PFAS: how these chemicals spread and affect children and families
Sources, Transport, Exposure & Effects of PFAS (STEEP) Center - RENEWAL
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND · NIH-11123451
This center work looks at how PFAS chemicals move through air, water, and food and how they may affect people's health, with special focus on children and breastfeeding families.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (KINGSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11123451 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will measure PFAS in the environment (air, groundwater, and soils) and in human-related samples like blood and breast milk, and they will develop better tools to detect hard-to-find PFAS. The team will model how PFAS travel through air and water and predict how they accumulate in people and wildlife. Projects include improving cleanup methods for contaminated groundwater and working with state agencies to apply findings to local communities. A major focus is on child health, including possible effects on the immune system and metabolism, and on understanding exposures during breastfeeding.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living near known PFAS-contaminated sites—especially families with young children and breastfeeding mothers willing to provide samples or health information—are the most likely candidates to be involved.
Not a fit: People with no known PFAS exposure or who live outside the study regions may not receive direct benefits from this center's activities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better testing, cleaner water and soil, and clearer guidance to reduce PFAS exposure and protect children's health.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research, including the first STEEP center, has linked PFAS to immune and metabolic effects and informed exposure science, but new detection tools and detailed child-focused work in this renewal are still being developed.
Where this research is happening
KINGSTON, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND — KINGSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LOHMANN, RAINER — UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
- Study coordinator: LOHMANN, RAINER
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.