# P42ES027706 URI Sources, Transport, Exposure, and Effects of PFAS (STEEP) SRP

> **NIH NIH P42** · UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND · 2021 · $50,000

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 This project will undertake the analysis of bioaccumulation of PFAS at the entry
level for food-chain, focusing on freshwater insects. The project will explore the
relationship between freshwater insects’ taxonomic groups and various PFAS
compounds. The research focus will be placed on the following taxa: Ephemeroptera,
Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Odonata. These insects encompass a variety of trophic
functions, which reflect different exposure levels and uptake pathways of contaminants.
These insects feeding types cover carnivores, omnivores, detritivores (fine detritivores,
coarse detritivores) and periphytivores. These taxa are near the base of the trophic
chain and constitute the gateway to chemical biomagnification throughout the food web.
They are also of low mobility, which allows the characterization of sites relative to
pollution load. Also, given these taxa are commonly used in biomonitoring, this study
will evaluate their potential use as bioindicators for PFAS contamination.
 Specifically, this project will analyze how the concentration of PFAS varies within
and among freshwater insects’ taxa and the relationship between aquatic insect
taxonomic and trophic groups and concentration of PFAS. The relationship of
freshwater insects’ diversity and PFAS compounds and concentration in water will also
be examined. Additionally, the bioaccumulation factors (BAFs), the ratio of PFAS
concentration in insects to that in water, will be calculated. The BAFs will be mapped on
the insect phylogeny and trophic trees to understand better these relationships. Finally,
this study will provide an understanding on whether novel PFAS that continue to be
used and released into the environment are equally environmentally persistent and toxic
as the phased-out compounds (PFOA, PFOS among others). This will pioneer and
evoke further predictions on the effects of such emerging organic pollutants in
freshwater ecosystems and potential public health threats. This project will further
inform regulation on PFAS and conservation of freshwater ecosystems in the U.S.
 This project will leverage the passive samplers developed by URI-STEEP Project
4. It also aligns with the overall goals of STEEP Project 4, by investigating the presence
of PFAS, and their bioaccumulation in biota. The project will critical to support the
characterization of PFAS sources and determining human health risks in relation to
contaminated waterways and bioaccumulation in aquatic biota, case of insects.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10399005
- **Project number:** 3P42ES027706-05S3
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
- **Principal Investigator:** Rainer Lohmann
- **Activity code:** P42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $50,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-07-31 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10399005

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10399005, P42ES027706 URI Sources, Transport, Exposure, and Effects of PFAS (STEEP) SRP (3P42ES027706-05S3). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10399005. Licensed CC0.

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