The Minnesota Department of Health's Biomonitoring Project will study 200 adults from Lake Elmo, Oakdale and Cottage Grove who where exposed to PFCs in their drinking water and have lived in the community before 2005. Adults who fit MDH's eligibility criteria will be invited to participate in the project. All participants will provide a blood sample so the level of PFCs in their bodies can be measured. The purpose of the project is to determine the following:

Levels of PFCs in study participants bodies
How participants PFC levels compare to levels in the general population
Whether PFC contaminated communities have elevated levels of PFCs in their bodies compared to the general population

The MDH is required to submit a report to the legislature on the pilot program results by January 15th, 2008. See Minnesota Department of Health (pdf) for more info.

Ohio and West Virginia Biomonitoring

The biomonitoring study underway in Ohio and West Virginia is the largest study ever conducted in the country and involves 69,000 people. Preliminary results from this study measuring the amount of PFOA in people's blood and resulting health issues was released in 2007. This information confirms people with moderate to high concentrations of PFOA in their blood are having their health damaged by PFOA.

The results found:

• Moderate levels of PFOA affects thyroid function
• High PFOA levels weaken the immune system
• High PFOA levels also contribute to high cholesterol in children and may damage the liver

Other Toxic Chemicals In Our Bodies

Drinking water contamination is not our only route of toxic chemical exposure. Each of us is being exposed to toxic chemicals in our shampoo, baby bottles, food cans and other products we use everyday. In 2007, 35 Americans had their blood and urine tested for toxic chemicals found in consumer products and discovered these chemicals were also in their bodies.

Learn More

• Factsheet: Protecting Our Water from PFC Contamination (198 kb, pdf)
• Testimony of Samuel Yamin, MCEA (33 kb, pdf)
• Learn more about toxic chemicals and how to reduce your exposure, visit Healthy Legacy.

Other sites:

• Minnesota Public Radio Series: Toxic Traces
• Minnesota Department of Health: Hazardous Substances in Minnesota: Perfluorochemicals and Health
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency: Perfluorochemicals
• Environmental Working Group: PFCs: Global Contaminants: PFC Health Concerns
• C8 Health Project
• DuPont Accountability Coalition
• Ohio Department of Health: Health Assessment Section Fact Sheets
• European Union Reach Policy