Incident cancer risk: PFAS-exposed community

Messmer, Mindi

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/109873 Copy

Description

Title

Incident cancer risk: PFAS-exposed community

Author(s)

Messmer, Mindi

Issue Date

2021-04-28

Keyword(s)

• per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
• PFAS

Abstract

Presented by: Mindi Messmer – Research scientist at NH Science and Public Health Task Force Co-authors: Ben Locwin, Nora Traviss, Jeffrey Salloway, Nawar Shara Abstract: Emissions from a plastics coating industrial source in southern New Hampshire have contaminated at least 65 square miles of the aquifer with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals from contaminated effluent and air deposition. Mean serum levels of one PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are twice the U.S. national average of 1.94 µg/L (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018) in public water supply customers. Prior work by New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) determined that cancer incidences in this area do not significantly exceed state-wide incidence rates. However, in this study, risk ratios comparing Merrimack cancer incidences to national cancer rates between 2005 and 2014 indicate that residents are at increased risk for colon, laryngeal, kidney and renal, and brain and central nervous systems cancers and leukemia. Our findings also indicate that Merrimack residents are at significantly greater risk for mesothelioma, esophageal, bladder, and thyroid cancers when compared with national incidence rates. Biography: Ms. Messmer has over 30 years of experience as a state legislator, public health, and environmental advocate. She has an M.S. in clinical and translational research from Georgetown University. Ms. Messmer routinely speaks to educators, scientists, and others on subjects relating to public health concerns. As an NH State Representative, Ms. Messmer used her scientific background to write and pass policy that resulted in the stronger lead, arsenic, and PFAS drinking water standards and focused on policy to prevent cancer.

Series/Report Name or Number

2021 Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference (ECEC21)

Type of Resource

• text
• still image

Language

en

Permalink

• http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109873
• https://youtu.be/LsZuv5D6k1g

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