Harmful chemicals in sewage sludge spread on pasture as fertilizer pose a risk to people who regularly consume milk, beef and other products from those farms, in some cases raising cancer risk “several orders of magnitude” above what the Environmental Protection Agency considers acceptable,

The fertilizer is often used to treat fields on farms, posing a particular risk to those who regularly consume beef and milk.

Farmers who use sewage sludge as fertilizer and their neighbors face higher risks of cancer and other diseases, according to a new federal analysis that pins the blame on toxic forever chemicals. The findings are particularly relevant for northeast Illinois,

The E.P.A.’s report follows a growing body of research that has found that sludge can be contaminated with human-made “forever chemicals” known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, which are used in a wide range of household items such as nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing and stain-resistant carpets.

Chemicals found in sewage sludge that some farmers use to fertilize fields and pastures can pose a threat to human and animal health, the US Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday.

Levels of PFAS in sewage sludge used as fertilizer can pose risks that sometimes exceed safety thresholds “by several orders of magnitude,” the agency said.

For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday warned that "forever chemicals" present in sewage sludge that is used as fertilizer can pose human health risks.