100 Jersey fields listed as Minister says PFAS testing shows no contamination

Jerseys Infrastructure Minister has published a list of a number of over 100 fields where biosolids fertiliser were spread, following a Freedom of Information challenge.

The government was given a deadline of 23 September to make the locations public following a decision by the Information Commissioner.

However, Deputy Jonathan Renouf has stressed that tests have shown the soil is not contaminated by the so-called forever chemicals PFAS, and the Commissioner has revised the wording of his original decision notice.

Deputy Renouf says 'extensive' and 'rigorous' testing of PFAS levels throughout the island has produced 'hard scientific data which shows that these fields are not contaminated.'

Read: Jersey-grown food tested for PFAS levels

Campaign group Water Awareness Jersey, who believe that there are public health risks, made the initial FOI and took its rejection to appeal.

Deputy Renouf told Channel 103 that it would always have been his preference to release the information.

"In the case of PFAS, we were being very clear - and we are very clear - that there is no public health risk at all associated with the application of biosolids to fields in terms of PFAS levels, and I think if our argument is that there is no risk to the public, then it seems to me quite hard to argue that we shouldn't release the information."

Publishing the field numbers, Deputy Renouf said there is no ambiguity or room for doubt.

"We are spending a lot of time, effort and money to put our understanding of PFAS in Jersey on a scientific, evidence-based approached, so that we make decisions appropriately.

"Therefore, it is really important that information that goes into the public domain reflects what we know."

The use of biosolids in Jersey is subject to strict regulation and oversight.

"There are rules.  Fields have to be assessed. There is no in-principle reason why we should not carry on using biosolids so long as they are used within the guidelines that have been established."

Additional information published alongside the list of fields says:

"PFAS chemicals have been detected in Jersey biosolids at low levels. 

"Independent assessments have found that the concentrations present in biosolids would contribute only a very small additional amount of PFAS to soil when applied at approved rates.

"The estimated contribution is substantially below the proposed screening threshold used to identify PFAS-affected agricultural land. 

"Current evidence indicates that land does not become contaminated simply because biosolids have been applied."

It concludes:

"Current scientific evidence and monitoring indicate that biosolids can be used safely  when managed and applied in accordance with regulatory requirements and good agricultural practice."