One way people may be exposed to PFAS is by eating food grown on land impacted by PFAS. This includes livestock raised on land impacted by PFAS. At some farms in Maine, sludge (also known as biosolids) with PFAS was applied to farmland. This introduced PFAS into agricultural soils, which may then be taken up by crops and livestock. PFAS can then end up in products such as milk, meat, and vegetables. PFAS-contaminated water used for irrigation can be another way for PFAS to enter agricultural systems.
Our Work
Maine CDC works closely with the PFAS Response Program at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF) to:
- help interpret sampling results from farms,
- evaluate how people may be exposed to PFAS in agricultural settings, and
- identify ways farmers can reduce or eliminate PFAS in their products.
Maine CDC develops action levels to assess PFAS contamination in food. Maine CDC also develops screening levels for PFAS in soil and water as guidance for further investigation.
Action Levels
Action levels help understand when a farmer may need to change their farming process to protect the health of people who eat their food.
- In 2017, Maine CDC developed an action level of 210 ng/L (ppt) for PFOS in cow's milk.
- In 2020, Maine CDC developed an action level of 3.4 ng/g (ppb) for PFOS in beef.
These action levels were made for DACF to find out whether a farm's milk or beef should not be sold nor delivered for sale. This is in accordance with the state law Title 22 MRS §2155-A. These are currently the only published action levels for agricultural products in Maine.
Screening Levels
Screening levels are provided for common scenarios in Maine farms. These are guidance for when a farm is starting to investigate if PFAS concentrations may lead to concentrations above the action level. In 2020, Maine CDC developed soil screening levels for the scenario of selling milk from a cow that fed on crops grown in soil with PFAS. This can be known as the soil-to-feed-to-cow's milk exposure pathway.
Maine CDC is currently in the process of finalizing soil screening levels for the scenario of selling beef from a cow that fed on crops grown in soil with PFAS. This is known as the soil-to-feed-to-beef exposure pathway.
Technical Reports
- Action Level for PFOS in Cow's Milk - Memorandum to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry from the Maine CDC 2017 (PDF)
- Action Level for PFOS in Beef - Memorandum to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry from the Maine CDC 2020 (PDF)
- Derivation of PFOS soil screening levels for a soil-to-fodder-to-cow's milk agronomic pathway 2020 (PDF)
Additional Information
- Learn more about the DACF's PFAS response efforts, financial assistance for farmers, and the Fund to Address PFAS Contamination
- Learn more about Maine DEP's statewide PFAS investigation
Contact Us
For more information about PFAS in agriculture, please visit the Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry website, send an e-mail to pfas.dacf@maine.gov, or call 207-287-4514.
For health-related questions, please contact 866-292-3474 (toll-free in Maine) or 207-287-4311 or email us at PFAS.MeCDC@maine.gov.