Researchers from RTI International (Research Triangle Institute), the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Temple University, and Brown University are seeking 1,000 adults and 300 children to participate in a per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure study: the Pennsylvania PFAS Multi-site Health Study. Beginning in November 2021, the study is now open for eligible participants to enroll. Administered by RTI International, the research is part of a $7-million study that the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (a federal public health agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services) funded across seven different sites in the United States.
The study’s ultimate goal is to better understand the health implications and presence of PFAS in drinking water systems. Given PFAS presence in some firefighting foams and waterproofing materials, researchers are primarily interested in learning about possible PFAS releases from adjacent airports as well as active and decommissioned military bases. Consequently, certain residents of Bucks and Montgomery counties may qualify to participate in the study.