PFAS exposure risks near contaminated sites and how to measure them
Official title: Assessing the Contribution of Polyfluoroalkyl Precursors to Diverse PFAS Exposures near Contaminated Sites
Funded at University of Rhode Island · NIH-11389403 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at understanding how PFAS from polluted sites reaches people, especially kids, and developing new ways to measure exposure and its health implications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rhode Island NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kingston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2017 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $318,977 |
| NIH project number | 5P42ES027706-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11389403 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and families living near PFAS-contaminated sites who could be affected by exposure.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals with no direct exposure or not residing near PFAS-contaminated sites may see limited direct benefits.
What this research studies
This project focuses on identifying PFAS exposure sources near Superfund sites and creating advanced tools to detect and quantify those exposures in the environment and in people. It combines environmental science with statistical methods to map how PFAS move through air and water and how they might affect health. The work is designed to support healthier communities by improving accurate exposure assessment and risk understanding, with a collaborative approach across biology, engineering, and data science.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better detection and understanding of PFAS exposure could lead to earlier interventions and improved public health protections for communities near contaminated sites.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has advanced PFAS measurement, but work on precursors and atmospheric transport is expanding and shows promising insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sunderland, Elsie Mareca — University of Rhode Island
- Study coordinator: Sunderland, Elsie Mareca
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.