Catskill Mountainkeeper Urges Action to Ban Toxic Sludge Before Session Ends
Before the New York State Senate and Assembly leave for summer recess, Catskill Mountainkeeper is pushing for a statewide ban on toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in farm fertilizers.
An environmental advocacy group in Sullivan County, Catskill Mountainkeeper is sounding the alarm about the use of biosolids in fertilizers to grow food. They are calling for supporters to contact their members of the New York State Senate and Assembly to vote "Yes" on the Management of PFAS in Biosolids Act before their legislative sessions end on June 12 and June 17 respectively.
High levels of PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, often referred to as “forever chemicals” in food, water, and packaging have been linked to a weakened antibody response to vaccines, increased cholesterol levels, and even certain cancers, including liver and testicular.
In response, this bill would require vital testing of soil, water, and sludge, in order to ban the use of forever chemicals on farmland.
Radio Catskill's Genevieve Hartnett spoke with Wes Gillingham, Associate Director of Catskill Mountainkeeper about how PFAS contaminates farmland and whether or not the bill has a chance to pass before the legislative sessions end next week in Albany.
