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Description
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) is a type of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) linked to carcinogenic and immunotoxic effects, among others. A major route of human exposure is through milk and beef from cows fed with hay contaminated as a result of historic sludge spreading on farm fields. In this field study, we seek to explore the effects of various management strategies on PFOS uptake by perennial forage systems. The comparisons we will be making are crop type (perennial vs. annual, grass vs. legume), “optimal” vs. “late” harvest timing (referring to the timing of the harvest, whether the crop is at the optimal growth stage or beyond that), plant partitioning (leaves vs. stems vs. grain/storage organs), harvested product (silage vs. snaplage vs. grain for corn and whole plant haylage vs. grain for oats and winter triticale), cutting height (8 cm vs. 15 cm) and cut number (first vs. second). Our primary objective is to determine management strategies that can be utilised by farmers to safely continue growing hay on PFAS-impacted fields.
Publication Date
10-28-2024
Recommended Citation
Ortiz, Sonora; MacRae, Jean; and Mallory, Ellen, "Characterising the effects of management strategies on PFOS uptake by perennial forage systems" (2024). Rural Issues Symposium. 91.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/rural_issues/91