PFAS Research, Education, and Action for Community Health

Abstract

Communities across the U.S are discovering drinking water contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of man-made chemicals widely used in industrial processes and consumer goods. There are currently no federal PFAS drinking water standards in the U.S. despite growing evidence from epidemiological and toxicological studies showing associations between PFAS exposure and a wide range of harmful health effects, including on children’s immune systems. This project will characterize early-life PFAS exposure from firefighting foam-contaminated drinking water among U.S. children using serum biomarkers and will evaluate associations with antibody levels in response to routine vaccinations and metabolomic markers of inflammation. The project will address other important gaps, such as the difficulty for residents of affected communities to interpret blood and water testing results, the absence of a centralized way to connect affected communities, and a lack of understanding of potential health effects from unregulated contaminant exposures by medical professionals. PFAS-REACH (Research, Education, and Action for Community Health) is helping address these gaps by: 1. Evaluating potential effects of PFAS exposure on immune systems of young children at Pease Tradeport in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Hyannis, Massachusetts, communities with previous PFAS water contamination; 2. Developing an innovative online resource center, called the PFAS Exchange, with data interpretation tools and educational materials for affected community members, including guidance for medical professionals on how to best respond to patient contamination concerns; and 3. Conducting a social science analysis to assess individual, family, and community-level experiences in areas impacted by PFAS-contaminated drinking water. PFAS-REACH is using a community-based participatory research approach. Project partners include environmental health researchers, social scientists, and community activists. This project will provide both actionable results to protect children’s health and support to help impacted communities reduce their exposures and health risk.