Community-based Exposure Study and Development of a Community-First Communication Model

In 2001, perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) was found in the public water supply in rural Appalachian Ohio at levels far exceeding those previously reported for any public water supply, creating great community concern. PFOA is known to be toxic to the liver in rodents and carcinogenic in rates, and has been classified as probably carcinogenic to humans. Based on this finding, a partnership was formed between environmental health researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, a local health care provider, and the Decatur Community Association to address the potential health effects from PFOA pollution.

A community-investigator research partnership was developed to address the health effects of PFOA pollution, with a strong desire to implement a community-driven communication strategy to communicate the study results. A Community Advisory Committee facilitated community participation. All meetings were open to the public, and generally between 10 and 30 members of the public attended.

The goal of this study was to address the health effects of PFOA pollution, with a strong desire to implement a community-driven communication strategy to communicate the study results.

Results were presented at a community meeting, with over 400 community members in attendance. Initial median blood PFOA levels for residents were found to be 80 times those of the general population, with the major exposure source identified to be residential water. As a result of the study, the polluting company offered to provide bottled water to residents, which was accepted by 77.6% of households. Over 95% of participants made some changes to residential water supplies. This led to a median reduction in blood PFOA levels of 26% between the original study in 2004, and the follow-up study from November 2006 to February 2007. These findings have been utilized to help set drinking water standards in Minnesota and New Jersey, and for a consent decree between USEPA and DuPont.