Because of loopholes in the federal toxics laws, EWG found that it is impossible to account for all uses of the toxic waste shipped to fertilizer companies. Some facilities that received the waste only make fertilizer, but others produce a variety of inorganic chemicals. However, in a series of investigative articles, The Seattle Times has documented the nationwide use of cadmium, lead, arsenic, dioxins, radionuclides and other hazardous waste in fertilizer. In response to those findings, Washington, California, Idaho, New Jersey, North Dakota, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas have laws or regulations in the works to limit toxic waste in fertilizer. Most of the proposals would still not provide consumers with as much protection as Canadian law, which places the burden on fertilizer companies to prove that their products are safe.
Many European nations have even stricter laws.
But beyond this basic public right to know, state and federal health officials must protect our farms, farm families and our nation's food supply from toxic chemical contamination.