In 2000, 3M scientists found high levels of PFAS, harmful "forever chemicals" used in various products, in national sewage. Concerned that these toxic chemicals, linked to health risks like cancer and birth defects, were spreading through sewage-fertilized farmland, 3M shared their findings with the EPA in 2003. Despite this, the EPA still promotes sewage sludge as fertilizer without testing for PFAS, ignoring warnings from whistleblowers and researchers about potential contamination risks.