Fertilizers that contain treated sewage tainted with toxic PFAS chemicals can be spread on farmland and pose a health risk to people who consume milk, eggs and beef, the agency says.

Chemicals in sewage sludge that is spread on pasture land as fertilizer are causing cancer, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The E.P.A.’s report follows a growing body of research that has found that sludge can be contaminated with human-made “forever chemicals” known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, which are used in a wide range of household items such as nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing and stain-resistant carpets.

When people eat or drink foods containing “forever” chemicals, the compounds accumulate in the body and can cause kidney, prostate, and testicular cancer.

The use of treated sewage sludge as fertilizer on farms can pose a health risk to residents and consumers because of the presence of "forever chemicals" that break down slowly, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Tuesday.

Farmers who use sewage sludge as fertilizer and their neighbors face higher risks of cancer and other diseases, according to a new federal analysis that pins the blame on toxic forever chemicals. The findings are particularly relevant for northeast Illinois,