PFAS and Environmental Health

Posted by Cecilia Vernes on March 15th, 2024 Posted in: Blog, Environmental Health, NNLM, Public Health

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – known as PFAS¹, or “forever chemicals”, are found in everything from firefighting foam to non-stick coatings, as displayed in the infographic.  However, the most concerning is PFAS contamination of drinking water, as it is one of the most direct routes for PFAS to get into the body.

Several years ago, while preparing for a training session I was contacted by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services  (NH DHHS) to connect them to articles on the health effects of PFAS exposure on behalf of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NH DES).  The articles found were used as evidence to support the passage of state legislation to require that all well water be tested for PFAS. In response, NH DES created the New Hampshire PFAS Response to follow news and information about PFAS in the state as well as provide information for residents on testing and remediation. I have been following this topic ever since. At least once a week and sometimes daily I see new articles and research reports get published on PFAS. This is why I am excited to share this upcoming webinar with two of the team from the PFAS Project Lab at Northeastern University.

 

 

Join us for an upcoming session on PFAS

Alissa Cordner and Julia Varshavsky will present and demonstrate the databases created by their lab to support information needs on PFAS. These include the Known PFAS Contamination Site Tracker with its accompanying map and the PFAS Governance Tracker.

Slides and the recording will be available sometime following the session.  MLA and CHES CE credits are both available. If you register, you will receive the link to access the recording and the evaluation. If you are curious to learn about the topic and the work Julia and Alissa are doing please consult our Social Determinants of Environmental Health subject guide ‘PFAS’ tab for this session.

PFAS and Environmental Health: Information and Tools for Public Health Practitioners and Information Specialists: March 26, 2024, 3:00 – 4:30 PM ET/ 2:00 – 3:30 PM CT/ 1:00 – 2:30 PM MT/ 12:00 – 1:30 PM PT, 1.50 CHES Continuing Education credits are available.

This webinar is part of the Social Determinants of Environmental Health Webinar Series which began this month.

1. Pronunciation note: PFAS as “PEA-fass” and polyfluoroalkyl as “PAUL-ee-floor-oh-AL-kill.