KINGSTON, R.I. – Feb. 27, 2025 – The STEEP Superfund Research Program at the University of Rhode Island is launching a five-part webinar series to help Cape Cod residents and other communities better understand and respond to PFAS contamination. STEEP—Sources, Transport, Exposure & Effects of PFAS—is a URI-led science effort to address the ubiquitous human health impacts of PFAS in our everyday lives.

What are PFAS and why are they a concern?

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large family of chemicals added to nonstick, stain-resistant, and waterproof consumer products such as carpets and upholstery, rain jackets, cookware, food packaging, and even dental floss. They are also found in some firefighting foams used at military bases, airports, and fire training areas. Due to their extreme persistence in the environment and the body, PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals.” Exposures to PFAS have been associated with a wide range of health effects, including higher cholesterol, decreased vaccine response in children, thyroid disruption, and kidney and testicular cancers.

PFAS contamination on Cape Cod

Cape Cod’s shallow sand and gravel aquifer is the sole source of drinking water for 200,000 year-round and 500,000 summer residents, and is vulnerable to contamination from septic systems, runoff, landfills, and other pollution sources. PFAS have been found in public water supplies across the U.S. and throughout Cape Cod, including in Hyannis and Mashpee, Massachusetts. Public water supplies have been testing and treating for PFAS to meet state and, more recently, federal drinking water standards, but private wells remain vulnerable. PFAS have also been detected in surface water, fish, and shellfish.

About URI’s webinar series

The webinar series, hosted by STEEP, will provide community members, health professionals, and policymakers with up-to-date research, practical solutions, and an opportunity to engage directly with experts. Each one-hour webinar will include presentations and a live Q&A, with recordings available on the STEEP website for those unable to attend.

“Clear, accessible communication is vital when it comes to environmental health risks like PFAS,” says Emily Diamond, assistant professor at URI and co-lead of the STEEP community engagement team. “Through this webinar series and our broader work with the Cape Cod community, we aim to ensure that residents not only understand the science but also feel equipped to take action to protect their health and their environment.”

The series will launch with “Webinar #1: Household Exposures & Community Solutions” on Thursday, March 20 at noon. This session will explore how PFAS are not just found in water but also in everyday consumer products and household environments. Rainer Lohmann, director of STEEP, will present recent findings on PFAS in household dust and consumer goods, while Chris Powicki, chair of the Sierra Club Cape Cod & the Islands Group, will highlight community-driven efforts to minimize exposure. Laurel Schaider, STEEP researcher and senior scientist at Silent Spring Institute, will moderate the discussion, providing expertise on PFAS exposure and environmental health.

To register, please visit: https://web.uri.edu/steep/cape_webinar/.

Subsequent webinars will address PFAS contamination in local fish and shellfish, private well testing and drinking water safety, the health effects of PFAS exposure, and the concerns of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe regarding traditional food sources. Each session will provide research updates, community perspectives, and actionable guidance for residents.

A full schedule and speaker details are available at https://web.uri.edu/steep/news-events/events/

STEEP community engagement

This webinar series is part of STEEP’s broader commitment to informing Cape Cod communities through its community engagement work, with STEEP partner Silent Spring Institute. The Community Engagement Core (CEC) collaborates with organizations such as the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, the Sierra Club Cape Cod & the Islands Group, and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe to connect residents with PFAS research and support locally driven solutions. Although rooted in Cape Cod, these community partnerships and research findings offer lessons for other regions across the country grappling with PFAS contamination.

Schaider, of the Silent Spring Institute and another co-lead of the Community Engagement team, emphasizes the importance of building on partnerships with Cape Cod residents: “For over a decade, we’ve worked alongside Cape Cod residents to understand and address PFAS contamination in drinking water. This webinar series builds on those partnerships by providing residents with the latest science while amplifying community voices. Together, we can turn research into action and better protect our health and the environment.”

The STEEP Superfund Research Program is funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and is a collaborative partnership between the University of Rhode Island, Harvard University, and Silent Spring Institute. STEEP employs research, applied science, student education and training, and community outreach to build capacity for responding to PFAS pollution. For more information about STEEP, please visit: https://web.uri.edu/steep/.

This press release was written by Amber Neville, with the URI Coastal Institute.