Researchers: Hyannis PFAS studies will move ahead

By Cynthia McCormick

Posted Dec 11, 2019

Despite reports of holdup in federal review, Silent Spring plans to begin work early next year.

HYANNIS — Silent Spring Institute researchers say they are optimistic that two studies of the effects of PFAS-contaminated drinking water on the residents of Hyannis will proceed as expected.

For one study, the institute will take blood and urine samples and medical histories from 1,000 adults and 300 children in Hyannis and Ayer as part of a multimillion-dollar federal study of the toxic chemicals in water in seven states.

But a recent report in USA Today quoted a lead investigator for the New Jersey portion of the study, who said it is being held up by President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget.

The OMB, a branch of the White House, has the responsibility of reviewing the study because it is being led by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Laurel Schaider, a Silent Spring scientist, said Wednesday during a public meeting at Barnstable Town Hall. She said that agency is a branch of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“It’s a normal process,” Schaider said. Reports that the overall study is off to a slow start “does lead to some uncertainty,” she said.

Cheryl Osimo, co-founder and Cape Cod coordinator of Silent Spring, said, “Until I hear something, I will remain confident we are going to move forward.”

Osimo said she would reach out to the community if there were any unreasonable delays in starting the study in Hyannis and Ayer.

Two-thirds of the adult and child study participants will be from Hyannis, since it is a larger community than Ayer and has experienced higher levels of PFAS chemicals from firefighting foams in the drinking water, Schaider said.

PFAS, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are found in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant carpets and upholstery, microwave popcorn bags, Oral-B Glide dental floss, Teflon, Gore-Tex and many other products, Schaider said.

The subject of the recently released film “Dark Waters” with Mark Ruffalo and Anne Hathaway, PFAS also are known as “forever chemicals” because of their persistence in groundwater, soil and human bodies, scientists say.

PFAS have been linked to health problems, including high cholesterol, certain types of cancer and immune issues.

Silent Spring scientists plan to start Phase 1 of the study early next year, Schaider said.

“We’re really just at the beginning,” Schaider said. She said Silent Spring received $1 million in federal funding in September for the first year of a five-year study.

Another Silent Spring study of PFAS in children — this one studying the impact on their immune systems — is expected to start recruiting participants soon, Schaider said.

Known as the REACH study, the smaller study will look at the effectiveness of vaccines on 120 recently enrolled preschoolers, half in Hyannis and half at Pease Tradeport in New Hampshire, to help determine whether PFAS in drinking water reduced the effectiveness of vaccines, Schaider said.

Researchers will recruit participants through preschools, pediatrician offices and other venues, Schaider said.