Silent Spring Institute is holding an information and recruitment session at Barnstable Town Hall on Wednesday, November 16 for the Massachusetts PFAS & Your Health Study. We would love for you to attend and/or help us get the word out about this event and the importance of participating in the study. Below is the advisory that was sent to Cape media yesterday. MBCC is proud to support the Massachusetts PFAS & Your Health Study as a community partner.
You can also find information about the meeting on Silent Spring’s website.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, November 1, 2022
Media Contact: Alexandra Goho, goho@silentspring.org
Nov. 16 Town Hall meeting about the Massachusetts PFAS & Your Health Study
Hyannis residents invited to learn about CDC study, and why they should sign up and get tested
Hyannis, MA – The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recently announced new recommendations that people who have been exposed to chemicals called PFAS—through their drinking water or other sources—should get their blood tested. Understanding what people may have been exposed to in the past could help them take steps to prevent health problems in the future.
Normally, a PFAS blood test costs hundreds of dollars. But residents who lived in Hyannis between 2006 and 2016 can get tested for free by signing up for the Massachusetts PFAS & Your Health Study. The study is part of a national effort launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate communities across the country—including Hyannis—that have been impacted by PFAS contaminants in drinking water.
Before 2016, levels of PFAS in the Hyannis water system were higher than in any other public water supply in Massachusetts. Although the water in Hyannis is now being treated to remove PFAS, scientists are concerned about possible long-term health effects from exposures that happened in the past. Silent Spring Institute’s senior scientist and lead investigator Dr. Laurel Schaider will provide an overview of the study and answer questions. Members of the community will get a chance to learn about the study’s goals, sign up to participate, and find out other ways to get involved. Staff will be on site to enroll eligible participants.
The event is FREE — all are welcome!
WHAT: Massachusetts PFAS & Your Health Study Recruitment and Info Session
WHERE: Barnstable Town Hall, 2nd Floor Hearing Room, 367 Main Street, Hyannis
WHEN: Wednesday, November 16th, 2022, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
WHO: Program and Speakers:
Welcome remarks
- Cheryl Osimo, Executive Director, Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition and Cape Cod Outreach Coordinator, Silent Spring Institute
- Mark Ells, Town Manager, Town of Barnstable, Cape Cod
Presentations
- Dr. Laurel Schaider (Project Lead), Senior Scientist, Silent Spring Institute
Q&A
Sign-ups: Community invited to get screened for eligibility and join the study
Massachusetts PFAS & Your Health Study is a five-year effort led by Silent Spring Institute in collaboration with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Eastern Research Group. The study is focusing on two communities in Eastern Massachusetts—Hyannis and Ayer—where public drinking water supplies have been contaminated by PFAS from the use of firefighting foams at nearby fire training areas. It is one of seven projects funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) as part of the ATSDR Multi-Site Health Study on PFAS. Community partners include Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) and People of Ayer Concerned about the Environment (PACE).
For more information, visit: http://bit.ly/ma-pfas
Watch a short video about the study, including testimonial by Town Manager Mark Ells: