{"id":19373,"date":"2022-04-27T14:33:24","date_gmt":"2022-04-27T18:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/?page_id=19373"},"modified":"2026-04-17T04:53:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T08:53:40","slug":"understanding-pfas-and-your-home-garden","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/understanding-pfas-and-your-home-garden\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding PFAS and Your Home Garden"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>There are many ways individuals can be exposed to PFAS, including their clothing, what they cook with, their water, personal care products, and materials in their homes. Your garden may be one potential source of PFAS exposure.<\/p>\n<p>There are a number of routes that PFAS may have entered your garden as outlined on this page. If none of these apply to your garden, you are likely at low risk for PFAS being present in your garden.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The purpose of this document is to help you investigate the likelihood of elevated levels of PFAS in your garden.<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3><strong>Please Note: <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>This guide is a living document that will be updated regularly. This version was updated on <strong>October 22, 2024<\/strong> and reflects the best available information at this time. Please bookmark this page and check back on a regular basis for the latest version.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>PFAS and the Maine Food System<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>This section, \u201cUnderstanding PFAS and Your Home Garden,\u201d is a recommended resource relevant to the work that University of Maine Cooperative Extension and other statewide partners are doing in providing Maine\u2019s communities with essential information regarding PFAS.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>For More Information and Additional PFAS Resources:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/pfas\/\" style=\"text-transform:none;\" ><span class=\"button\"> Return to: PFAS and the Maine Food System <\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Steps to Understanding PFAS:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/understanding-pfas-and-your-home-garden\/step-1\/\">Step 1: What are PFAS and Where Did They Come From?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/understanding-pfas-and-your-home-garden\/step-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Step 2: Are There PFAS Compounds Already in My Garden?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/understanding-pfas-and-your-home-garden\/step-3\/\">Step 3: Can I Test My Water for PFAS?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/understanding-pfas-and-your-home-garden\/step-4\/\">Step 4: What Can I Do if My Water is Contaminated with PFAS?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/understanding-pfas-and-your-home-garden\/step-5\/\">Step 5: Can I Take a Soil Test to Check for PFAS in My Garden?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/understanding-pfas-and-your-home-garden\/step-6\/\">Step 6: What Can I Do if My Soil is Contaminated with PFAS?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/understanding-pfas-and-your-home-garden\/step-7\/\">Step 7: Do the Amendments I Buy (Composts and Fertilizers) Contain PFAS?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/understanding-pfas-and-your-home-garden\/step-8\/\">Step 8: Should I Eat Produce Grown in My Garden?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Compiled and Reviewed by:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Rebecca Long<\/strong>, Sustainable Agriculture, and Horticulture Professional, University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rick Kersbergen<\/strong>, Extension Professor Sustainable Dairy and Forage Systems, University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/li>\n<li><strong>Caleb Goosen<\/strong>, Organic Crop and Conservation Specialist, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Andrew Smith<\/strong>, State Toxicologist, Maine Center for Disease Control &amp; Prevention (CDC)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tracy Kelly<\/strong>, Public Service Coordinator, Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Matt Wallhead<\/strong>, Assistant Professor of Horticulture, University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/li>\n<li><strong>Caragh Fitzgerald<\/strong>, Associate Professor of Agriculture, University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Contacts for More Information<\/h3>\n<h4><strong>For gardening-related PFAS questions:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Email: <a href=\"mailto:extension.PFASQuestions@maine.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">extension.PFASQuestions@maine.edu<\/a><br \/>\nPhone: 207.581.3188, 1.800.287.0274 (in Maine)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association<\/strong> (MOFGA)<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Anna Libby, Community Education Director<br \/>\nEmail: <a href=\"mailto:alibby@mofga.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">alibby@mofga.com<\/a><br \/>\nPhone: 207.568.4142<\/p>\n<h4><strong>For health-related questions:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Email: <a href=\"mailto:pfas.mecdc@maine.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pfas.mecdc@maine.gov<\/a><br \/>\nPhone: 207.287.8016<\/p>\n<h4><strong>For questions about DEP PFAS testing, \u201cTier\u201d status of your property, concerns about your residential well, and spreading record details for your property:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP):<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Tracy Kelly, Public Service Coordinator<br \/>\nEmail: <a href=\"mailto:pfas.dep@maine.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pfas.dep@maine.gov<\/a><br \/>\nPhone: 207.480-.0583<\/p>\n<table width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"10\" cellpadding=\"10\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #003263;text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff\"><strong>To direct questions to University of Maine Cooperative Extension, please email:<\/strong> <strong><a style=\"color: #ffffff\" href=\"mailto:extension.PFASQuestions@maine.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">extension.PFASQuestions@maine.edu<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/understanding-pfas-and-your-home-garden\/step-1\/\" style=\"text-transform:none;\" ><span class=\"button\"> Proceed to Step 1: What are PFAS and Where Did They Come From? \u2192<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<table style=\"background-color: #dff0f7;border-color: #003263\" border=\"3px\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"15\" cellpadding=\"15\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>PFAS and the Maine Food System<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>This section, \u201cUnderstanding PFAS and Your Home Garden,\u201d is a recommended resource relevant to the work that University of Maine Cooperative Extension and other statewide partners are doing in providing Maine\u2019s communities with essential information regarding PFAS.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>For More Information and Additional PFAS Resources:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/pfas\/\" style=\"text-transform:none;\" ><span class=\"button\"> Return to: PFAS and the Maine Food System <\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Information in this publication is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a9 2024<\/p>\n<p>In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are many ways individuals can be exposed to PFAS, including their clothing, what they cook with, their water, personal care products, and materials in their homes. Your garden may be one potential source of PFAS exposure. There are a number of routes that PFAS may have entered your garden as outlined on this page. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":19544,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/page-withsidebar.php","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-19373","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Understanding PFAS and Your Home Garden - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard - University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/understanding-pfas-and-your-home-garden\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Understanding PFAS and Your Home Garden - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard - University of Maine Cooperative Extension\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"There are many ways individuals can be exposed to PFAS, including their clothing, what they cook with, their water, personal care products, and materials in their homes. Your garden may be one potential source of PFAS exposure. There are a number of routes that PFAS may have entered your garden as outlined on this page. 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