Drinking water contaminants and pregnancy health in disadvantaged California communities
Characterization of drinking water contaminants and perinatal health effects in disadvantaged communities
This project looks at how mixtures of chemicals in drinking water affect pregnant people and newborn health in vulnerable California communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126811 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will work with local residents and community groups to measure a range of chemical contaminants in local drinking water and link exposure patterns to birth outcomes like birth weight and other perinatal health measures. The work focuses on contaminants such as arsenic, nitrate, certain pesticides, hexavalent chromium, and PFAS, and emphasizes mixture effects rather than single chemicals. The team will use local water sampling, birth records, and community-driven data collection, then report results back to participants, communities, and agencies. The goal is to inform public health actions in hard-hit areas such as the Tulare Lake Basin and Salinas Valley.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are pregnant people, those planning pregnancy, or caregivers living in disadvantaged California communities with suspected contaminated drinking water (for example in the Tulare Lake Basin or Salinas/Salinas Valley areas).
Not a fit: People who live outside the affected California regions or who already have reliably treated drinking water are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help drive cleanup and policy changes that reduce harmful water exposures for pregnant people and improve newborn health.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked individual contaminants like arsenic, nitrates, and PFAS to adverse birth outcomes, but mixture-focused, community-engaged efforts of this scale are less common.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Morello-Frosch, Rachel Adele — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Morello-Frosch, Rachel Adele
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.