Toxic chemicals from sewage sludge used as fertilizer pose health risks to those who regularly consume products from farms that use it, in some instances raising cancer risk by “several orders of magnitude” over what is considered acceptable by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), federal officials said on Tuesday.
EPA’s draft risk assessment, Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS), is a scientific evaluation of potential health risks to humans associated with toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals” in biosolids, or “sewage sludge,” a press release from EPA said.
“EPA under President Biden’s leadership has taken unprecedented actions to advance research and science on PFAS and to protect people from these dangerous forever chemicals,” said Jane Nishida, EPA’s acting administrator, in the press release. “This draft assessment provides important information to help inform future actions by federal and state agencies as well as steps that wastewater systems, farmers and other stakeholders can take to protect people from PFAS exposure, while ensuring American industry keeps feeding and fueling our nation.”
The findings show that exposure to PFOA or PFOS — two types of forever chemicals — during sewage sludge use and disposal methods may pose human health risks. The three methods are: surface disposal in landfills, land application of biosolids and incineration.
Once the assessment is finalized, it will assist EPA and partners in understanding the public health impacts posed by forever chemicals in biosolids, as well as inform potential future actions that could help reduce exposure risk.
Wastewater gets conveyed to a treatment plant from businesses, households and industrial dischargers. The treatment processes produce a semi-solid product that is rich in nutrients called “biosolids” or “sewage sludge.”
“EPA typically uses the term ‘biosolids’ to mean sewage sludge that has been treated to meet regulatory standards and is thereby suitable to be land applied as a soil conditioner or fertilizer. In turn, biosolids can be beneficially reused as land applied fertilizer on agricultural fields or on nonagricultural lands to promote plant health and productivity,” EPA explained.
EPA’s draft risk assessment focused on a narrow and specific population that the agency considered most likely to have exposure to PFOS or PFOA from biosolids being applied to land or through the consumption of products produced on the land where biosolids were applied as fertilizer.
“The preliminary findings of the draft risk assessment indicate that there can be human health risks exceeding EPA’s acceptable thresholds, sometimes by several orders of magnitude, for some scenarios where the farmer applied biosolids containing 1 part per billion (ppb) of PFOA or PFOS (which is near the current detection limit for these PFAS in biosolids),” the press release said.
The risk assessment used scientific modeling of hypothetical health risks to humans who live on or near sites that have been impacted by PFOS or PFOA or for those who mostly rely on products from the sites, such as animal products, food crops or drinking water.
“EPA risk assessments follow a scientific process to characterize the nature and magnitude of health risks to children, adults, and the environment from pollutants based on modeled exposure scenarios. An environmental risk assessment considers three primary factors: 1) presence (i.e., how much of a pollutant is present in the environment); 2) exposure (i.e., how much contact a human or wildlife has with the pollutant); and 3) the toxicity of the pollutant (i.e., the health effects the pollutant causes in humans or wildlife),” EPA said.
The modeled scenarios included farms that used one application of 10 dry-metric-tons per hectare of the biosolids for 40 consecutive years.
The modeling also found human health risks above the EPA acceptable standards in scenarios where 1 part per billion of PFOS or PFOA was put in a clay-lined or unlined surface disposal unit.
Once the draft risk assessment is finalized, EPA will use it to “help inform future risk management actions for PFOA and PFOS in sewage sludge. For the incineration scenario, risk is not quantified due to significant data gaps,” the press release said.
The analysis did not suggest that the country’s general food supply was contaminated by biosolids containing PFOS or PFOA, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration are conducting broad PFAS monitoring in the food supply and have taken actions to address products that have been impacted from imported and domestic sources.
According to the “best available data,” biosolids make up less than a percent of fertilized acreage of the nation’s productive agricultural lands annually. There are specific “hot spots” recognized by EPA, and certain farming operations could have higher PFOS or PFOA levels if they used contaminated sludge.
EPA said “further collaboration with impacted operations and other federal agencies will be important to fully understand risks and support impacted farmers.”
The analysis found that PFOS and PFOA risks of exposure from biosolids increased proportionally with how much of the chemicals were present.
“This means that if you lower the concentration of PFOA or PFOS in biosolids or the amount of biosolids applied to agricultural land, you lower the risk. The actual risks from exposure to PFOA or PFOS will vary at farms that land-apply biosolids or at biosolids disposal sites based on the amount of PFOA or PFOS applied, as well as geography, climate, soil conditions, the types of crops grown and their nutrient needs and other factors.,” EPA said.
The draft risk assessment’s findings highlight the importance of proactive state and federal policies to remove and control PFAS at their source.
“Moving forward, EPA is working to set technology-based limits on discharges from several industrial categories — including PFAS manufacturers, electro- and chrome-platers and landfills — under the agency’s Effluent Limitations Guidelines program,” the press release said. “Several states have begun monitoring for PFAS in sewage sludge and published reports and data that are publicly available.”
The post PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Used on Farms Could Significantly Raise Health Risks, EPA Draft Guidelines Warn appeared first on EcoWatch.
https://www.ecowatch.com/pfas-forever-chemicals-farms-fertilizer-sludge.html
Altitude sickness isn’t just an Everest problem. It’s a risk for any hiker venturing into high country above 3,000 meters (9,842 feet), from the Rockies and Andes to the Himalayas. Mountaineers and high-altitude climbers have understood this for decades: success at altitude isn’t about strength alone, but about pacing, acclimatization, and knowing when to stop.
Those same lessons apply directly to trekkers heading for Everest Base Camp (EBC). You can train for months, buy the best gear, and still get humbled by one thing on the trek to Everest Base Camp: altitude. One day you feel strong and excited. The next morning you wake up in Namche Bazaar (3,440 meters / 11,286 feet) with a pounding headache, no appetite, and legs that suddenly feel heavy. That’s altitude sickness, and it’s the reason many trekkers turn back before they ever reach Base Camp.
The good news? Altitude sickness is often preventable. Not with “super fitness,” but with smart pacing, proper acclimatization, good daily habits, and the right decisions at the right time.
This guide breaks everything down in a clear, practical way: what altitude sickness is, why it happens on the Everest Base Camp route, how to acclimatize properly, what symptoms to watch for, and what to do if you feel unwell. Follow these principles, and you’ll give yourself the best chance of reaching Everest Base Camp safely, and actually enjoying the journey.
What Is Altitude Sickness and Why Is It a Concern on the Everest Base Camp Trek?
Altitude sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), occurs when your body doesn’t have enough time to adapt to lower oxygen levels at high elevation. According to the Himalayan Rescue Association, symptoms can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening conditions if ignored.
It usually starts mild, but it can escalate quickly.
The three types you should know
- AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness): AMS, the most common form, begins with dizziness and difficulty sleeping; the key is recognizing AMS early so it doesn’t progress.
- HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema): This condition happens when fluid builds up in the lungs, making breathing difficult even at rest. Additional oxygen and medication are needed.
- HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema): An urgent medical emergency requiring immediate evacuation, HACE involves swelling of the brain that causes confusion and loss of coordination.
Why Altitude Sickness Is Common on the EBC Route
Everest Base Camp sits at 5,364 meters (17,598 feet). At this altitude, oxygen availability is roughly 50% of sea-level concentrations, according to data summarized by the CDC’s High-Altitude Travel Guidelines.
You can’t “power through” that change. Your body needs time.
The EBC trek adds extra stressors:
- Long walking days
- Cold temperatures
- Dehydration (very common at altitude)
- Poor sleep in teahouses at higher villages
These same challenges become even more pronounced for trekkers who combine the trek to Everest Base Camp with climbing Island Peak Nepal, where altitude exposure is higher and recovery margins are tighter.
Altitude sickness has nothing to do with strength. Even very fit trekkers can develop AMS if they ascend too quickly.
When Altitude Sickness Usually Starts on the Trek
Symptoms often appear above 2,500 meters (8,200 feet). On the EBC trek, this can happen quickly, especially after reaching Namche Bazaar.
Higher-risk points along the journey include:
- Namche Bazaar (3,440 meters / 11,286 feet)
- Dingboche (4,410 meters / 14,468 feet)
- Lobuche (4,940 meters / 16,207 feet)
- Gorak Shep (5,164 meters / 16,942 feet)
From around 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) onward, doing a short body check every evening becomes essential.
How to Prepare for Altitude Before the Everest Base Camp Trek
A smoother trek starts before you even land in Nepal. Preparation won’t guarantee you avoid AMS, but it helps your body cope better with stress and fatigue.
Get Your Body Trek-Ready
Aim for 8–12 weeks of training, including:
- Uphill hiking (stairs, hills, treadmill incline)
- Long walks for endurance
- Leg and core strength training
- Practice hikes with a backpack
Fitness won’t prevent altitude sickness, but it reduces overexertion, which does lower risk. This becomes especially important if your itinerary includes Island Peak climbing after Everest Base Camp, where accumulated fatigue can increase susceptibility to AMS.
Medical Check-Up
Before you travel to high-altitude destinations, speak to a medical professional if you have:
- Asthma or lung conditions
- Heart issues
- Previous history of altitude sickness
- Concerns about taking Diamox
Also ensure your travel insurance covers high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation, particularly if you plan additional objectives like peak climbing.
The Best Acclimatization Techniques for the EBC Trek
If there’s one rule that saves trekkers every season, it’s this:
Go slow—especially above 3,000 meters (9,842 feet). A safe itinerary includes at least two key acclimatization days:
Namche Bazaar (3,440m / 11,286 ft)
Stay two nights. Do a day hike to Everest View Hotel or Khumjung, then sleep back in Namche.
Dingboche (4,410m / 14,468 ft)
Stay two nights. Hike to Nagarjun Hill or the Chhukung ridge area, then descend to sleep.
These aren’t “rest days”, they’re altitude training days. Skipping them is one of the most common mistakes trekkers make, especially those planning to continue on to Island Peak after the EBC trek.
Hike to a higher point during the day, then return to a lower elevation to sleep. Keep acclimatization hikes steady and controlled, not exhausting missions.
Medications for Altitude Sickness: What Actually Helps
Diamox is commonly used to help with acclimatization by improving breathing at altitude. Medical guidance from sources such as the Mayo Clinic and CDC recommends it only under professional advice.
A typical preventative dose:
- 125 mg twice daily, starting 1–2 days before ascent or early in the trek
(always follow medical advice)
Diamox can help, but it never replaces proper acclimatization or descent if symptoms worsen.
Natural remedies, such as garlic soup, ginger tea, and warm fluids, can improve comfort and hydration. However, they do not replace slow ascent, acclimatization days, or descent, especially at higher elevations encountered during Everest Base Camp trekking and Island Peak climbing.
Symptoms of Altitude Sickness: What to Watch For
Early Warning Signs (AMS)
- Persistent headache
- Nausea or loss of appetite
- Unusual fatigue
- Dizziness
- Poor sleep
If symptoms are mild, do not ascend further until they improve.
Dangerous Symptoms (Medical Emergency)
According to the International Society for Mountain Medicine:
- Breathlessness at rest
- Confusion or unusual behavior
- Poor coordination
- Persistent cough or chest tightness
These require immediate descent and medical attention.
What to Do If You Get Altitude Sickness on the Trail
If symptoms are mild:
- Rest at the same altitude for 24 hours
- Hydrate and eat light, high-carb meals
- Reassess the next morning
If symptoms persist or worsen:
- Descend at least 300–500 meters (1,000–1,640 feet)
No summit, no Base Camp photo, and no peak climb is worth risking your life.
Medical Support on the EBC Trail
The Himalayan Rescue Association clinic in Pheriche, seasonal service, is the most-known medical support point. Some lodges have oxygen or emergency resources, but availability varies, another reason proper insurance is essential.
Daily Habits That Make a Huge Difference
Hydration & Food
- Drink 3–4 liters of fluids daily
- Eat high-carb meals (rice, pasta, potatoes, lentils)
- Snack regularly, appetite often drops at altitude
Dehydration makes AMS worse quickly.
Pace: Slow Beats Strong
Walk with:
- Steady breathing
- Short breaks
- No rushing or racing others
A slow trekker reaches Base Camp more often than a fast trekker who crashes in Dingboche.
Avoid These at Altitude
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Sleeping pills or sedatives
They reduce oxygen efficiency and worsen sleep quality.
Should You Hire a Guide to Reduce AMS Risk?
A good guide helps by controlling the pace of your trek and can help with:
- Monitoring symptoms
- Managing accommodations
- Making tough calls to stop when trekkers want to push on
A knowledgable guide becomes especially important if you plan to combine the trek to Everest Base Camp with climbing Island Peak in Nepal, where acclimatization margins are tighter. If you’re unsure about altitude, hiring a guide is one of the smartest safety upgrades you can make.
Learn From Experience
If there’s one thing experienced Himalayan guides agree on, it’s this: your itinerary matters more than your fitness. You can be strong, fast, and well-trained, but if you rush the ascent, altitude sickness can still catch you off guard.
Rest days in Namche Bazaar and Dingboche aren’t optional. They’re essential for a safe Everest Base Camp trek and absolutely critical if you plan to continue on to Island Peak.
Mild AMS is a warning, not something to push through. Severe symptoms are emergencies that require immediate descent. Knowing the difference can prevent serious consequences.
And finally, remember that descending is not failure. It’s smart decision-making. Everest Base Camp, and even Island Peak, are incredible goals, but real success is returning healthy, with clear memories and respect for the mountains that allowed you to experience them.
About the Author
This sponsored article was written by Samita Maharjan of Magical Nepal.
The post Guest Idea: How to Avoid Altitude Sickness on the Everest Base Camp Trek appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/inspire/guest-idea-how-to-avoid-altitude-sickness-on-the-everest-base-camp-trek/
Read a transcript of this episode. Introducing Sustainability In Your Ear transcripts.
The global food system stands at a crossroads. Climate change is reshaping where crops can grow, trade disputes threaten supply chains, and smallholder farmers who produce much of our food often have the least power in the system. Meet Heather Terry, founder and CEO of GoodSAM Foods, and discover how the company is transforming the traditional smallhold farm model by putting people and regenerative agriculture at the heart of a growing food company. GoodSAM Foods sources 90% of its ingredients directly from smallholder farms in Latin America and Africa, eliminating middlemen and reinvesting profits into farming communities. Terry’s approach is both principled and pragmatic: as climate volatility reduces crop yields globally, the companies that have built genuine relationships with farmers will have access to limited harvests. “When I’m a farmer and I suddenly have leverage, who am I going to sell that product to?” Terry asks. “It’s relationships.”
Terry’s journey to raise $9 million in Series A funding over 18 months illustrates the disconnect between traditional investors and regenerative business models. After facing skepticism from conventional CPG investors, she found success with impact investors who understood that sustainable food systems represent the future of the industry. While GoodSAM maintains USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project verification, Terry takes a critical stance on regenerative certification labels, arguing that current systems impose Global North standards on farmers who have practiced regenerative techniques for generations. Instead, GoodSAM focuses on direct relationships and on-ground verification. Her proactive approach protected both the company and its farming partners from sudden economic shocks at a time when the U.S. food system faces mounting pressures from climate impacts and trade policy changes. “Every time you pick something up off the shelf, you are voting,” Terry said. “You’re sending a signal to a company.”
You can learn more about GoodSAM Foods at goodsamfoods.com.
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Editor’s Note: This episode originally aired on September 22, 2025.
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https://earth911.com/podcast/sustainability-in-your-ear-heather-terry-s-regenerative-journey-at-goodsam-foods/
Aristotle, who saw purpose and design in everything, wrote in several different works that “Nature does nothing in vain.” We reply that regardless of purpose, nature does everything with grace; we are fortunate to witness the miraculous results of 13.4 billion years of experimentation.
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The post Earth911 Inspiration: Nothing In Vain appeared first on Earth911.
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