In fallout likened to the Chernobyl catastrophe, a group of ranchers in Johnson County, Texas are claiming their land and animals have been poisoned after contact with a fertilizer produced by Synagro.
The fertilizer product was used by a neighboring rancher to fertilize his property. Synagro asserts their products follow all government safety standards. The fertilizer is made from biosolids, a product of recycled human waste sourced in this case from a waste water treatment facility in nearby Fort Worth, Texas. Ranchers believe “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, from the human waste are responsible for destroying the land and sickening or killing their cattle, horses, and fish.
Rancher Tony Coleman told WFAA he has lost two homes, five ponds of fish, and 10 cows because of runoff from the fertilizer.
“We are nervous, and we are scared,” he said. “You have your whole livelihood taken from you.”
Last year, Mr. Coleman reached out to Johnson County Constable Detective Dana Ames, who has opened a criminal investigation into the disaster. Ms. Ames partnered with scientists and experts to investigate the source of the contamination and presented her findings to the Johnson County Commissioners Court.
“It’s chemicals that are man made,” Detective Ames said. “It’s in the sewage sludge. It’s in the biosolids.”
PFAS chemicals can be found in a variety of foods and products, from makeup to shampoo to cookware to food wrappers. Experts say these PFAS chemicals or “forever chemicals” are cancer-causing and can be deadly to humans as well as animals.
Animals and water tested from impacted Johnson County farms were found to contain very high levels of PFAS.
“My first thought was, this is Chernobyl, a nuclear meltdown,” commissioner Kenny Howell told the court after hearing the findings.
Synagro denies the claims and maintains that their fertilizer is safe and meets all state and federal requirements. Biosolid fertilizers are used for agricultural purposes all across the United States. It can contain high levels of PFAS, according to a group called Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).
Farmers who use biosolid fertilizers are told it is cheap and safe to use.
“They have been victimized as much as anybody.” said Johnson County Commissioner Larry Wooley.
Ranchers have filed a lawsuit against Synagro over the damages. Mary Whittle, an attorney representing the ranchers, says her clients may have to abandon their land and even euthanize their animals.
“This stuff should be banned all across America,” Mr. Coleman told WFAA. “I mean, what are our children going to do? You’re ruining their land, you’re ruining their water source. What are they going do? You’ve got to stop.”
In 2022, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection banned biosolid fertilizers after finding similar PFAS contamination and animal fatalities. The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently conducting a nationwide study on possible biosolid impact and plans to release findings in December, along with recommendations as to whether or not companies producing biosolids should be regulated.
