Innovative Method Unveils Affordable Removal of 'Forever Chemicals' From Farmland

WHO:

Fast Company - Winslow and Laura Robinson are organic farmers in Maine.

Fast Company - Noah Planavsky is a geochemistry professor at Yale University.

Fast Company - The Yale University research team conducted the study.

WHAT:

Fast Company - A new study suggests a low-cost method for removing "forever chemicals" from farmland.

Fast Company - Existing methods for PFAS remediation can cost up to $1 million per acre.

Fast Company - The proposed method could bring contamination down to a safe threshold within a decade.

Phys.org - The Yale-led research team proposed a less expensive and environmentally friendly method for PFAS removal.

WHERE:

Fast Company - The study focuses on farmland in the United States, particularly in Maine.

Fast Company - Sewage sludge has been used as fertilizer on farms across the country since the 1970s.

WHEN:

Fast Company - Maine banned the use of sewage sludge on farms in 2022.

Fast Company - The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

WHY:

Fast Company - Farmers have been using sewage sludge as fertilizer due to financial constraints and the belief that it is safe.

Fast Company - PFAS chemicals have been linked to health issues such as liver disease and cancer.

HOW:

Fast Company - The proposed method involves planting crops like hemp and sunflowers that absorb PFAS, adding crushed alkaline rocks to raise soil pH, and heating harvested crops to break down PFAS.

Fast Company - The process creates biochar, which can be added back to the soil to help trap more PFAS.

Fast Company - The method is significantly cheaper than existing PFAS cleanup methods and could potentially be funded through carbon removal credits.

(UPDATED July 22, 2026 15:32 UTC)

A new study led by a Yale University research team, including geochemistry professor Noah Planavsky, suggests a low-cost and environmentally friendly method for removing harmful "forever chemicals" from farmland, particularly in Maine. The proposed technique involves planting crops like hemp and sunflowers that absorb PFAS, using crushed alkaline rocks to raise soil pH, and heating the harvested crops to break down these chemicals, ultimately creating biochar that can help trap more PFAS in the soil. This innovative approach could bring contamination down to safe levels within a decade, offering a significant financial advantage over existing methods that can cost up to $1 million per acre.