A new study has found that landfills are a source of a new class of contaminants that state officials are working to combat
Perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAs, are a class of emerging contaminants that have been found at sites across the state. The’re linked to cancer and other health problems in humans.
The study looked at 35 landfills across the state.
Researchers took samples from landfill leachate - which is water that has passed through the landfill.
Kevin Kendall is the President of the Michigan Waste Recycling Association, which helped conduct the study.
“We did find levels of PFOS and PFOA in the leachate. That was not surprising to us because we know we’ve taken in items that contain them as we perform our vital public health function for the state of Michigan.”
Kendall said PFAs levels in wastewater systems are higher than amounts being discharged from landfills - suggesting other sources of PFAs in wastewater treatment facilities.
“We are a relatively small contributor. We feel really kind of good about that and we look forward to working with the wastewater treatment plants to make it less of a factor.”
A spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality disagreed saying there are instances where landfill leachate is the primary source of PFAs within wastewater collection systems.
They said the PFAs levels were dependent on the leachate discharge - and that varied. At most landfills researchers only took one sample.
The spokesperson said the impacts of PFAs on wastewater collection systems need to be addressed.
You can read the DEQ’s full statement below:
We appreciate the landfill industry’s proactive approach and willingness to collaborate with Michigan as we work to reduce PFAS releases to our state’s waters.
The MWRA data is consistent with the leachate sampling data from landfills that MPART has collected in its own investigations as well as data available from other leachate studies in the US, but it only represents a snapshot in time.
Whether leachate only represents a minor contribution is really dependent on the amount of leachate discharged and the flows at the receiving waste water treatment plant. There are instances where landfill leachate is the primary source of PFAS within wastewater collection systems and those impacts need to be addressed.
We look forward to working with MWRA to identify and implement long term strategies to address PFAS in landfill leachate.