A University of Arizona study looked at all births in New Hampshire from 2010 to 2019. Researchers compared mothers who used wells downstream of PFAS sites with mothers who used upstream wells. The downstream group had more infant deaths in the first year, more preterm births, and more babies with low birth weight.
The study focuses on long-chain PFAS such as PFOA and PFOS, which stay in soil and move into groundwater. The authors say cleanup and home filters could protect pregnant women and infants.
Difficult words
- downstream — in the direction water flows away from a site
- upstream — in the opposite direction of water flow
- infant — a baby under one year old
- preterm — born before the normal pregnancy time
- low birth weight — baby who weighs less than usual when born
- groundwater — water that is under the ground surface
- cleanup — actions to remove pollution or dangerous material
- filter — device that removes harmful things from waterfilters
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Would you want a home water filter if your water came from a well? Why or why not?
- Have you heard about chemicals like PFOA or PFOS before? What do you think people should do about them?
- What steps could a community take if a study finds chemical contamination in local wells?
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