Persistent “forever chemicals” threaten agriculture and food safety, new study warns

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called “forever chemicals,” are silently infiltrating farms and food supplies, posing growing risks to human and environmental health, according to a new perspective article published in New Contaminants.

PFAS are a group of nearly 15,000 synthetic chemicals used since the 1940s in products such as firefighting foams, food packaging, and textiles. Their extreme resistance to degradation allows them to persist in soil, water, crops, and livestock for decades.

“PFAS contamination in agriculture is an overlooked but urgent issue,” said Hui Li, Ph.D., professor at Michigan State University and author of the study. “Soil and food systems are acting as long-term reservoirs of these harmful chemicals, directly linking environmental pollution to the dinner table.”

The paper highlights how PFAS reach farms through wastewater, biosolids, irrigation, and even atmospheric deposition near industrial sites. Once in soil, PFAS can accumulate in edible plants and livestock. Short-chain PFAS, in particular, show high mobility and are more likely to build up in vegetables, grains, and animal products such as milk and meat, raising critical concerns for food safety.

Exposure to PFAS has been linked to immune system suppression, liver and kidney toxicity, hormone disruption, and certain cancers. While the European Union has begun setting limits for PFAS in foods, regulations remain limited in many regions, including the United States.

Li calls for urgent action, including improved monitoring, stronger regulations, and the development of effective soil and water remediation technologies. “Protecting food safety requires immediate collaboration between farmers, scientists, policymakers, and the public,” Li said. “Without proactive measures, PFAS contamination could become a long-term burden on both human health and agricultural sustainability.”

The article, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in agriculture: environmental fate, bioaccumulation and management, is available open access in New Contaminants.

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Journal reference: Li H. 2025. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in agriculture: environmental fate, bioaccumulation and management. New Contaminants 1: e006 https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/newcontam-0025-0005 

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About the Journal:

New Contaminants is an open-access journal focusing on research related to emerging pollutants and their remediation.

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