PORTSMOUTH, New Hampshire — Adults and children who had their blood tested for PFAS by the state several years ago, are being encouraged to participate in a National PFAS health impact study. The industrial chemicals were discovered more than five years ago in the drinking water supple at the former Pease Air Force Base.
The ground breaking, multi-million dollar study will focus on one thousand adults and 350 children who drank the contaminated water and had their blood tested by state health officials between 2015 and 2018. A group of moms known as Testing for Pease lobbied for years for the study. Their children and family members drank the contaminated water for years.
As part of the investigation, participants will be asked to answer questions about their medical history. They will also submit new blood and urine samples. They will also check for thyroid, kidney function and cholesterol levels. Children will undergo neurological evaluations.
It's believed more than 10-thousand people who work at the Pease Tradeport or live in surrounding communities drank the water. The contamination came from fire fighting foam used for years during training exercises.
PFAS is known as 'forever chemicals' because research shows it can decades for PFAS to break down in the body.
Studies have linked the exposure to a host of health problems including organ cancers, infertility and immune problems.
The CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substance and DIsease Registry (ATSDR) is running the study. Officials say adults 18 and older may be eligible who worked or attended school at the Pease Tradeport from January of 2004 to May of 2014.
Lived in Newington, New Hampshire from January of 2004 to present and used a private well with documented PFAS contamination,
Children ages 4 to 17 with a parent or guardian's permission who attended daycare at Pease at anytime from January 2004 to May 2014 or was born to and/or breastfed by a mother who meets the adult eligibility criteria.
To enroll in the Pease Study, you can call (603) 846-6192.
To see if you meet the meet the study requirements for participants, click here
For more information on Testing for Pease, click here.