Perflourochemical Contamination of Biosolids Near Decatur, Alabama

EPA is coordinating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), State of Alabama, Decatur Utilities Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (Decatur Utilities) and local industries to address elevated levels of PFCs found in treated sewage sludge (biosolids) in Decatur, Alabama. For approximately 12 years (from 1996 to November 2008), these biosolids were used as a soil amendment on about 5000 acres of privately owned agricultural fields (see map) in Lawrence, Morgan and Limestone Counties. A public meeting (PDF, 1 p, 26K) was held in Moulton, Alabama on December 1, 2009, to explain the coordinated federal, state, and local activities and to respond to questions from residents in the community.

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Sampling Activities

Decatur Utilities receives wastewater from numerous industrial sources, including facilities that manufacture and use perflouorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesultfonic acid (PFOS) and other PFCs

In September 2007, EPA Region 4 conducted a small scale reconnaissance study and collected a very small number of biosolids and soil samples where the biosolids were applied near Decatur Alabama. The memorandum (PDF, 2 pp, 1.6M) introducing results from this limited testing (PDF, 32 pp, 1.42M) indicated elevated levels of perfluorinated compounds in the biosolids and the soil that received the biosolids.
As a result, EPA Region 4 conducted sampling of the public drinking water systems in the area. The water sample analyses summary report (PDF, 19 pp, 514K) indicated the levels of PFOA and PFOS in community water systems were below the EPA's drinking water provisional health advisories (PDF, 5 pp, 220K) for these chemicals.
In addition, EPA Region 4 and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) conducted a screening survey to locate ground water wells in areas near the biosolids application sites.
During February 2009, EPA collected and analyzed a total of 51 water samples from drinking water wells, several agricultural wells, and farm ponds in the area. The final summary report for surface and well water samples (PDF, 51 pp, 2.19M) indicated the following:

Two of the six drinking water wells sampled had PFOA levels above EPA's provisional health advisory and none had levels above the PFOS provisional health advisory levels.
The two residences with elevated PFOA levels were provided bottled water and connected to the public water supply system.
Additionally, the remaining four residential drinking water well owners, which do not have elevated PFOA levels, were also afforded the opportunity to connect to the public water system. Two of these residents decided to connect to the local public water supply system. Two residents chose to continue using well water.
The final surface water sampling results from 12 agricultural wells sampled, 32 farm ponds and one stream have a range of levels for PFOA and PFOS. EPA has not yet established PFOA and/or PFOS provisional health advisory values for water that is used for purposes other than human consumption. Therefore, it is not appropriate to compare the drinking water provisional health advisory levels to the final analytic water sample results from these sources.

In March 2009, EPA also collected 30 additional soil samples from farm fields that received the highest application of biosolids. The memorandum (PDF, 2 pp, 1.16M)introducing the final surface-soil sample results (PDF, 45 pp, 853K) and the memorandum (PDF, 2 pp, 54.9K) introducing the final subsurface-soil sample results (PDF, 24 pp, 1.04M) indicated elevated levels of PFCs in the soil that received the biosolids. In response to the detection of PFOA and PFOS in biosolids-applied soils, EPA released (in November 2009) residential soil screening guidance values (PDF, 11 pp, 456K )for PFOA and PFOS that are protective of children who might incidentally ingest soils during play. These soil screening values are based on recently developed toxicity values for PFOA and PFOS (PDF, 9 pp, 2.53M). The resulting soil screening values are 16,000 ppb for PFOA and 6,000 ppb for PFOS. None of the soil samples collected by EPA in 2007 and 2009 exceeded the soil screening values for protection of children's health (which are also protective of adult health.)
In May 2009, USDA sampled blood and tissue from selected cows/steers from farms where Decatur Utilities biosolids were land applied in the past (seven animals associated with "high" application fields; two animals from "minimally" applied fields). The final analytical results from these tests indicate the values are below USDA's minimum proficiency level (MPL) of 20 ppb for both PFOS and PFOA; therefore, these samples are reported as not detectable for PFOS and PFOA. Based on USDA estimates for human health concerns using the MPL as an upper limit value and current Decatur area exposure patterns, this testing supports USDA's finding that there is no reason to believe there are human health concerns with consuming the meat processed from cattle grazed on lands receiving these biosolids.
Also in May 2009, FDA sampled and analyzed two milk samples for PFOA and PFOS. One sample was collected from a single cow and the other sample collected from a bulk milk tank from a dairy farm located in the Decatur area that received limited application of Decatur Utilities biosolids. FDA testing found no PFOA or PFOS in the milk sample from the single cow. A very low level (0.17ppb) of PFOS was detected in the bulk tank milk sample. FDA is currently testing retail milk samples collected throughout the U.S. for PFOA and PFOS to obtain additional information on background levels for PFCs in milk. To date, FDA testing found no PFOA in any of the 18 retail milk samples tested. A very low level of PFOS (0.042 ppb) was detected in one retail milk sample.
In August and September 2009, Decatur Utilities and a group of local businesses conducted additional sampling of the public water supplies near Decatur, Alabama. The final public water supply sampling report (PDF, 21pp, 564K) indicated the levels of PFOA and PFOS in community water systems were below the EPA's drinking water provisional health advisories for these chemicals.
In August 2009, at the request of EPA, Decatur Utilities and a group of local businesses also conducted a comprehensive survey to identify any additional private drinking water wells located within a specified distance from the biosolids application sites. Twelve wells were identified and a sampling plan was developed and implemented. The final drinking water well sampling reports indicated the following:
- The local industries began sampling during August 2009. The final report from the first sampling event (PDF, 28pp, 712K) indicated that none of the wells had PFOA or PFOS levels above EPA's drinking water provisional health advisory.
- In February and March 2010, the group of local industries protocal. In accordance with the sampling plan and, based on the results of the first sampling analyses, the industries sampled seven of the twelve initial drinking wells. The final report from the second sampling event (PDF, 20pp, 242K) indicated that one of these seven drinking water wells had PFOS levels of above EPA's provisional health advisory. The residence with elevated PFOS levels was provided bottled water and connected to the public water supply system.
- The industries conducted the third drinking water well sampling event in May 2010. The final sampling report from the third set of samples (PDF, 15pp, 171K)indicated that none of the six wells sampled had PFOA or PFOS levels above EPA's provisional health advisories.
- In August 2010, the group of local industries conducted the fourth drinking water well sampling event in accordance with their sampling protocal. The final sampling reports from the fourth set of samples (PDF, 18 pp, 279K) indicated none of the six drinking water wells sampled had PFOA or PFOS values above EPA's provisional health advisory.
In April 2010, the Agency for Toxics Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), in collaboration with EPA, voluntarily sampled and tested the blood of 155 residents (PDF, 1p, 171K)in the Decatur area to determine the concentration of PFOA, PFOS, and other PFCs in their blood. The testing was free to qualified participants and the individual's results will be kept. Participants received no other medical tests, diagnosis, or treatment. The ATSDR investigation targeted residents who have potentially been exposed to PFCs released by the biosolids-applied soils or from water sources containing PFCs. Eligible residents received a letter from the ATSDR inviting them to participate in the investigation. In February 2011, each participant received the test results of their perspective PFC blood levels and was invited to meet with an ATSDR toxicologist to discuss their individual blood test results. Participants were informed on whether their test results indicated PFC levels below or above the average of most people in the United States population as referenced in the Centers for Disease control and Prevention (CDC) National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) for PFOA and PFOS. The ATSDR plans to publish the final summary report in 2011.
This investigation targeted residents who have potentially been exposed to PFCs released by the biosolids-applied soils or from water sources containing PFCs. Eligible residents received a letter from ATSDR inviting them to participate in the investigation. After testing, each participant received the results of their respective PFC blood levels in February 2011. The participants were also given an opportunity to meet with an ATSDR toxicologist to discuss their individual blood test results. These individual PFC blood levels were compared to the average PFC blood levels of most people in the United States population as referenced in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Health and Nutritional Examination survey (NHANES) for PFOA and PFOS. ATSDR plans to publish the final Decatur, Alabama PFC blood investigation summary report in 2011.

Industries in the Decatur area have made significant progress over the last few years to reduce and prevent the release of PFCs. The industries have stopped manufacturing PFOS and are phasing out PFOA. Investigations have been ongoing to identify industrial and domestic sources of PFCs to the wastewater treatment plant. Ultimately, the goal is to eliminate or reduce the intake and output of these contaminants to levels that will not impact public health or the environment.

Sampling Results

Permit Compliance Monitoring [EPA's Enforcement and Compliance History Database (ECHO)

3M
Daikin

Future Activities

EPA Region 4 is working collaboratively with the federal, state, and local agencies to understand the extent of PFC contamination from biosolids applied near Decatur, Alabama; the potential routes of exposure, and, any potential health effects on area residents.

Background Information

Information on PFOA and other PFCs is available at the EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/pfoa/index.html
Information on the EPA’s biosolids regulations and other associated publications: http://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/biosolids/index.htm#guidance
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Provisional Health Advisories for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) (January 8, 2009) (PDF, 5pp, 228K)
EPA Region 4 Memorandum: Soil Screening Levels for Perfluorooctanaoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctyl Sulfonate (PFOS) (November 20, 2009)(PDF, 11pp, 456K)
EPA Memorandum: The Toxicity of Perfluoroocatanic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) (October 28, 2009)(PDF, 9pp, 2.35M)
ATSDR: Limited PFC Blood Testing - Morgan, Lawrence, and Limestone Counties, Alabama (December 2009)(PDF, 1p, 104K)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals; National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) for PFOA and PFOS
Public Meeting Announcement For December 1, 2009 in Moulton, Alabama (PDF, 1p, 26K)
EPA Map: Perfluorochemical Contamination of Biosolids Near Decatur, Alabama
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Fact Sheet: Land Application of Perfluorochemical (PFC) Contaminated Biosolids Near Decatur, Alabama (March 2011) (PDF, 5pp, 56.9K)
Q&A's - Soil Contamination in Decatur, AL Prepared by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (March 22, 2011) (PDF, 18pp, 93.6K)

For information about the contents of this page please contact Connie Roberts (roberts.connie@epa.gov)

Perflourochemical Contamination of Biosolids Near Decatur, Alabama

Sampling Activities

Sampling Results

Future Activities

Background Information

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