PFAS Contamination After a Fire in East Liverpool, Ohio
Extent of PFAS Contamination Resulting from a Fire at a Hazardous Waste Incinerator in East Liverpool, Ohio
This project looks at how much "forever chemicals" (PFAS) spread in East Liverpool, Ohio, after a hazardous waste incinerator fire, especially in people's homes and bodies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10862622 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
A fire at a hazardous waste incinerator in East Liverpool, Ohio, may have released "forever chemicals" called PFAS into the environment. Our team is working with the community to understand how much PFAS contamination occurred after this event. We will collect new soil samples from the same locations as before the fire to see how levels have changed. We also plan to measure PFAS in local drinking water, household dust, and blood samples from families to understand their exposure. This helps us see the full picture of how the fire affected the community's environment and health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be families living in the East Liverpool, Ohio community who are willing to provide environmental and biological samples.
Not a fit: Patients not living in the East Liverpool, Ohio area or those not directly exposed to the incinerator fire's potential contamination would not directly benefit from this specific environmental monitoring.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help residents understand their exposure to harmful chemicals and inform future public health actions to protect the community.
How similar studies have performed: This project builds on existing community-academic partnerships and prior soil characterization, offering a unique opportunity to track changes after a specific event, which is a novel aspect.
Where this research is happening
Lexington, United States
- University of Kentucky — Lexington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haynes, Erin N — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Haynes, Erin N
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.