The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is awarding approximately $3.9 million through two grants for research that improves understanding of human and ecological exposure to per– and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment. The research is expected to help provide additional information about PFAS to Federal, State, Tribal, and local officials, as they work together to address these chemicals and protect public health. The research also aims to promote a greater awareness of how to restore water quality in PFAS-impacted communities.The following universities are receiving grants:
- Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, to research the fate, transport, bioaccumulation, and exposure of a diverse suite of PFAS in nationally representative PFAS-impacted communities.
- Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, to study the toxicity of a large collection of PFAS and PFAS mixtures with the zebrafish assay and mice studies to identify toxic PFAS that require prioritization for risk management.
The grants support ongoing USEPA efforts related to PFAS—most notably, USEPA’s PFAS Action Plan, which includes a long-term research approach to understanding and reducing the potential human health and environmental risks associated with PFAS.