Research by Scearce and Schattman highlights how PFAS uptake differs among crops
PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals,” don’t behave the same way in every crop, according to new research from UMaine. Graduate student Alex Scearce, Mitchell Center faculty fellow Rachel Schattman, and their colleagues grew lettuce, tomatoes, and tall fescue in PFAS-contaminated soil and measured how much of the chemicals each plant absorbed — and where they ended up.
Tall fescue, a common livestock forage, showed the highest PFAS concentrations overall, raising concerns for dairy and beef production. Lettuce and tomatoes absorbed less, but the researchers found some surprises: short-chain PFAS were more likely to show up in edible parts, and lettuce leaves held more long-chain PFAS than expected.
The team also tested growing crops together (intercropping) but discovered it usually increased PFAS levels in edible portions, with only limited exceptions.
“This research shows that PFAS uptake is complex — it depends on the crop, the specific PFAS chemicals, and even how the plants are grown,” said Scearce. “Understanding these patterns helps farmers make more informed decisions about what to plant on contaminated soils.”
These findings highlight the challenges of managing PFAS on farmland and provide valuable insights for farmers, policymakers, and scientists working to reduce human exposure through food.