# **Fertiliser Contaminated with PFAS Tied to Farmer Illnesses and Animal Deaths in Johnson County, Texas**
## **Investigating a Troubling Environmental Crisis**
In Johnson County, Texas, a concerning public health and environmental issue has surfaced, with farmers experiencing health issues, livestock fatalities, and fish deaths in local ponds under unexplained conditions. After close to two years of investigation, authorities suspect they have pinpointed the source: fertilizer derived from biosolids tainted with alarmingly high levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
This finding is part of a continuing criminal probe into the application of Synagro fertilizer—processed sewage sludge from municipal wastewater—which is believed to have released harmful chemicals into the environment. This case has raised significant worries regarding the safety of land-applied biosolids and their potential long-term effects on human health, animals, and the overall food chain.
## **Farmers Report Unusual Health Issues and Widespread Animal Deaths**
The issue first became known in late December 2022 when a local farmer filed a grievance with environmental crimes investigator Dana Ames from Johnson County. The farmer claimed that his neighbor had been distributing a foul-smelling fertilizer, causing respiratory problems for residents in the area. He also noted that fish in his and surrounding ponds had died following earlier applications of the same product. Livestock, including cattle and horses, had shown signs of illness, with some cases leading to death.
Upon arrival, Ames witnessed a concerning scene: large, black smoldering heaps of fertilizer belching thick smoke and emitting a nauseating odor that almost made her gag. The origin of the strange smoke is still uncertain, but there are theories suggesting possible involvement of microplastics and reactions occurring during composting.
## **Examining PFAS Pollution in Fertiliser**
Ames’ inquiry quickly revealed alarming findings. She determined that the fertilizer under scrutiny was a Synagro product made from biosolids—sewage sludge processed from Fort Worth’s municipal wastewater. Laboratory testing of samples obtained from local soil, water, fish, and livestock tissues unveiled critically high levels of PFAS.
PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals” due to their long-lasting nature in the environment and resistance to natural decomposition, are associated with various health problems, such as cancer, liver issues, reproductive complications, and immune system dysfunction. Among the 32 PFAS substances identified on the impacted properties, the most alarming included:
– **Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)**
– **Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)**
– **Hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (GenX)**
Test results indicated shockingly high contamination levels:
– **Drinking water wells** measured from **91 nanograms per liter (ng/l) to 268 ng/l**.
– **Soil samples** ranged from **97 ng/l to over 6,291 ng/l**.
– **A stillborn calf’s liver showed 613,000 ng/l of PFOS**—a disturbing figure compared to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s recently established **safe drinking water standard of only 4 ng/l for PFOS and PFOA**.
## **Understanding the Spread of PFAS Contamination**
PFAS contamination from biosolid-based fertilizers presents a serious risk due to a process known as **biomagnification**, where toxic compounds rise in concentration within organisms as they ascend the food chain.
– **Biosolid fertilizers taint the soil, which takes up PFAS**.
– **Precipitation and irrigation transport these chemicals into groundwater and local ponds**.
– **Livestock drink the tainted water and eat contaminated vegetation, further amassing PFAS in their systems**.
– **Humans ingest PFAS by consuming affected livestock, dairy products, and plants cultivated in contaminated areas**.
County Commissioner Larry Woolley, a lifelong farmer with an agriculture degree, reported instances of hundreds of fish deaths and losses of **35 cattle and five horses** due to PFAS poisoning. Worried farmers have since ceased selling their meat due to concerns about transmitting contamination to the public.
## **Legal Developments: An Examination of Regulations**
Alongside the criminal investigation, two significant lawsuits are currently in progress:
1. **Lawsuit Against Synagro** – A coalition of **impacted farmers has initiated a liability lawsuit** against Synagro and its Texas branch, seeking monetary compensation for damages. The lawsuit claims that Synagro’s biosolid fertilizers harbor harmful PFAS levels, causing both environmental and economic harm for local agriculture.
2. **Lawsuit Against the EPA** – Environmental advocacy group