Hey everyone! I bought soil for my raised garden beds a couple of years back, but I recently found out that the supplier stopped selling it due to high levels of PFAS, which are known as forever chemicals. Now I'm in a bit of a bind because I don't feel safe growing my veggies in this soil. I'm looking for advice on either how to remediate the soil or the best way to dispose of it. I have a feeling I might need to remove the soil and get a fresh batch, but in the meantime, I'll be using pots for my veggies this year. Any suggestions?
3 Answers
Consider planting sunflowers! They have been shown to help clean up contaminated soil and are even used in areas like Chernobyl. Plus, you should definitely do annual soil testing to keep an eye on things.
Honestly, PFAS are everywhere—from rain to food to our bodies. You might want to question how often you get your groceries tested for PFAS, or even if you’ve tested the soil before using it in your beds. It can feel overwhelming, but remember, a lot of new studies find these chemicals all over the place. It's possible that by changing your soil, you might just be swapping one problem for another without knowing it. Just keep that in mind as you decide what to do next!
First off, I’d recommend getting a soil test to check your contamination levels. The harsh reality is that PFAS are quite prevalent in the environment, so it’s not just about your soil, but rather whether the levels are dangerous. However, knowing where you stand with the numbers is crucial.
Honestly, I think there's no 'safe' level of PFAS in our environment anymore.