Blood tests of people with contaminated wells show high PFOA


Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Blood tests of 477 Bennington-area residents exposed to the chemical PFOA has found it in their systems at an average level almost five times the national average, the Vermont Health Department said Tuesday.

The samples were taken from people whose private water wells were contaminated with the chemical or those who formerly lived or worked at the now-closed Chemfab site in North Bennington, which produced non-stick materials.

PFOA was used in the manufacture of nonstick coatings. It has been linked to cancer and other illnesses.

The results from the tests taken between April and June ranged from 0.3 micrograms per liter to 1,125.6, with an average of 10. PFOA is found in most Americans and the national average is 2.1.

"These results are not unexpected," said Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Harry Chen.

He encouraged anyone found with PFOA in their blood to consult a doctor.

The results cannot determine if a person will suffer health problems in the future or if a current health condition was caused by the chemical, the Health Department said.

Further study will determine if people with higher PFOA levels in their blood had higher levels of PFOA in their water. When individuals stop drinking contaminated water, PFOA blood levels go down, it said.

The Health Department has tested hundreds of private water supplies in the Bennington area near locations where PFOA had been used in industrial settings.

Vermont began testing wells in the Bennington area earlier this year after the substance was discovered in the village drinking water system in Hoosick Falls, New York, a short distance from Bennington.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Most recent U.S. stories

Related topics

U.S.
The Associated Press

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast