Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is a growing public health concern, with documented effects on metabolic hormones, cholesterol levels, testicular cancer, hypertension during pregnancy and other physiological effects. Peer-reviewed research recently published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives draws attention to an unexpected source for the spread of PFAS “forever chemicals” to rural water supplies – wastewater from public schools.
The data analysis that drove the findings was led by College of the Atlantic (COA) undergraduate student Ludwin Moran, a two-time INBRE Summer Fellow.
“I created chemical profiles of samples taken near MDI High School and neighborhood wells, “ Moran says. “That’s how we were able to determine that the residential drinking water was contaminated by a set of PFAS compounds that matched those at the school.” He notes that because of their engagement with the project, citizens affected by contaminants were able to protect themselves by switching to bottled water and in some cases were helped by the state Department of Environmental Protection, which financed the installation of filtration systems in their homes.
“Achieving my first published research was thrilling and has definitely motivated me to keep pursuing more” said Moran, who recently graduated from COA.
“The findings show that private well water is a misnomer,” says Jane Disney, Ph.D., who mentored Moran and heads the Community Environmental Health Laboratory at the MDI Bio Lab. “Our analyses show an example of a school where PFAS in wastewater impacts an entire neighborhood.”
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