Safety: A nonprofit group that advocates for food safety.
• Regional biosolids groups: Find some listed here.
• Food & Water Watch: A nonprofit environmental advocacy group that follows the sludge-agriculture issue.
• Water Environment Federation: A professional and scientific organization whose members work in the sewage and water industries.

Researchers are modifying the DNA of corn seeds to reduce pollution and dependence on fertilizer .

Pivot Bio's microbes help nourish corn seeds in the ground and reduce their need for
chemical fertilizers. The process has a lot of unanswered questions. (Privot Bio graphic)

In a novel approach to stemming agriculture's contribution to climate change, researchers are altering bacterial DNA, so that corn seeds require less chemical fertilizer to thrive, reports Eric Lipton of The New York Times. "Globally, the manufacture, transportation, and use of chemical fertilizer is responsible for pollution with the equivalent planet-warming power of about 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. That’s more than the combined releases from all the coal-burning power plants in the U.S."

Research on genetically modified bacteria that is sprayed on corn seeds and then planted in the U.S. corn belt is ongoing. If successful, it could revolutionize how plantings are nourished throughout their growth cycle while helping reduce carbon emissions. Lipton writes, "Just five years after they were introduced, the seeds are being used on 5% of American corn crops."

The sprayed seeds are produced by Pivot Bio, a California-based company, which "estimates that last year, its treated seeds prevented the release of an estimated 706,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent — comparable to the greenhouse gasses from burning 1.5 million barrels of oil," Lipton reports. "But it’s also producing intense pushback."

The alteration of bacteria and its application to corn seeds has some organic farming groups up in arms and "manufacturers of chemical fertilizer are also raising doubts about the new industry player," Lipton adds. "Pivot’s own advisers concede there are unanswered questions." David Kanter, a Pivot adviser who teaches environmental studies at New York University, told Lipton, "We have rarely created a solution to an environmental problem that doesn’t create other unforeseen consequences down the line."

Meanwhile, other companies are creating their own hubs of fertilizer-replacement research. "The goal is to supplant as much as half the fertilizer used today," Lipton reports. "Companies, including Ginkgo Bioworks and BioConsortia, are developing their own versions. Academics at M.I.T. and other universities are trying to make further advances. . . . At this point, scientists don’t believe they can completely eliminate the need for chemical fertilizer."

For the first time in decades, the EPA issued an emergency action to move weedkiller off the market

Farm workers can be unaware of Dactha's
use on fields. (Adobe Stock photo)

The popular weedkiller, Dactha, has been removed from U.S. sales floors by the Environmental Protection Agency, which issued an "emergency suspension of DCPA, citing a serious risk to pregnant women and their unborn babies," reports CNN News. Dactha is mostly used as an herbicide to tame weeds in crops such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale and onions.

Exposure to DCPA (Dimethyl Tetrachloroterephthalate) can cause fetal thyroid hormone disruption, which can permanently harm an unborn baby's normal development. The National Archives Federal Register reports, "The downstream effects of such hormone [disruptions] in the fetus may include low birth weight and irreversible and life-long impacts to children exposed in-utero, such as impaired brain development and motor skills."

Dactha's maker, AMVAC Chemical Corporation, worked to address the EPA's concerns; however, the "EPA has determined that there is no combination of practicable mitigations under which DCPA use can continue without presenting an imminent hazard," the Federal Register reports. According to CNN, the EPA noted that DCPA may be considered unsafe for 25 days or more after application.

This is the first time in almost 40 years the EPA has taken this type of emergency action. Michal Freedhoff, the assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, noted that "pregnant women who may never even know they were exposed could give birth to babies that experience irreversible lifelong health problems."

East Palestine's controlled chemical burn in 2023 spread pollutants to at least 16 states, new study shows

Norfolk Southern's controlled burn spread chemicals
to surrounding states. (Adobe Stock photo)

In February 2023, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, leading to an explosion and a toxic vinyl chloride spill. The subsequent controlled burn, which was intended to prevent further explosions, created a plume that spread air pollutants to at least 16 states, according to research published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, Zack Budryk of The Hill reports. The cloud "reached as far north as New England . . . according to researchers from the University of Wisconsin. They found the overall radius spanned more than 540,000 square miles."

Researchers studied soil samples before and immediately after the spill to evaluate the burn's reach. "They found evidence of high chloride concentration in states including Virginia, South Carolina and Wisconsin, as well as particularly high concentrations near Canada's border with New York, an area downwind of the crash site," Budryk explains. 

The chemical plume may have also changed precipitation pH levels in surrounding areas. "Researchers found unprecedentedly high, or more basic, pH values across a broad belt in the Midwest and Northeast," Budryk reports. "They also found elevated alkaline and earth metals levels, in some cases within the 99th percentile of measurements for the last decade."

The study's lead researcher, David Gay, said, "All of these pollutants are important in the environment because their accumulation has an impact on the Earth's aquatic and terrestrial environments in many ways."

In March 2024, the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, Jennifer Homendy, testified at a Senate hearing that the deliberate burn was not necessary because there was no risk of additional explosions.

Quick hits: The resilient Mississippi River; pizza and sunscreen's shared ingredient; food costs; a new ice cream

 American Bald Eagle snatches its prey from the mighty Mississippi.  (Adobe Stock photo)

In the fall of 2022, the Mississippi River was drying up and commodity shipping was an expensive struggle. "Dropping water levels in the Mississippi River have caused shipping costs to rise just as harvest season approaches for many Midwestern soybean and corn farmers," reported Keely Brewer in a story for the Daily Memphian." By 2023, things had not improved. "Historic low flows turned the Mississippi River into a construction area in 2023 as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredged huge quantities of sand to keep the channel open for barge traffic," reports Chloe Johnson of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Earlier this year, "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that the drought that plagued the Mississippi River basin since 2022 was officially over." Despite this glorious improvement, here's how to keep caring for the mighty Mississippi. 

On a dairy farm where not everyone speaks the same language, confusion and frustration can impede good animal care. "Great animal welfare is only achievable when a dairy has a strong employee welfare focus," writes Dr. Kaitlyn Lutz for Lancaster Farming. "Consider these practical ideas to improve management as a step toward a culture of care for your employees and cows: 1. Use WhatsApp -- Your Hispanic workers are using it. If you're not, you miss a huge opportunity to connect. 2. Connect over family -- Ask employees about their families. Language barrier? Check out the PONS Translate app's conversation mode. Or, share pictures. 3. Build trust -- Trust is built through small and consistent actions over time."

Titanium dioxide is found in sunscreen and pizza.
Yuck. (Adobe Stock photo)

Adding sunscreen to your frozen pizza sounds disgusting. And yet, "If you have heard of titanium dioxide at all, you probably know it as an ingredient in sunscreen. But it is also used in lots of foods, from pizza and salsa to frosting and candy—and now, there is growing concern about the potential health risks of eating it," reports Andrea Petersen of The Wall Street Journal. "Some research, mainly in animals, has suggested that eating it might be linked to immune system problems, inflammation and DNA damage that could lead to cancer. . . . The European Union has banned titanium dioxide in food since 2022."

U.S. families continue to balance needs with costs.
(Adobe Stock photo)

U.S. consumers continue to grapple with high grocery prices, which drain their budgets and leave some families struggling to make ends meet. "Results from the most recent wave of the Gardner Food and Agricultural Policy Survey demonstrate that consumers perceive inflation and high food prices to be persistent problems," reports Brenna Ellison for Farmdocdaily. "Consistent with this, a recent Gallup poll found that 41% of households identified inflation as the most important financial problem they are currently facing. . . . Some retailers like Target, Walmart, Amazon, and Walgreens have announced they will be cutting prices on thousands of items."

Crop insurance helps provide income stability for food and animal producers who must make a living despite unpredictable weather, hungry pests and insidious weeds. This year marks the biggest acreage for U.S. crop insurance coverage. "Farmers and ranchers bought crop insurance policies on more than 500 million acres of land last year, the largest amount ever, driven by the surging popularity of forage policies," reports Successful Farming. "Overall enrollment in crop insurance was up 85% in the seven years from 2016, according to Department of Agriculture data."

No-melt ice cream could help some humans stay
cleaner. (Adobe Stock photo)

A creamy, cool, delicious ice cream cone is one of summer's simple delights -- until your dip starts dripping and your cone starts crumpling. Then the slurp and smear battle ensues. Could there be a less-melty way? "Cameron Wicks, a student at the University of Wisconsin, is working on a new technology that adds naturally occurring compounds [polyphenols] to ice cream," reports Elise Mahon for University of Wisconsin News. Wicks told Mahon, "We learned that adding polyphenols to ice cream can create a product that holds its shape for over four hours at room temperature. That's pretty close to a no-melt ice cream."

Reporting tips: PFAS drinking water rule offers a wealth of opportunities for local stories and angles

PFAS are found throughout the
environment. (Adobe Stock photo)

The Environmental Protection Agency's new rule limiting polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as "forever chemicals," in U.S. drinking water supplies opens the door to local reporting opportunities, writes Joseph A. Davis of The Society of Environmental Journalists. "The new PFAS drinking water rule is a big deal — and also a great local story for environmental journalists."

Why is limiting PFAS important? These chemicals can cause devastating health issues for humans, partially because they build up in the body over time. Despite their toxicity, they have been used in countless household goods, from electronics to frying pans. Using common-sense labels, they could also be called "everywhere chemicals." Davis writes, "There are many routes of human exposure — from french fry wrappers to high-end rain jackets. Even playing with the baby on the carpet. What matters is human exposure: how much over what length of time."

To get a local story going, find out your area's PFAS backstory. "People started getting worried about PFAS back in 2016, when PFAS chemicals were found in private wells around Bennington, Vermont, caused by waste from a nearby plant. The concern spread. Other communities across the country found PFAS in their water, too," Davis reports. While Vermont went on to set its own PFAS limits, the EPA took a long time to unravel the PFAS problem. The agency's new rule was announced in April 2024.

For forever chemical stories in your neck of the woods, Davis has several suggestions, a few of which are lightly edited below.

• Find the utility provider for your area's drinking water and get its latest 'consumer confidence report.' It will tell you if PFAS has been tested for/detected in your water. Look under 'detected unregulated contaminants.'
• Check other local media, testing services and state/county health departments to see if any private wells have had PFAS detected in their water.
• Explore any known sources of PFAS pollution in your area, especially manufacturing plants.
• Are there any airports or aircraft firefighting operations in your area that may have used PFAS-containing foam? What happens to their runoff? Check with well owners in the vicinity about any pollution.
• If your utility's water contains PFAS, ask what it will do to correct the problem. Ask what it would cost to remove PFAS and whether it would have to raise water rates. Sometimes, changing water sources is a cheaper solution.

Read the full article here for more on PFAS history and ideas for reporting angles.

Companies aren't the only ones that spread the use of 'forever chemicals;' the U.S. military is also responsible

Firefighting foam was created in the 1960s.
(Adobe Stock photo)

Commercial product companies aren't the only ones to blame for PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," making their way into U.S. soil and drinking water. Through its extensive use of firefighting foam, the U.S. military has also contributed to the slowly degrading and noxious chemicals spreading across the country, reports Sachi Kitajima Mulkey of Grist. "The Department of Defense is among the nation's biggest users of firefighting foam and says 80% of active and decommissioned bases require cleanup."

The Environmental Protection Agency doesn't consider any exposure to PFOA and PFOS, two of the most toxic PFAS, safe. In mid-April, the agency also "designated these two compounds' hazardous substances' under the federal Superfund law, making it easier to force polluters to shoulder the costs of cleaning them up," Mulkey explains. "Meeting these regulations means that almost all of the 715 military sites and surrounding communities under Defense Department investigation for contamination will likely require remediation."

The history of PFAS chemicals dates back to a 1930s lab accident, but their extensive commercial use in products began in the 1950s and 60s. Mulkey reports, "In the 1960s, the Defense Department worked with 3M, one of the largest manufacturers of PFAS chemicals, to develop a foam called AFFF that can extinguish high-temperature fires. The PFAS act as a surfactant, helping the material spread more quickly. By the 1970s, every military base, Navy ship, civilian airport, and fire station regularly used AFFF."

From that point, PFAS chemicals were used in everything from cookware to raincoats to carpets. It would take decades for government agencies and communities to realize that these human-made, fluorine-based chemicals were harmful to animals and humans. Once their harmfulness came to light, another set of problems evolved — how to remove the chemicals from the environment, which research has proven is both expensive and difficult to accomplish.

Today, military sites have some of the most extensive cleanup work. "Congress ordered the department to publish the findings of drinking and groundwater tests on and around bases," Mulkey reports. "Results showed nearly 50 sites with extremely high levels of contamination and hundreds more with levels above what was then the EPA's health advisory. Following further congressional pressure, the military announced plans to implement interim cleanup measures at three dozen locations."

"Nationwide, the Environmental Working Group found unsafe water in wells near 63 military bases in 29 states."

As industries try to move away from using products with 'forever chemicals,' here's one possible replacement

Soy oil has multiple uses in food and
industry. (Wikipedia photo)

PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, have been linked to human illnesses and diseases but are still being used in commercial products because there isn't a functional substitute.

One of those products is firefighting foam, but Wisconsin farmers think they may have a solution, which was recently tested in Dalton, Georgia, reports Courtney Everett of Wisconsin Public Radio. "Farmers and volunteer firefighters were using a new soybean-based product called SoyFoam, which holds the potential to significantly reduce the health risks associated with PFAS exposure."

Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board President Pat Mullolly, who was present at the demo, told Everett, "It looked like the consistency of paint. It was a brown-type substance, maybe a little bit thicker than salt. They inject that into the water stream, and it creates foam." Everett added, "According to Mullolly, the biodegradable foam could eliminate the use of PFAS in firefighting foam. The chemicals have been linked by the U.S. Fire Administration to health risks and groundwater pollution."

Although SoyFoam technology is in the testing phase, "Mullolly is hopeful the product and other ongoing state projects can grow Wisconsin's agricultural economy," Everett reports. "Economic opportunities for soybean farmers across the United States are growing, Mullolly added." He told Everett, "There's some soy oil in Goodyear tires and Sketchers shoes. Dalton, Georgia, is the world headquarters for Astroturf, and they're using soy oil in their polyurethane."

A new EPA rule means polluters, not taxpayers, will have to pay for some 'forever chemicals' cleanup

PFAS have been used in the U.S. since 1938.
(Adobe Stock photo)

The presence of PFAS, or "forever chemicals," in U.S. drinking water led the Environmental Protection Agency to issue its first drinking water standards earlier this month. Tagging onto that action, "The Biden administration is designating two 'forever chemicals,' as hazardous substances under the Superfund law, shifting responsibility for their cleanup to polluters from taxpayers," reports Coral Davenport of The New York Times. "The new rule empowers the government to force the many companies that manufacture or use perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) to monitor any releases into the environment and be responsible for cleaning them up."

Davenport explains, "PFOA and PFOS are no longer manufactured in the United States but can be imported in the form of consumer goods such as carpet, leather and apparel, textiles, paper and packaging as well as in coatings, rubber and plastics; the agency said. . . . Industries that use the chemicals have said that the designation is too expensive and would lead to litigation that could impose new costs on businesses and communities and slow the cleanup of chemicals."

The fact remains that all PFAS are harmful to humans. The compounds "degrade very slowly and can accumulate in the body and the environment. Exposure to PFAS has been associated with metabolic disorders, decreased fertility in women, developmental delays in children and increased risk of some prostate, kidney and testicular cancers, according to the EPA," Davenport writes. "Under the new rule, companies are required to immediately report releases of PFOA and PFOS that meet or exceed one pound within a 24-hour period to the National Response Center, and also to state, tribal, and local emergency responders."

As far as cleaning up PFAS -- it isn't simple or cheap. Even after PFAS are removed from water, there is no easy way to dispose of the products produced by the removal process. "Studies have shown that PFAS can be broken down with energy-intensive technologies," reports Fast Company. "But this comes with steep costs. Incinerators must reach over 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit (1,000 Celsius) to destroy PFAS, and the possibility of creating potentially harmful byproducts is not yet well understood."

Click here to review a study and map of PFAS in U.S. tap water.

EPA issues drinking water standards for toxic 'forever chemicals;' for cities and towns, an unknown price awaits

Removing PFAS from drinking water is
costly. (Photo by Samara Doole, Unsplash)

The Environmental Protection Agency has issued its first drinking water standards for "forever chemicals," which are long-lasting and human-made chemicals found in many commercial and industrial products, including nonstick pans, food packaging and common pesticides.  The slowly degrading chemicals have ended up in U.S. drinking water supplies, reports Elizabeth Daigneau of Route Fifty. "The EPA says the new rule will reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses."

The harmfulness of forever chemicals was well documented even as companies continued to use them. Amanda Hoover of Wired reports, "High levels of exposure can cause fertility issues, developmental delays in children, and reduced immune responses, according to the EPA. They can also elevate the risk of several cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancer."

A striking example of how deadly exposure to these chemicals can be was 20-year-old Amara Strande, who died of cancer about a year ago. Strande "became an activist in her short life after being diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer five years earlier," Daigneau reports. "The cancer, which eventually spread to her throat and lungs, was attributed to her exposure to a group of toxic chemicals known as PFAS."

While many communities know their water is tainted by forever chemicals, addressing the problem was strangulated by cost. "City and county water districts agree that something must be done, [but] they are worried the new rule will cost them billions of dollars," Daigneau writes. "To allay these concerns, the Biden administration announced nearly $1 billion in newly available funding through the infrastructure law to help states implement PFAS testing and treatment at public water systems." Some industry estimates indicate that $1 billion in funding won't be near enough.

Read Daigneau's full article to learn more about water clean-up and cost concerns. Click here for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies fact sheet on PFAS myths and clean-up price estimates.

Federal court bans use of dicamba weedkiller on crops; ruling says EPA broke the law when it reapproved it in 2020

Dicamba can cause stunted growth and yield
reduction in plants. (Farm Progress photo)

Dicamba, a weedkiller used to eradicate broadleaf, brush, vines and woody plants in agricultural crops, was banned by an Arizona federal court, which ruled that "The Environmental Protection Agency broke the law in allowing them to be on the market," reports Johnathan Hettinger of The Guardian. "The ruling is specific to three dicamba-based weedkillers manufactured by Bayer (Monsanto), BASF and Syngenta, which have been blamed for millions of acres of crop damage and harm to endangered species and natural areas across the Midwest and South."

The three companies dominate the agrochemical sector, and this ruling is the second to outlaw their dicamba-based herbicides, which are sold on shelves as Banvel, Trimec, Vanquish and Q4 Plus. "In 2020, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its own ban, but months later, the Trump administration re-approved the weedkilling products," Hettinger explains. "In this ruling, an Arizona federal court found the EPA "made a crucial error in re-approving dicamba, finding the agency did not post it for public notice and comment as required by law."

Dicamba was introduced in the United States in the late 1960s, but remained unpopular because of how the chemical interacts with the environment. For instance, it "can volatilize and move long distances when temperatures climb," Hettingger reports. "It is also prone to drifting on the wind far from where it is applied. And it can move into drainage ditches and bodies of water as runoff during rain events."

To address the chemical's harmful elements, "Monsanto, along with the chemical giant BASF, introduced new formulations of dicamba herbicides they said would not be as volatile, and they encouraged farmers to buy Monsanto's newly created dicamba-tolerant crops," Hettering notes. "The EPA first approved Monsanto and BASF versions of dicamba for the 2017 growing season. Since then, dicamba has caused millions of acres of crop damage and has been the subject of several lawsuits."

Rhonda Brooks reports for Farm Journal: The "EPA has not said when it will respond to the court's decision. The ruling, for now, means U.S. farmers will not be able to use dicamba for weed control this season."

When freshwater fish are contaminated by 'forever chemicals,' some are no longer safe to eat

PFAS exposure means some freshwater fish are
labeled 'do not eat.' Photo by Andy Wang, Unsplash

A freshwater fish fry may sound like a delectable dinner, but it may no longer be healthy because substances known as PFAS or 'forever chemicals' have polluted many freshwater fish populations. While the Environmental Protection Agency has been working on PFAS drinking water standards, "Some scientists worry that regulations for freshwater fish are lagging," reports Hannah Norman of KFF Health News. "A recent study from The Environmental Working Group found that just one serving of fish can be equivalent to a month of drinking water contaminated with 48 parts per trillion of the common chemical PFOS."

PFOS and PFOA are part of the PFAS family of synthetic chemicals, which were used to make everything from Teflon to fire-fighting foam. Their chemical structure resists environmental breakdown by nature or the human body, which means they "accumulate in the soil, water, fish and our bodies," Norman explains. According to a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, human PFAS exposure is "associated to cancer, low birth weight and decreased responses to vaccines. . . . At least 17 states have issued PFAS-related fish consumption advisories, KFF Health News found, with some warning residents not to eat any fish caught in particular lakes or rivers."

When it comes to PFAS levels in fish, the federal government hasn't provided any dietary guidance. Instead, states are setting limits with alarming variations. Norman reports, "'Do not eat' thresholds for the general population range from 25.7 parts per billion in New Hampshire to 800 ppb in Alabama. . . . While the EPA has tested hundreds of fish for PFAS and found some samples with concerningly high concentrations, it has no plans to provide national fish consumption advisories."

There is a bit of good news. Norman reports, "The Food and Drug Administration tested saltwater fish and shellfish sold in grocery stores — including Atlantic salmon and canned tuna — and generally found far lower levels of PFAS contamination."

Better known as Roundup, glyphosate is found in pregnant women who live near farms, study finds

Herbicide drift is one possible explanation for the
study's findings. (Photo by Eric Brehm, Unsplash)

Considered the world's most commonly sprayed weedkiller, glyphosate, sometimes sold under the name brand "Roundup," is a suspected cause of  serious health concerns. New research found pregnant women "living near farm fields show 'significantly' increased concentrations of glyphosate weedkiller in their urine during periods when farmers spray their fields with the herbicide," reports Carey Gillam of The Guardian. "The research team said the findings were concerning, given recent studies that have found gestational exposure to glyphosate is associated with reduced fetal growth and other fetal problems."

The study yielded some surprising results, Gilliam writes, "because none of the women studied worked with glyphosate or other herbicides or had a household member who worked with weedkillers, said Cynthia Curl, associate professor at Boise State and lead author on the paper. Curl couldn't account for how the women were exposed and questioned whether herbicide drift, soil particle adhesion, house dust or drinking water were to blame. She told Gilliam: "Until we figure that out, we can't suggest the right interventions."

For the study, researchers from the University of California, the University of Washington, Boise State University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention included 40 pregnant women in southern Idaho and took into account their proximity to farms using glyphosate. "In those living near the fields, glyphosate was detected both more frequently and at much higher concentrations during the months when farmers were spraying glyphosate than during the periods when they were not spraying," Gilliam reports. "Those participants living farther away still showed glyphosate in their urine, but the frequency and concentrations stayed relatively unchanged throughout the year."

Philip Landrigan, director of the Program for Global Public Health at Boston College, told Gilliam, “Sadly, I am not surprised that pregnant women who live near fields sprayed with glyphosate have elevated levels of glyphosate in their bodies during the spraying season. This situation is analogous to the elevated exposures to benzene, 1,3-butadiene and other toxic plastics chemicals that have been documented in women who live in ‘fenceline’ communities.”

Gilliam adds, "Though glyphosate has been on the market for more than 50 years, it is only within the last few years that researchers have started to document the extent of human exposure."

Rural residents rely on private wells, but many are contaminated; experts recommend yearly testing

Midwestern wells can be contaminated with bacteria and
nitrates. (Photo via the Iowa Environmental Council)

While millions of rural Americans depend on private wells, many residents do not test their water regularly, even though a lot of the wells can be contaminated. "More than 43 million Americans rely on private wells, which are subject to a patchwork of state and local regulations, including standards for new construction," reports Tony Leys of KFF Health News. "But in most cases, residents are free to use outdated wells without having them tested or inspected. The practice is common despite concern about runoff from farms and industrial sites, plus cancer-causing minerals that can taint groundwater. . . . Federal experts estimate more than a fifth of private wells have concentrations of contaminants above levels considered safe."

"Experts urge all users of private wells to have them tested at least annually," Leys reports. "The main [contaminate] concerns vary, depending on an area's geology and industries. . . In Midwestern farming regions, primary contaminants include bacteria and nitrates, which can be present in agricultural runoff. . . . In rural Nevada and Maine, arsenic and uranium often taint water." PFAS chemicals, also called "forever chemicals," can also contaminate wells.

Allison Roderick, an environmental health officer for Webster County in rural north-central Iowa, where many residents rely on well water for everything from cooking to showering, uses her position to educate people on the danger of contaminated water and the resources to fix it. "Like many states, Iowa offers aid to homeowners who use well water. The state provides about $50,000 a year to each of its 99 counties to cover testing and help finance well repairs or treatment," Leys explains. "The money comes from fees paid on agricultural chemical purchases, but about half goes unused every year, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. . . . Last spring, Roderick snared an extra $40,000 that other counties hadn't used. . . . When she finds contamination, she can offer up to $1,000 of state grant money to help with repairs or up to $500 to cap an abandoned well."

Sydney Evans, a senior science analyst for the Environmental Working Group, a national advocacy organization that studies water pollution, told Leys, "[People think] as long as the water is coming out of the tap and it doesn't smell funny," everything must be OK. Leys reports, "Some longtime rural residents live in homes that have been in their families for generations. They often know little about their water source. . . . David Cwiertny, director of the University of Iowa's Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination, said they might not realize impure water can harm health over time."

Farm-spread sludge from wastewater plants and factories is a main source of 'forever chemicals' in South Carolina water

Sludge-spreading sites and wells with "forever chemicals" are marked on this satellite image, part of the multimedia package with The State newspaper's story. The image shows part of Darlington County, South Carolina.

The spreading of wastewater sludge on farms is a main suspected source of toxic "forever chemicals" found in streams across South Carolina, says the state government that allowed tens of thousands of acres to be unknowingly contaminated, Sammy Fretwell reports for The State newspaper in Columbia.

“It’s sad. We didn’t know what we were doing to the ground,’’ farmer Robbie O’Neal said of the sludge spreading program his family once relied on. “We were told it was supposed to be good, supposed to be nothing wrong with it. It wasn’t supposed to hurt anything. . . . It has leached into our drinking water and poisoned us.’

Fretwell reports, "More than 3,500 farm fields have been approved to receive sludge. Sewage plants, factories and other types of industrial facilities were approved to spread sludge and wastewater. Now, increasing evidence shows that some sludge contains chemicals with a toxic punch called per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. The class of toxic compounds has only in recent years become widely known to the public. Commonly called forever chemicals, the material is of such concern that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a strict drinking water limit of 4 parts per trillion on some types of the chemicals. Forever chemicals got their name because they do not break down easily in the environment, meaning they can pollute the earth, rivers and groundwater for decades."

For decades, a now-closed textile factory persuaded farmers to use the sludge as fertilizer. In 2019, the government found those chemicals in the drinking water of those farmers and their neighbors, and "All of them lived and worked in areas where farmers had used sludge from the Galey and Lord textile plant. And many of the wells they drank from were polluted with the same chemicals being found in sludge at the factory several miles away. . . . The chemicals are showing up in almost every river tested in the Palmetto State, often at levels above the proposed federal drinking water standard."

Local foes of Army's plan to burn nerve gas persuaded the federal government to change its plans; the job is now done

Craig Williams, local activist, became a national leader.

Headlines around the world Friday announced that the United States had completed destruction of its last chemical weapons, accomplishing a 1997 global treaty's goal of eliminating all declared national stockpiles of such weapons. The final deed was done at the Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond, Ky., ending decades of concern in the town of 36,000 and the surrounding rural area about leaks from the 23-square-mile depot and the incinerator that the Army wanted to build to burn nerve gases and other chemical agents.

Residents of the area mounted a campaign that succeeded in getting the plans changed to a chemical neutralization process, which required more billions and more time but eased fears. In 2019 U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell praised the Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission and the Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board, both co-chaired by local resident and Vietnam veteran Craig Williams. "He said no community has ever had a more effective leader looking out for their interests," the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.

Google map

“With singular focus and an unwavering drive, Craig poured over literally every document, every detail, and literally every inch of Blue Grass. He became the leading expert,” McConnell said. “Time and again, Craig showed an uncanny ability to find answers nobody wanted him to see.” The story of the efforts by Williams and others is told in a documentary by Ben Evans and the Kentucky Environmental Foundation, "Nerve," which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2016 Environmental Film Festival at Yale University.

Shampoos, cleaners, and mothballs all have volatile organic compounds; study sees need for 'national action' for safety

Photo by Crystal de Passillé-Chabot, Unsplash 

Shouldn't a cleaner be clean? There may be no simple answer to that question. "Consumer products released more than 5,000 tons of chemicals in 2020 inside California homes and workplaces that are known to cause cancer, adversely affect sexual function and fertility in adults or harm developing fetuses, according to our newly published study," report Robin Dodson, Megan R. Schwarzman and Ruthann Ridel for The Conversation, a platform for journalism by academics. "We found that many household products like shampoos, body lotions, cleaners and mothballs release toxic volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, into indoor air. In addition, we identified toxic VOCs that are prevalent in products heavily used by workers on the job, such as cleaning fluids, adhesives, paint removers and nail polish. However, gaps in laws that govern ingredient disclosure mean that neither consumers nor workers generally know what is in the products they use."

If most humans don't know these details, how did your study get the data? The study writers explain: "We analyzed data from the California Air Resources Board, which tracks VOCs released from consumer products to reduce smog. The agency periodically surveys companies that sell products in California, collecting information on concentrations of VOCs used in everything from hair spray to windshield wiper fluid. . . . We cross-referenced the most recent data with a list of chemicals identified as carcinogens or reproductive/developmental toxicants under California's right-to-know law Proposition 65. . . . We found 33 toxic VOCs present in consumer products. Over 100 consumer products covered by the CARB contain VOCs."

Does this study matter to people who don't live in California? Yes, the products are common across the country. Study authors report, "Our study identifies consumer products containing carcinogens and reproductive and developmental toxicants that are widely used at home and in the workplace. . . . For example, janitors might use a combination of general cleaners, degreasers, detergents and other maintenance products. . . .Our findings could help state and federal agencies strengthen chemical regulations. We identified five chemicals – cumene, 1,3-dichloropropene, diethanolamine, ethylene oxide and styrene – as high-priority targets for risk evaluation and management under the Toxic Substances Control Act by the Environmental Protection Agency."

Who is most at risk? Women. They report, "Studies have shown that women generally use more cosmetic, personal care and cleaning products than men, so they are likely to be more highly exposed to harmful chemicals. . . . Further, women working in settings like nail salons may be exposed to products used both personally and professionally. . . . Research by members of our team has also shown that product use varies by race and ethnicity, partly due to racialized beauty standards. Policy interventions could be tailored to prioritize these potentially more highly exposed groups. . . . We believe our new analysis points to the need for national action that ensures consumers and workers alike have safer products."