WHAT: University of Rhode Island and state officials will join researchers to announce an $8.1 million, 5-year grant renewal by the National Institute of Environmental Health and Sciences, a division of the National Institutes of Health. The funding supports a URI-based PFAS research and outreach program. Called the STEEP (Sources, Transport, Exposure and Effects of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances) Center, one of the longer running PFAS science efforts in the country, it studies pollution and examines potential research-based solutions alongside community partners.

PFAS chemicals are manmade and tied to cancer, hormone distribution and other tissue abnormalities in people and animals. They can be found in water-repellent outerwear and shoes, stain-guarded carpets and couches, many kinds of nonstick cookware, microelectronics and items like coated microwave popcorn bags.

According to the URI STEEP Center, 98% of Americans have PFAS in their blood; there are more than 110 million Americans with drinking water supplies contaminated with PFAS, but there has been a 50% decrease of such chemicals in the blood of people who drink water filtered to remove such chemicals.

WHO: U.S. Sen. Jack Reed; U.S. Rep. David Cicilline; URI President Marc Parlange; Rainer Lohmann, URI professor of oceanography and director of the STEEP Center; Terrence Gray, director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management; Seema Dixit, deputy director of the Rhode Island Department of Health; Angela Slitt, URI professor of pharmacy; and Philippe Grandjean, adjunct professor at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy (remote appearance from Denmark).

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 6, 9 a.m.

WHERE: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Room 300,
235 Promenade St., Providence

TO MAKE COVERAGE ARRANGEMENTS: Contact Dave Lavallee, URI Communications and Marketing, 401-874-5862, cell 401-465-4291, dlavallee@uri.edu.