🧪 PFAS Contamination & Soil Recovery in the Carolinas

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called “forever chemicals,” have been found in farmland across North Carolina and South Carolina. These toxic compounds do not break down easily in the environment and can enter the food chain through water, soil, and crops. Farmers and researchers alike are urgently seeking safe, sustainable ways to restore contaminated land — and native plants like Verbascum thapsus (Great Mullein) may be part of the solution.

✅ Farm Soil Remediation Projects Under Review
Some pilot efforts are evaluating whether amendments like compost, manure, and native plants can stabilize PFAS in topsoil. While this work is in early stages, it reflects growing momentum across the Carolinas.

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How Can PFAS Soil Contamination Be Cleaned Up? - Earth Science Answers

🌱 Phytoremediation of PFAS-Contaminated Soil and Water

Phytoremediation is a green technology that uses plants to absorb, accumulate, or stabilize hazardous substances in soil and water. When it comes to PFAS — the persistent “forever chemicals” that resist breakdown — certain plants may help reduce environmental spread by drawing contaminants into their tissues or immobilizing them in the root zone.

🔬 How It Works

• Plant selection: Fast-growing species like fiber hemp are being studied for their ability to absorb PFAS from contaminated soils and groundwater. Their deep roots and high water uptake make them promising candidates for reducing PFAS mobility.

• Nanotechnology support: Some researchers are testing nanoparticles that may enhance PFAS uptake by increasing the plant’s ability to access and bind to these stubborn chemicals. This fusion of biotechnology and botany is experimental and under active study.

• Limitations: Not all PFAS compounds are readily absorbed by plants, and phytoremediation is typically a long-term, partial approach. It often works best as one component of a broader soil management strategy.

🌍 Case Study: The Mi’kmaq Nation in Maine

A collaboration between the Mi’kmaq Nation and academic researchers in northern Maine is demonstrating phytoremediation on former military land polluted with PFAS from firefighting foam. The community is planting fiber hemp to reduce surface contamination and prevent runoff.

• Community Involvement: Local residents are leading the planting and monitoring, helping tailor research to their needs and cultural priorities.

• National Support: This initiative is supported by institutions like the National Institutes of Health and highlights the importance of tribal and rural partnerships in environmental restoration.

📚 Source: NIH / Environmental Factor - April 2024: Researchers team up with tribe, community to fight PFAS with plants

Note on Mullein’s Characteristics Compared to Hemp

While fiber hemp has been directly studied for PFAS phytoremediation due to its rapid growth and high water uptake, Great Mullein differs in key ways that are discussed in broader soil and contaminant research:

• Drought tolerant: Mullein thrives in dry, poor soils with minimal irrigation, making it a candidate of interest for low-input or degraded farmland.

• Medicinal phytochemistry: Unlike hemp, mullein contains iridoid glycosides, flavonoids, and saponins that may support microbial soil activity — potentially enhancing rhizoremediation (plant–microbe partnerships), according to existing phytochemistry and soil biology studies.

• Taproot system: Its long taproot structure may aid in stabilizing contaminated soils and accessing deeper soil layers.

• Emerging research: While mullein has not yet been widely tested for PFAS uptake, published work has examined its role in relation to PAHs, heavy metals, and biologically active compounds. These findings suggest possible future applications in PFAS-contaminated zones, but more targeted research is needed.

📌 Conclusion: Current evidence for PFAS-specific remediation focuses more on plants like hemp. Mullein is of interest as a potentially sustainable, long-term companion species in nutrient-poor or drought-prone soils, especially when considered in combination with microbial support and diverse planting systems. The Eighth Leaf Project does not conduct this research directly; we share and reference existing studies for educational purposes.

🌿 Invitation to Collaborate

The Eighth Leaf Project is building a hub of information and connections for those interested in plant-based approaches to soil recovery. We welcome contact from researchers, farmers, universities, and regulators who are:

• Studying PFAS soil uptake or stabilization by plants (including mullein or hemp)

• Designing or funding controlled studies on contaminated plots

• Sharing soil or plant tissue data from impacted farms

• Contributing to a transparent, publicly accessible database of research results

If your farm or research team is engaged in PFAS-related soil studies, we invite you to share information about your work so we can help point others to your published findings.

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The Eighth Leaf Project does not conduct laboratory or field trials; we curate and summarize independent research from other scientists and institutions. All PFAS and soil remediation findings referenced here are from external studies; The Eighth Leaf Project serves only as a research directory and educational resource.