ME III: PFAs

· Maine Event

Today the low was 47° and the high was 60°. It was partially cloudy and will be for most of the next 10 days. We missed the early farmers' market — maybe we will make it on Saturday.

A few years ago I read that leftover wood pulp/waste in the process of making paper was used in Maine on farms as fertilizer which means that many farms have problems with PFAs. Papermaking creates/uses PFAs to reduce sticking to machinery, to make things glossy for example. I haven't completely researched it. I do know that PFAs are used in creating toilet paper and they end up in sewage and of course, they persist long after the sewage is treated. Here is an article about PFAs and Maine farms. Next to that I was reading how synthetic turf is toxic (lead and PFAs) and is being restricted in California due to the health consequences. I don't know if you have ever walked on fake grass but it feels toxic and smells strange too. Here is an NRDC article about avoiding PFAs and I would be remiss if I didn't include public health information. If that weren't enough it is likely that there are PFAs in drinking water. Here is EWG's review of water filters. For many years we have used a Berkey water filter but they are expensive and the knockoffs don't work.

So many things we do need to be cleaned up and thought about in a different way. We all need to be rowing in the same direction.

Morning clouds
Overhead a quilted show
Street art.

We didn't get out much today but wrapped up the day with a nice dinner at Mami.

Have a lovely evening,

Tawnia

Decent bird day – 13 species, including a Cooper's Hawk that Tawnia spotted: