Crucial PFAS contamination prevention for NH
New Hampshire has already learned the hard way what happens when we fail to take PFAS contamination seriously. That is why passage of HB 1275 is so important.
PFAS — often called “forever chemicals” — do not break down in the environment. Once they are released, they persist for decades. Applying sewage sludge that contains PFAS to agricultural and landscaping land spreads these toxic chemicals directly into our food system and groundwater, putting farmers, families and entire communities at risk.
Scientific evidence has linked PFAS exposure to serious health harms, including cancer, immune system suppression, thyroid disease, developmental issues in children and reproductive harm. These chemicals move easily from soil into crops and drinking water, meaning contamination does not stay contained — it spreads, often silently, until the damage is widespread and irreversible.
The environmental consequences are just as severe. PFAS chemicals contaminate surface waters and disrupt ecosystems that New Hampshire depends on. Once land is contaminated, it can be permanently damaged, limiting agricultural use and reducing property values.
There is also a massive economic cost to ignoring this problem. Cleaning up PFAS contamination is extraordinarily expensive, often costing millions of dollars per site — those costs ultimately fall on taxpayers. Preventing contamination in the first place is far more responsible and far less costly than attempting to clean it up later.
HB 1275 is about common sense and prevention. It protects our farms, water, health and economy by stopping the spread of dangerous chemicals before they can cause permanent harm. New Hampshire should be leading on PFAS protection, not repeating past mistakes.