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In 2026, the Environmental Working Group reported that PFAS, the synthetic compounds known as forever chemicals, were detected on 63% of Dirty Dozen produce samples. Weeks later, the EPA added PFAS to its draft Contaminant Candidate List for drinking water for the first time, formally acknowledging that these persistent chemicals are present in the water supply that irrigates American farms.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a class of thousands of synthetic chemicals that do not break down in the environment or in the human body. They have been detected in human blood, breast milk, arterial plaque, and major organs. Their presence in the food supply is now a mainstream public health concern, and produce grown in contaminated soil or irrigated with contaminated water is one of the primary dietary exposure routes.
This article covers what PFAS are, how they enter the produce you eat, what the latest research and regulatory actions say, and practical steps to reduce your exposure, including growing your own produce in a closed indoor hydroponic system that sidesteps the agricultural contamination pathways entirely.
Key takeaways
- PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals that persist indefinitely in the environment and in the human body, earning them the name ‘forever chemicals.’
- The 2026 EWG Dirty Dozen report found PFAS on 63% of the most pesticide-contaminated produce samples, the first year PFAS data was included in the Shopper’s Guide.
- PFAS enter produce through two primary agricultural routes: sewage sludge (biosolids) applied as fertilizer to farm fields, and PFAS-contaminated irrigation water.
- In April 2026, the EPA added PFAS, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals to its draft Contaminant Candidate List for drinking water for the first time.
- Indoor hydroponic growing in a closed system with clean tap water and soilless growing media avoids both the biosolid and irrigation water PFAS pathways that affect field-grown produce.
What are PFAS?
PFAS stands for per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a family of more than 12,000 synthetic chemicals characterized by strong carbon-fluorine bonds that make them extremely resistant to degradation. They were originally developed for non-stick coatings, water-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foam, but decades of manufacturing and disposal have spread them throughout the environment.
Why they are called forever chemicals
The carbon-fluorine bond in PFAS is one of the strongest in chemistry. Unlike most organic pollutants, PFAS do not break down through natural processes: not in sunlight, not in soil, not in water treatment, and not in the human body. Once PFAS enter an ecosystem or a person, they accumulate over time. The EPA estimates that PFAS contamination affects drinking water for tens of millions of Americans.
Where PFAS have been found in humans
PFAS have been detected in the blood of 97% of Americans tested by the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Research has found PFAS in human blood, breast milk, liver tissue, kidneys, lungs, placental tissue, and arterial plaque. A 2024 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that patients with microplastics and PFAS in arterial plaque had a 4.53-fold higher risk of cardiovascular events.
How PFAS enter the produce you eat
Sewage sludge (biosolids) applied as fertilizer
Wastewater treatment plants collect PFAS from industrial discharge, household products, and stormwater runoff. The resulting sludge, called biosolids, is widely applied to agricultural land as fertilizer. PFAS in the biosolids are absorbed by crops through root uptake, concentrating in leafy greens and other produce. The EPA and USDA have documented PFAS contamination on farms that received biosolid applications, and some states have begun restricting or banning the practice.
Contaminated irrigation water
PFAS contaminate surface water and groundwater through industrial discharge, landfill leachate, and firefighting foam runoff. When this water is used for crop irrigation, PFAS are deposited on plant surfaces and absorbed through roots. Farms near military bases, airports, and industrial facilities are at highest risk, but PFAS contamination has been detected in water sources across most U.S. states.
PFAS-containing pesticides
The 2026 EWG Dirty Dozen report brought a new dimension to the PFAS-in-food conversation: PFAS were detected as components of pesticide formulations applied directly to crops. This means that even farms using clean water and uncontaminated soil can introduce PFAS through pesticide application. The finding that 63% of Dirty Dozen samples carried PFAS residues suggests this pathway is widespread.
Food packaging and processing
PFAS are used in grease-resistant food packaging (fast food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, takeout containers) and in some food processing equipment. While this pathway affects processed foods more than fresh produce, it adds to total dietary PFAS exposure.
| PFAS accumulate, they do not flush out
Unlike many food contaminants that the body processes and eliminates, PFAS accumulate in tissue over a lifetime. The half-life of PFOS (one common PFAS compound) in the human body is estimated at 3.4 to 7.4 years. This means that even low-level chronic exposure from food builds up over time, making source reduction more important than periodic avoidance. |
What the 2026 EWG Dirty Dozen PFAS findings mean
The 2026 Shopper’s Guide was the first to include PFAS data alongside traditional pesticide residue rankings. Key findings:
- 63% of Dirty Dozen produce samples had detectable PFAS residues.
- Spinach (#1 on Dirty Dozen), kale (#2), and strawberries (#3) were among the items with PFAS detections.
- PFAS were identified as components of pesticide formulations, not just environmental contaminants, meaning they are being applied directly to crops.
- The finding adds a new category of concern beyond traditional synthetic pesticide residues: consumers are now exposed to both conventional pesticides and persistent forever chemicals on the same produce items.
For the full Dirty Dozen breakdown including Gardyn-growable alternatives, see our 2026 Dirty Dozen guide.
The EPA’s April 2026 action: PFAS on the Contaminant Candidate List
In April 2026, the EPA added PFAS to its draft sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6) for drinking water, alongside microplastics and pharmaceuticals. This is the first time PFAS, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals have been designated as priority contaminant groups in the CCL.
The CCL is the first step in the Safe Drinking Water Act regulatory process. Contaminants on the list may require future regulation, though inclusion on the list does not impose immediate requirements on water systems. The EPA is expected to finalize the list by November 2026.
This regulatory action matters for produce safety because agricultural irrigation water is drawn from the same surface water and groundwater sources that supply drinking water. If PFAS are present in a region’s drinking water, they are likely present in the irrigation water used for local farms.
Health concerns associated with PFAS exposure
The scientific evidence linking PFAS to adverse health outcomes is substantial and growing. Research has associated PFAS exposure with:
- Increased cancer risk, particularly kidney and testicular cancer
- Thyroid disease and endocrine disruption
- Immune system suppression, including reduced vaccine effectiveness
- Reproductive effects including reduced fertility, pregnancy complications, and developmental effects in children
- Elevated cholesterol levels
- Liver damage
- Increased cardiovascular risk (the 2024 NEJM study linked PFAS in arterial plaque to 4.53x higher cardiovascular event risk)
Regulatory agencies including the EPA, FDA, and European Food Safety Authority have acknowledged these health concerns while noting that establishing definitive safe exposure thresholds for the thousands of individual PFAS compounds remains an active area of research.
How to reduce PFAS exposure from food
Grow your most-consumed produce at home
Indoor hydroponic growing in a system like Gardyn’s Hybriponic™ avoids both primary agricultural PFAS pathways:
- No biosolid exposure: Soilless yCubes contain no sewage sludge, no field soil, and no accumulated PFAS from decades of biosolid application.
- No contaminated irrigation: The system circulates clean tap water in a closed loop. If your household has PFAS concerns about tap water, a reverse osmosis or activated carbon filter can reduce PFAS levels before the water enters the system.
- No PFAS pesticides: Indoor growing uses zero pesticides of any kind, eliminating the PFAS-containing pesticide pathway identified in the 2026 EWG report.
Prioritize home growing for Dirty Dozen items
Focus indoor growing slots on the produce categories with the highest combined PFAS and pesticide exposure: spinach, kale, strawberries, peppers, cherry tomatoes, celery, and green beans. Gardyn grows yCubes for all of these.
| Dirty Dozen item | PFAS + pesticide concern | Gardyn yCube | Product link |
| Spinach (#1) | Highest pesticide residue + PFAS detections | Spinach, Perpetual Spinach | /plants/ |
| Kale (#2) | Up to 21 pesticides per sample + PFAS | Kale, Kale Lacinato | /product/kale/ |
| Strawberries (#3) | Perennial #1 for pesticide residue + PFAS | Strawberries, Mini Strawberries | /product/strawberries/ |
| Peppers (#9) | Rising pesticide rankings + PFAS | Sweet Peppers, Jalapenos, Banana Peppers | /product/sweet-peppers/ |
| Cherry tomatoes | Extended Dirty Dozen list + PFAS | Cherry Tomatoes, Yellow Cherry Tomato | /product/cherry-tomatoes/ |
| Celery | Recurring Dirty Dozen item + PFAS | Celery | /product/celery/ |
| Green beans (#12) | New to Dirty Dozen + PFAS | Green Beans, Dragon Beans | /product/green-beans/ |
For produce you buy at the store
- Choose produce from regions with lower PFAS contamination where possible (this information is rarely available to consumers, which is part of the problem).
- Wash produce thoroughly under running water. Washing removes surface PFAS but not PFAS absorbed through root uptake.
- Peel root vegetables and thick-skinned fruits where practical.
- Avoid food packaging with grease-resistant coatings (fast food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags).
- Filter your drinking and cooking water with a reverse osmosis or NSF-certified activated carbon filter, which can reduce PFAS levels.
Understand what washing can and cannot do
Washing produce under running water removes some surface-deposited PFAS from pesticide spray or irrigation splash. However, PFAS that have been absorbed into plant tissue through root uptake from contaminated soil cannot be removed by washing, peeling, or cooking. This is why source avoidance (growing in clean media with clean water) is more effective than post-harvest treatment.
The connection between PFAS, microplastics, and produce safety
PFAS and microplastics are increasingly studied together because they co-occur in agricultural environments, may interact synergistically in thebody, and share a common characteristic: persistence. A 2025 study published in Environmental Pollution found synergistic toxicity of PFAS and microplastic mixtures across five human cell lines, suggesting that combined exposure may be more harmful than either contaminant alone.
For Gardyn growers, the indoor hydroponic approach addresses both contaminant classes simultaneously: no soil means no biosolid-derived PFAS or microplastics, no field irrigation means no waterborne PFAS or microplastic deposition, and no pesticides means no PFAS-containing spray residues.
For more on microplastics specifically, see our guide to microplastics in produce.
| Grow produce free from forever chemicals.
Gardyn’s Hybriponic™ system grows 100+ varieties of produce in soilless yCubes with clean water in a closed loop. No biosolids, no contaminated irrigation, no PFAS pesticides, no microplastics. Explore Gardyn Home (30 plants) or Gardyn Studio (16 plants). |
Further reading
EPA: PFAS Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6)
EWG: 2026 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce
Frequently asked questions
What are PFAS?
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a family of more than 12,000 synthetic chemicals with extremely strong carbon-fluorine bonds that resist degradation in the environment and in the human body. They are called ‘forever chemicals’ because they do not break down naturally. They were originally used in non-stick coatings, water-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foam but have spread throughout the environment through manufacturing, disposal, and agricultural practices.
Are PFAS in my produce?
Possibly. The 2026 EWG Dirty Dozen report found PFAS on 63% of the most pesticide-contaminated produce samples. PFAS enter produce through contaminated irrigation water, biosolid-amended soil, and PFAS-containing pesticide formulations. The extent of contamination varies by region, farm practices, and crop type. Growing produce at home in a system like Gardyn avoids these pathways entirely.
Does washing produce remove PFAS?
Washing removes some surface-deposited PFAS from spray residue or irrigation splash, but it cannot remove PFAS that have been absorbed into plant tissue through root uptake from contaminated soil. Source avoidance (growing in clean media with clean water) is more effective than post-harvest washing.
Does organic produce have less PFAS?
Not necessarily. Organic certification restricts synthetic pesticide use but does not address PFAS in irrigation water or biosolid-amended soil. Organic farms that use municipal water or have received biosolid applications in the past may still grow produce with PFAS contamination. The 2026 EWG findings included PFAS on produce regardless of organic status.
Can a water filter remove PFAS?
Yes, certain filters can significantly reduce PFAS in water. Reverse osmosis systems and NSF-certified activated carbon filters are the most effective. Standard pitcher filters and refrigerator filters vary in effectiveness. If you use a Gardyn system and have PFAS concerns about your tap water, filtering the water before adding it to the system provides an additional layer of protection.
How does indoor hydroponic growing avoid PFAS?
Indoor hydroponic growing in a system like Gardyn’s Hybriponic™ avoids PFAS through three structural features: (1) soilless yCubes contain no biosolid-derived PFAS, (2) clean tap water in a closed loop avoids contaminated agricultural irrigation, and (3) zero pesticide use eliminates PFAS-containing spray formulations. See how it works for system details.
Should I stop eating fruits and vegetables because of PFAS?
No. The health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables far outweigh the risks from PFAS exposure at currently detected levels. Public health agencies, including the FDA and EPA, advise continuing to eat produce while working to reduce PFAS contamination at the source. For consumers who want to minimize exposure, growing the most-consumed items at home and filtering water are practical steps that do not require reducing produce intake.