'Forever Chemicals': Scientists Find a Genius (And Cheaper) Way to Remove PFAS From Soil

Researchers proposed a lower-cost way to clean PFAS-contaminated farmland by first raising soil pH with alkaline rock such as basalt or limestone.

The method then uses PFAS-absorbing plants, including hemp and perennial grasses, to pull contaminants out of soil before the biomass is converted into biochar.

PFAS from sewage sludge can linger in farmland for years, threatening crops, water supplies, and farmers who may have few affordable cleanup options.

The approach could reduce remediation costs and avoid some harms linked to current cleanup methods, according to work highlighted by Yale University researchers and published in PNAS.