Ongoing New York State Biomonitoring Projects

Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh Areas PFOA Blood Testing

DOH collected two rounds of blood samples (in 2016 and 2018) from participants in the Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh areas in response to community concerns about exposure to the PFAS compound perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in drinking water.

Blood test results provided information on how levels of PFOA in these communities compared to people living elsewhere. The Round 1 results provided information about levels of PFOA in participants’ blood immediately after people stopped consuming water with PFOA contamination. Round 2 results showed the decline over time (about 2 ½ years after most people’s exposure to PFOA from drinking water ended) in PFOA levels in people’s blood and helped inform how long PFOA may remain in people who were exposed.

More information about biomonitoring in Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh areas.

Newburgh Area PFOS Blood Testing

DOH collected blood samples from participants in the Newburgh area in 2016 and 2017 in response to community concerns about exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and other PFAS in drinking water.

The results provided information about levels of PFOS and other PFAS compounds in participants’ blood. It also provided information on how levels of PFOS in these communities compared to people living elsewhere. Plans for a second round of blood testing are underway.

More information about biomonitoring activities in the Newburgh area.

Westhampton Area PFAS Blood Testing

DOH collected blood samples from participants in the Westhampton Beach and Quogue area in 2018 in response to community concerns about exposure to PFAS compounds in drinking water from private wells and from the public water supply. DOH was provided funding to conduct the blood testing for people served by the public water supply through a cooperative agreement between ATSDR and ASTHO to use and evaluate ATSDR’s PFAS Exposure Assessment Technical Tools (PEATT).

The results provided information about the levels of several PFAS compounds in participants’ blood. It also provided information on how levels of PFAS in these communities compared to people living elsewhere.

More information about biomonitoring activities in the Westhampton area.

DOH also offered blood testing to a limited number of people living in homes with private wells that were affected by PFAS in the Westhampton and Yaphank areas. Participants included both current and former residents, totaling approximately 80 people. The blood test results generally followed a pattern showing higher PFOS levels in blood for people who had higher levels of PFOS in their wells.