CDC/ATSDR PFAS Exposure Assessment Community Level Results

INFORMATION TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES

In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) started exposure assessments (EAs) in communities near current or former military bases known to have had per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their drinking water. Individuals who participated in the EAs provided blood and urine samples to CDC/ATSDR for analysis. We sent letters with lab results to the participants.

We are also reviewing additional information, like age and location, to better understand the community’s exposure. Once our full analysis is complete, CDC/ATSDR will host a community meeting to share our findings and recommendations.

The assessment focused on Orange County, NY near the Stewart Air National Guard Base (ANGB). A map of the sampling area can be found at https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/activities/assessments/sites/orange-county-ny.html

The lab tested participants’ blood for 7 different PFAS. PFAS levels are measured in micrograms per liter (μg /L).

CDC/ATSDR compared the levels of PFAS in participant’s blood across the community to the levels found in the U.S. population. Three PFAS (PFHxS, PFOS, and PFOA) were detected above national averages. The levels of PFNA, MeFOSAA, PFUnA, and PFDA were similar to or below national averages.

The numbers below show the percentage of participants with PFAS levels above the national average.

PFAS Levels in Blood Compared to Other Studies**

PFAS Levels in Urine:

All participants provided a urine sample but only a subset were analyzed because the laboratory method to detect PFAS in urine is still being refined. PFAS were not found in the samples that were analyzed by the laboratory. Therefore, ATSDR did not analyze the rest of the urine samples for PFAS and was not able to calculate average levels of PFAS in urine because of the small number of detections.

PFAS Levels in Tap Water and Dust:

CDC/ATSDR planned to collect tap water and dust samples from some participating households in Orange County in fall 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ATSDR had to postpone these efforts. ATSDR is in the planning stages to collect the samples in the City of Newburgh, Orange County (NY) later in 2021. Five of the households that participated in the Exposure Assessment will be selected at random and invited to participate in the environmental sampling. Household members will receive a phone call with an invitation. The results will be shared with household members as soon as they become available. When available, the analysis of the environmental results will be included with or added to the PFAS EA in Orange County report.

Local authorities in the City of Newburgh have taken action to reduce levels of PFAS in drinking water. Based on the information ATSDR has reviewed, the public drinking water supply in the City of Newburgh currently meets all federal guidelines and New York state standards for PFAS. ATSDR does not recommend community members use alternative sources of water.

About the Results:

CDC/ATSDR is evaluating data collected from the PFAS EA to better understand exposure in the community. The PFAS EA measures PFAS levels in people’s bodies but is not able to identify health effects associated with these levels of exposure. We are working to better understand health effects from PFAS exposure through the Multi-site Health Study, www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/Multi-Site-Health-Study.html.

We are also reaching out to doctors, nurses, and other health care providers in your area to provide PFAS information. PFAS clinician guidance and continuing medical education can be found at https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/docs/clinical-guidance-12-20-2019.pdfpdf icon.

For More Information:

Visit www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas, or contact:
Luis Rivera-Gonzalez, PhD | Region 2 Toxicologist
lqx8@cdc.gov | (732) 906-6933