news

ALBANY— Congressman Paul D. Tonko announced today that researchers at the University at Albany and Health Research, Inc in Menands, New York, have been awarded federal grants totaling more than $1 million to fund research into the health and environmental impacts of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS. Tonko has long been a leading voice on the issue of PFAS chemicals and recently was selected as a conferee in negotiations with the Senate on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes measures to address PFAS contaminants. As Chair of the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change, Tonko has enabled Capital Region residents to testify before Congress on PFAS contamination. He repeatedly pressed for more aggressive protections to keep these chemicals out of our drinking water and environment, and his subcommittee is expected to hold a major markup on a series of PFAS bills later this week.

“Every moment that we fail to act, more PFAS chemicals enter our water and air, threatening the health of our ecosystems and countless American families and communities,” Congressman Tonko said. “Nearly every state, including New York, has been impacted by PFAS contaminants polluting our drinking water and our environment. We need to do more to expand research and testing of these dangerous chemicals so we can get these communities the resources and science-based solutions they need. Congratulations to our local researchers who are working to address this growing public health threat that is already affecting many in our Capital Region.”

• The University at Albany received a grant totaling $1,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to research the health implications on communities whose drinking water has been exposed to PFAS chemicals. The project is led by Dr. Erin Bell, a professor of Environmental Health Sciences at UAlbany.
• Health Research Inc in Menands, NY received funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a dataset on PFAS contamination of 150 landfills across New York State. Health Research Inc is one of eight organizations awarded a total of around $6 million by the EPA towards research on the environmental impacts of these chemicals. 

“This study was made possible through the efforts of local and state organizations to help with this nationwide project,” Dr. Bell said. “Our longstanding partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, along with involvement of residents, community groups and organizations in Newburgh and Hoosick Falls in particular led to this success. From this study, we hope to learn more about PFAS chemicals and be better able to help address the health impacts of these contaminants on our communities. We are excited to be selected for this award and to continue to work with our local partners as we move forward.”

###