Lowering harmful disinfectant chemicals in Appalachian drinking water
A university-community partnership to reduce exposure to disinfection byproducts in Appalachia
This project teams up with Appalachian communities to track and reduce chemicals formed when water is disinfected that can harm local residents' health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11243471 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You and your neighbors in Martin and Letcher Counties will work with university researchers and local officials to test tap water from homes and small community systems across different seasons. The team will map how levels of disinfection byproducts vary by location, time of year, and home characteristics, and will look at how people might be exposed in multiple ways. A formal stakeholder group will guide the work, share results with the community, and help craft practical steps to lower exposure. The project builds on earlier local pilot studies and uses both scientific measurements and community input to reduce health risks.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are residents of Martin and Letcher Counties, Kentucky, especially those served by small drinking water systems or private/home water supplies.
Not a fit: People who live outside the study counties or who receive water from large municipal systems or who only drink bottled water are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lower residents' exposure to harmful disinfection byproducts and help reduce related risks such as bladder cancer and certain birth defects.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier community-engaged pilot projects in the area identified disinfection byproducts and informed this larger effort, and community water testing has helped reduce exposures elsewhere though long-term health impacts are still being studied.
Where this research is happening
Lexington, United States
- University of Kentucky — Lexington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Unrine, Jason — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Unrine, Jason
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.