News excerpt:

According to the recent findings by the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), higher concentrations of PFAS were found in biogas digestate from sewage sludge compared to that from food waste.

About Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS):

• The per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water.
  • Fluoropolymer coatings can be in a variety of products.
    • These include water-resistant fabrics, carpeting, adhesives, food packaging, heat-resistant non-stick cooking surfaces, and electrical wire insulation.
• They are man-made chemicals, first used in the 1940s, found in rivers and lakes, along with many animals on land and in the water.
• PFAS in the environment can enter the food supply through plants and animals grown, raised, or processed in contaminated areas.
  • It is also possible for very small amounts of PFAS to enter foods through food packaging, processing, and cookware.
• Chemically, individual PFAS can be very different. However, all have a carbon-fluorine bond, which is very strong and therefore, they do not degrade easily.
• Cause  of accumulation:
• • It may be related to poor source sorting.
  • For example, people who have mistakenly disposed of pharmaceutical residues along with their food waste.
• Cause of concern: Many PFAS, including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are a concern because they:
  • do not break down in the environment,
  • can move through soils and contaminate drinking water sources,
  • build up (bioaccumulate) in fish and wildlife.