PFAS Environmental Sampling

At a glance

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), conducted environmental sampling to evaluate nondrinking water sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure.

Testing

Overview

Environmental sampling was conducted at two of the ten PFAS exposure assessment (EA) locations: Westfield, Hampden County, MA and New Castle County, DE. This supplemental site work at EA sites may help us understand how the indoor and outdoor environment may be contributing to elevated levels of PFAS in people's blood.

Background

In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) conducted PFAS exposures assessments (EAs) in communities near current or former military bases and that are known to have had PFAS in their drinking water. The EAs measured levels of PFAS in blood and urine as well as tap water and indoor dust in some households.

The purpose of this supplemental PFAS environmental sampling exposure investigation (EI) was to collect additional environmental samples to learn more about exposures resulting from non-drinking water sources. This new environmental sampling will be used, along with blood samples collected during the EA in 2019, to learn more about non-drinking water sources of PFAS.

Who participated in the PFAS Exposure Assessment Environmental Sampling?

Households who participated in the PFAS EAs in Hampden County, MA and New Castle County, DE were eligible to participate in the PFAS environmental sampling. ATSDR sent invitation letters to all households that participated in the EA at these two locations, followed by a phone call to recruit participants. A total of 79 homes across the two sites participated in the environmental sampling.

What types of PFAS sampling was conducted?

Each household completed appropriate consent forms along with household and personal exposure questionnaires. A filtered dust sample was completed at all participants' homes along with additional environmental samples taken in a subset of homes. The additional samples included:

  • Indoor air
  • Dust from their vacuum cleaner (to get a larger dust sample)
  • Wet surface wipe samples
  • Soil
  • Personal exposure (measured with a silicon wristband)

Samples of outdoor air and locally-grown produce were also taken within the community. ATSDR did not collect additional blood or urine samples.

Results of the Environmental Sampling

ATSDR and EPA have completed analysis of the data from the PFAS environmental sampling and have concluded that:

  • The seven PFAS compounds found in serum during the PFAS exposure assessments were found in household samples.
  • One PFAS (MeFOSAA) in settled dust was associated with levels in serum in both MA and DE. This means that when the level of MeFOSAA increased in settled dust, higher levels were also found in serum. In DE only, PFOS in settled dust was also associated with serum PFOS.
  • PFAS compounds in addition to the seven PFAS found in the serum were detected in all types of household samples tested.

Find out more

For more information on the work CDC/ATSDR is doing to address PFAS exposure, please visit ATSDR's PFAS website.

For other exposure assessment or PFAS-related questions, please email pfas@cdc.gov.

Virtual information sessions

New Castle: December 17, 2024

CDC/ATSDR and EPA invite all residents of New Castle to attend a virtual information session on December 17, 2024, to learn more about the results of the exposure investigation. Experts will also answer community questions.

Date: December 17, 2024
Time: 7:00 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://cdc.zoomgov.com/j/1619907367?pwd=ziF5rb5BlNvz0RZ2xB8SWb1MExAsTa.1
Passcode: *x9h?G0+

Or One tap mobile :
+16692545252,,1619907367#,,,,*01110665# US (San Jose) +16469641167,,1619907367#,,,,*01110665# US (US Spanish Line)

Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
+1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose)
+1 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line)
+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)
+1 669 216 1590 US (San Jose)
+1 415 449 4000 US (US Spanish Line)
+1 551 285 1373 US (New Jersey)

Webinar ID: 161 990 7367
Passcode: 01110665
International numbers available: https://cdc.zoomgov.com/u/adDmPM1pf5

Or an H.323/SIP room system:
H.323: 161.199.138.10 (US West) or 161.199.136.10 (US East)
Meeting ID: 161 990 7367
Passcode: 01110665
SIP: 1619907367@sip.zoomgov.com
Passcode: 01110665

Westfield: December 18, 2024

CDC/ATSDR and EPA invite all residents of Westfield to attend a virtual information session on December 18, 2024, to learn more about the results of the exposure investigation. Experts will also answer community questions.

Date: December 18, 2024
Time: 7:00 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://cdc.zoomgov.com/j/1619271676?pwd=77Rg5ib3baK8DBxEUj5v2YaeH95EgC.1
Passcode: .5k%Yw09

Or One tap mobile :
+16692545252,,1619271676#,,,,*75603354# US (San Jose)
+16468287666,,1619271676#,,,,*75603354# US (New York)

Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
+1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose)
+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)
+1 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line)
+1 669 216 1590 US (San Jose)
+1 415 449 4000 US (US Spanish Line)
+1 551 285 1373 US (New Jersey)

Webinar ID: 161 927 1676
Passcode: 75603354
International numbers available: https://cdc.zoomgov.com/u/ad5WHyYNG

Or an H.323/SIP room system:
H.323: 161.199.138.10 (US West) or 161.199.136.10 (US East)
Meeting ID: 161 927 1676
Passcode: 75603354
SIP: 1619271676@sip.zoomgov.com
Passcode: 75603354

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Content Source:
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry