Fitzpatrick unveils $1M federal research grant on toxic chemicals affecting water in Pa.

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) announced a $1 million federal grant for research on the health effects of exposure to toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during an Oct. 8 press conference at Temple University’s Ambler campus in Montgomery County, Pa.

“We must act quickly to prevent the spread of these dangerous chemicals and hold those responsible for this crisis accountable,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick, referring to PFAS contamination in drinking water that’s been traced to area military bases, which continue to use certain PFAS in firefighting training exercises.

“This grant program and the research it will fund is a great step forward to solving this ongoing public health crisis,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick, who is co-chair of the bipartisan PFAS Task Force.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry recently selected Montgomery County, Pa., as one of seven sites for the nationwide study on PFAS exposure and its health consequences. Rep. Fitzpatrick’s office noted that PFAS chemicals have been used for years in consumer products and in foam used in firefighting.

During the press conference, Rep. Fitzpatrick was joined by two congressional colleagues, as well as representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Temple University’s School of Public Health, who discussed how the study will unfold, how it will help scientists address unanswered questions, and related policy efforts.

“I have seen firsthand that PFAS chemicals have serious health consequences, and hopefully this grant will help provide new insights about these consequences and how they are affecting the people of Pennsylvania,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said.