Researchers at Michigan Tech are investigating whether fish waste used in composting for food production poses contamination risks from PFAS chemicals.
Dr. Judith Perlinger, Professor Emerita at Michigan Technological University, recently received a grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to support the research. The project examines PFAS contamination levels in fish remains commonly used in composting for nutrient-rich soil in food production.
“There’s efforts going on by this group to find uses for these fish remains,” Perlinger said. “And that’s what this research contributes to, is whether or not it’s safe to put fish waste on compost and use it as fertilizer.”
The research involves two Michigan Tech students, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, and researchers at the University at Buffalo. The project continues the mission of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers 100 Percent Great Lakes Fish Initiative.
Samples collected at the Debweyenden Indigenous Community Gardens, operated by KBIC, will be processed at Michigan Tech before being sent to the University at Buffalo for further analysis.
“We bring the samples back to Michigan Tech. We process them. So we extract the PFAS chemicals from them and then we measure the concentrations in the extracts,” Perlinger said. “And so to measure them, we’re sending the samples, the extracts, to University at Buffalo.”
Perlinger noted the research could help food producers understand how PFAS chemicals enter their fields and products, potentially protecting both consumers and agricultural operations. Learn more here.
