The PFAS-REACH Children’s Health Study is investigating the effects of PFAS on the immune systems of young children in Hyannis, MA and at the Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth, NH — two communities that have been exposed to contaminated drinking water.
Sign up for the PFAS-REACH Children’s Health Study!
Did you live or work in Hyannis, MA before 2016, or work at the Pease Tradeport in Portsmouth, NH before 2014? Do you have children ages 3-8? If so, your family may be eligible!
About our study
High levels of PFAS chemicals were present in Hyannis drinking water before 2016 and in the Pease drinking water supply before 2014. The contamination came from the use of firefighting foams. Both water systems have installed filters to remove PFAS from the water and comply with strict state standards.
While we can’t change exposures that occurred in the past, we can learn from them. This study will help us learn about how past exposures to PFAS in drinking water can affect children’s health. Even if children didn’t consume contaminated water directly, they may have been exposed in the womb or as infants if their mothers drank contaminated water, since PFAS can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
What will I be asked to do?
Families who participate will be asked to bring their child to our clinic at 171 Main Street in Hyannis or Portsmouth Regional Hospital for a one-time blood draw and urine sample. They will fill out a questionnaire and respond to periodic text messages about their child’s health.
How will my family benefit from participating?
If you participate, you will receive up to $125 in gift cards and a personalized health report with your child’s results. The report will contain information about the levels of PFAS in your child’s blood and how they compare to other children. You’ll learn whether antibody levels in your child’s blood in response to routine vaccinations, like tetanus and diphtheria, are protective against illness. And the report will provide practical day-to-day tips to limit your child’s exposure to these harmful chemicals. Learning about your child’s exposure will empower you to better protect your child’s health and the health of your family.
Why is this study important?
You will help us learn about PFAS exposures in your community and how they compare to other communities. You’ll also be helping us advance science on the harmful health effects of PFAS in children. The results from our study will help make sure that drinking water standards and other regulations are truly protecting all children’s health.
For more information, contact us:
Call or text: 617-221-6428
PFAS-REACH (Research, Education and Action for Community Health) is a 5-year study led by Silent Spring Institute, in collaboration with Northeastern University and Michigan State University. Our community partners are Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, Testing for Pease, and Community Action Works. Our study is funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health.