Stony Brook study: 'Forever' chemicals unhealthy presence in Long Island farm vegetables

Cancer-causing "forever chemicals" from pesticides, fertilizer and common household products were in samples of beets, carrots and other vegetables purchased at Long Island farms, according to a new Stony Brook University study.

The synthetic chemicals, known by the acronym PFAS, have been linked to a range of health problems, including kidney and testicular cancer, liver damage and developmental delays in children. They are here to stay — unseen and ubiquitous, but eventually ending up in the food supply — unless state and federal leaders work to pass legislation aimed at removing PFAS in the manufacturing of everything from clothing to cookware, the authors of the study said Thursday.

"This has nothing to do with farming practices or the agriculture here," said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of the Long Island environmental group Citizens Campaign for the Environment, who announced the study and took part in the research.

"While this study was on Long Island, it is not unique to Long Island," Esposito said. "This study is symptomatic of what is happening in our food not only across America, but across the globe."

Long Island officials have taken steps to remove PFAS from drinking water, but it has remained in the environment, including water and soil. It’s estimated that 98% of the population have PFAS chemicals in their blood stream, said Kyla Bennet, director of science policy for one of the groups involved in the study, the Maryland-based Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, also known as PEER.

The study was conducted in August with scientists from Stony Brook and the Wisconsin-based Lasee Research and Consulting.

Concerned Citizens for the Environment staff bought produce from eight farm stands on Long Island’s north and south forks for testing, including two organic growers, Esposito said.

The 23 items tested, including carrots, lettuce and beets all showed some levels of PFAS chemicals, according to the study. The produce had varying levels of contamination and there was no known cause, officials said.

 A 2023 "Rural Soil Background Study" by the state Department of Conservation showed some form of the forever chemicals in 97% of samples tested "across New York."

Exposure to PFAS chemicals for long periods of time can also lead to lower birth weights. Officials said there is no safe level of exposure.

Advocates on Thursday urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take remediation efforts and for state lawmakers to complete work on a bill to remove PFAS chemicals in manufacturing that has already been passed in New York's Senate and currently is in the state Assembly.

The EPA under former Long Island U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin has moved to roll back and rescind limits on PFAS in drinking water.

"This is not a problem that is specific to Long Island," said Bennet. "This is a nationwide contamination crisis. We are trying to understand the extent and the sources of contamination."

PFAS chemicals are also used in sewage or sludge fertilizer treatments known as biosolids, but biosolids are not used on Long Island, officials said.

Officials stressed that farm-grown vegetables are safe, but are not immune to PFAS chemicals infecting crops through blowing dust or rainfall. The contamination may be through a combination of factors absorbed through the root system, Esposito said. 

Scientists and advocates who completed the study said there is no way to remove the chemicals through cleaning or peeling vegetables. The highest rate of PFAS contamination was found in carrots. PFAS was detected in vegetables from both conventional and organic farms.

Long Island Farm Bureau director Bill Zalakar said there needs to be more government environmental protection for farms and food supply, and more research on PFAS chemicals origins.

"We all know that we have a worldwide problem with PFAS and the other chemicals, and I think we all need to work together to get to the bottom of this, the root and where these are coming from," Zalakar said. "I will stand behind our produce, and food that we produce on Long Island is some of the best in the country. ... The United States needs to be concerned about where your food comes from."

Newsday's Drew Singh and Virginia Huie contributed to this story.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.