Residents in a small Southeast Alaska city know so-called “forever chemicals” are in local water supplies. Now they’ll find out exactly how much is in their blood stream.<\/p>\n
Early next week, blood samples will be collected from dozens of Gustavus residents, which will then be sent to Indiana University Bloomington, where they will be analyzed for PFAS contamination. Gustavus PFAS Action Coalition Chair Kelly McLaughlin<\/a> told the Empire she’s hoping for 40-65 participants.<\/p>\n “I just feel really strongly everyone should know what their body burden is,” said McLaughlin, who had her blood tested early last year on her own. “It helped me wrap my head around it a little more.”<\/p>\n PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances<\/a>, are a group of man-made chemicals, that are persistent in the environment, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The chemicals have caused tumors in animals, and they have been linked to low birth weights, negative effects on the immune system, increased risk of cancer, increased cholesterol levels, lower fertility levels and thyroid disruption, according to the EPA<\/a> and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.<\/p>\n PFAS are in many products and have been since the 1940s, according to the EPA. Most people around the state and country have been exposed to them at some point, and they’ve been found in groundwater around Alaska, including in Juneau.<\/p>\n [Juneau tests for ‘forever chemicals<\/a>’]<\/ins><\/p>\n While Juneau’s sites were not near known sources of drinking water, according to the City and Borough of Juneau, PFAS are present in many Gustavus wells. Drinking water is being distributed by the state to people with water that tested above the action level threshold<\/a>.<\/p>\n PFAS contamination is not unique to Gustavus, but Pam Miller, Executive Director for Alaska Community Action on Toxics, said it is one of the only communities in the state participating in a biomonitoring study. Miller said she is also heard of an ATSDR study near Moose Creek<\/a>, which is part of the Fairbanks North Star Borough.<\/p>\n The Gustavus project is being supported by the Indiana University Bloomington, which will test the blood samples for free, and the Alaska Community Action on Toxics<\/a>, an Anchorage-based organization that helped coordinate the study, provided supplies and will assist with collection efforts. Blood tests for PFAS can cost as much as $800<\/a>, depending on the lab conducting the test. Shipping samples from Alaska can add to that total, too.<\/p>\n Miller said it would be difficult to put a monetary value on the amount of support effort is receiving since ACAT staff hours will be part of the total, and blood has yet to be drawn. She also said the effort would not be possible without the efforts of each of Gustavus PFAS Action Coalition, ACAT and Indiana University Bloomington.<\/p>\n “All the entities are providing supplies or some kind of support,” Miller said.<\/p>\n In addition to blood, Miller said the study will examine possible correlation between chemical presence in drinking water and blood syrum levels.<\/p>\n McLaughlin said the two chemicals that were highest in her blood test results last year were the same chemicals that were most present in her well.<\/p>\n The EPA’s health advisory for PFAS in water is 70 parts per trillion, an amount which The Associated Press has described as three drops in an Olympic-sized pool. McLaughlin said her well tested at 130 parts per trillion.<\/p>\n She said the PFAS level in her blood was somewhere around 10,000 parts per trillion.<\/p>\n “If I hadn’t drank the water, I think it would be lower,” McLaughlin said.<\/p>\n She said it’s difficult to tell if that’s had any impact on her health and did not share any specific complaints.<\/p>\n “It’s so tough to say,” McLaughlin said.<\/p>\n