‘Nothing lasts forever’: hemp’s role in the remediation of PFAS-contaminated soil

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WJMN) — On Monday, Dr. Lesley Putman of Northern Michigan University presented the latest research involving the use of industrialized hemp plants in the removal of synthetic chemicals from contaminated sites.

When these compounds pollute the soil where food crops grow, it poses a major problem. That’s because many plant species, including food crops, can absorb “forever chemicals” into their roots and leaves, rendering them unsafe for consumption. Dr. Putman believes in a groundbreaking solution.

These chemicals, called PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” because they are extremely persistent and difficult to eradicate once they are introduced to the soil.

“Nothing lasts forever,” counters Dr. Putman, who says the hemp plant is just one possible solution to the contamination issue.

It’s a promising solution, at that. Recent studies reveal that hemp works best in sites where contamination is high, a surprising finding.

The hemp plant’s growth appears unaffected by the large quantities of PFAS, according to studies Dr. Putman and her student researchers recently conducted. Until 2018, the hemp plant was “practically untouchable,” even for academic research purposes, because of its classification as a controlled substance. The Federal Farm Bill changed that, but there is still much that researchers don’t know about the plant.

It does seem clear from Dr. Putman’s research that the identity of the PFAS affects its fate: where PFOA and PFBA are absorbed primarily by the plant’s leaves, PFOS are taken up mostly in the roots.

Conversations are ongoing regarding the process of discarding the contaminated plants after the remediation process.

The link to the recording of the full seminar can be found here .

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