About Us
The PFAS-Exchange is part of a multi-year project called PFAS-REACH (Research, Education, and Action for Community Health) funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
PFAS-REACH is led by Silent Spring Institute in collaboration with Northeastern University and Michigan State University. The community partner organizations are Testing for Pease, Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, and Slingshot.
The project has three main goals:
- To evaluate potential effects of PFAS exposures on the immune systems of young children in two communities that have had PFAS water contamination.
- To develop an innovative online resource center, called the PFAS Exchange, with data interpretation tools, tap water testing, and educational materials for affected communities and other audiences.
- To conduct a social science analysis of affected communities to assess individual, family, and community-level experiences of residents in areas impacted by PFAS-contaminated drinking water.
PFAS-REACH will provide new scientific evidence on the health effects associated with exposure to PFAS–information that could be used to inform new policies and drinking water guidelines that protect the public, in particular vulnerable populations, from these harmful pollutants. Furthermore, through its public outreach and engagement activities, the project aims to support communities across the nation by offering them new tools and information to help them reduce their exposures and safeguard their health.
With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, PFAS-REACH team members are also working to educate doctors and nurses about PFAS health effects, blood testing, and medical monitoring. Healthcare providers interested in learning more about the project can find more information here.
Research Partners
Community Partners
