# Assessment of PFAS exposures and health effects in two Massachusetts communities with PFAS drinking water contamination

> **NIH ALLCDC U01** · SILENT SPRING INSTITUTE · 2021 · $1,000,000

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 Across the U.S., a growing number of drinking water supplies have been found to be contaminated with
per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). We first found that at least six million Americans in 22 states
receive drinking water from sources that exceeded EPA’s 2016 guideline for PFOS and PFOA, and over 100
million Americans are estimated to have PFAS in their tap water. Over 400 DoD sites have known or
suspected releases of PFAS. Our team found that proximity to military fire training areas and airports strongly
predicts drinking water contamination due to the use of PFAS-containing aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) for
liquid fuel fires. Health concerns related to PFOA and PFOS include cancer, liver toxicity, high cholesterol, and
reproductive and developmental effects. Following our first report on immunotoxicity, a 2016 National
Toxicology Program systematic review concluded that both PFOS and PFOA are presumed immune hazards
to humans. While elevated total cholesterol has been associated with PFAS exposure, our preliminary
evidence suggests associations with specific lipoprotein subfractions that predict risk of cardiovascular
disease. Despite the growing number of communities with documented PFAS exposures, there have been few
epidemiological studies in communities with PFAS-impacted drinking water.
 As part of ATSDR’s multi-site study of health effects associated with exposures to PFAS-contaminated
drinking water, we propose a study of PFAS health effects in two communities in Eastern Massachusetts
where public drinking water supplies have been contaminated by PFAS from AFFF use at nearby fire training
areas. Our proposal includes a combination of required elements according to ATSDR’s protocol and novel
components, such as applying total extractable organofluorine (EOF) and non-targeted screening methods to
provide a more complete assessment of PFAS exposures and analyzing lipoprotein fractions, body fat
measurements, and metabolomics markers of lipid metabolism. Research partners include Silent Spring
Institute, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Eastern Research Group, and community partner
organizations include Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) in Hyannis and People of Ayer
Concerned about the Environment (PACE). The primary aims are:
Aim 1. Evaluate serum-PFAS levels, serum biomarkers of effects, and neurobehavioral outcomes in
1,000 adults and 350 children in two communities with AFFF contamination of public water supplies.
Aim 2. Measure total extractable organofluorine and non-targeted PFAS profiles in blood samples
from children and adults to provide a more complete assessment of total PFAS exposures.
Aim 3. Evaluate associations between measured and estimated PFAS exposures and markers of
elevated disease risks, such as lipoprotein subfractions, metabolomics markers of lipid metabolism,
body fat measurements, and antibody concentrations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10220767
- **Project number:** 5U01TS000313-03
- **Recipient organization:** SILENT SPRING INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** PHILIPPE ADAM GRANDJEAN
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,000,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-30 → 2024-09-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10220767

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10220767, Assessment of PFAS exposures and health effects in two Massachusetts communities with PFAS drinking water contamination (5U01TS000313-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10220767. Licensed CC0.

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