PFAS in garden compost bags.

happyhacker

Those bought at garden centres etc. are pretty rubbish nowadays w/o thinking about the PFAS issue. Anyone any thoughts on this subject? I am looking for ways to stop using this stuff in my allotment and only (where I really have to) for flowers and shrubs I don't eat. Thanks.

Farway

I had to look up PFAs, by which you may gather I have never even thought about them.

However, having read a few articles on T'Internet, maybe I should at least consider them by at least not adding them unnecessarily, but no idea where to start and as I'm knocking on a bit,  it's probably a bit too late now, that horse has long since bolted

On allotments I suppose sticking to traditional muck & magic would be starting point

-taff

I need my eyes tested, I thought that said Peas in garden compost bags...

To be honest, you're never going to know what the effects are in total, and unfortunately, from testng, it's everywhere in everything now...The only option to not have bags is to get some delivered but they also come in plastic woven bags, same problem. If you buy plants in pots, same problem...You'd have to make your own, or go and collect some from somewhere, but rotted horse/cow manure is an option if you fetch it yourself, and the animals in question are not exposed to them too....

twopenny

In fitter days I used to get manure from people who kept horses or cows and mix it with my garden compost.
Go back to the old books for the best advice, before we stopped buying everything.

But whatever PFAs are (guessing it's plastic) you need to stop a lot of ordinary things in the kitchen and shopping too.
See iPlayer   
   
 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c208x683jyqo

For the allotment do what those with big gardens do. Seive your own compost and store in metal containers. Though non aluminium ones are hard to come by.

Dustyevsky

Whenever something suddenly rises to the surface in the media I'm suspicious. PFAs seem to be doing that just now, though microplastics have bubbled-along on the back burner for some time.

Another 'forever chemical,' lead, was identified long ago as a source of contamination, with some even suggesting lead glazes in drinking vessels led (!) to the fall of the Roman Empire. When this happened, sensible measures were taken to remove lead from everyday products, like paints, and to replace water pipes, particularly in acid water areas. All that made sense, and PFAs will probably be considered similarly. 

However, there is a tendency in the media, not only to overblow the latest scare, but also to use their algorithms to feed scare stories to those showing the most interest. Those media folk know lots about you, which is why I get loads of adverts about 'walking shoes for seniors,' and hearing aids!  It's also constantly being proposed to me, we old folk might easily lose our driving licences, or have some benefit withdrawn etc. The effect is to create a state of constant worry among individuals who don't see through the manipulation, but that's not limited to the elderly. Young people, as a group, are even more prone to be concerned about all sorts of things, where any vulnerability is hinted-at. I recall all the acne adverts current when I was a teenager. My God, those blackheads on my nose....we won't go there! 

So, I'd say be aware of PFAs but don't overthink. It looks likely that composts containing a high proportion of municipal waste, would contain more PFAs, if only because the control over household waste introduced into the process seems minimal. 

I'll be watching the PFA story with interest, but not too much concern. There is a chance the effects of these nanoparticles could get mixed up with those of other substances, which could also be harmful, especially if that's what those with certain business interests want them to. 

As the reporter in an article linked to 2p's video states: 

"But once you know these chemicals are inside you, you can't unknow it. Having a plan to reduce my exposure is a small comfort. But I'll be honest, it is also another thing to worry about."

Yes, that's my point, exactly, yet another thing! The greatest comfort for me is, it's the BBC!   

Dustyevsky

Farway said:

I'm knocking on a bit,  it's probably a bit too late now, that horse has long since bolted

Yes, but did you get the manure it left?