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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
11:21
Methodology for Establishing a Community-Wide Life Laboratory for Capturing Unobtrusive and Continuous Remote Activity and Health Data
Published on: July 27, 2018
The C8 health project: design, methods, and participants
Stephanie J Frisbee1, A Paul Brooks, Arthur Maher
1Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-9105, USA. sfrisbee@hsc.wvu.edu
Environmental Health Perspectives
|January 6, 2010
Summary
The C8 Health Project found significantly elevated perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) levels in residents near a chemical plant. This large study provides crucial data for understanding PFOA exposure and its health effects.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Study originated from a legal settlement regarding perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contamination in drinking water.
- The contamination was linked to the DuPont Washington Works facility in West Virginia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To collect data on PFOA levels in a large population.
- To enable subsequent epidemiological investigations into PFOA exposure and health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Enrolled 69,030 participants over 13 months (2005-2006).
- Collected demographic data, medical diagnoses, and serum concentrations of 10 perfluorocarbons (PFCs).
- Validated and stored extensive health data for analysis.
Main Results:
- Population geometric mean serum PFOA was 32.91 ng/mL, 500% higher than the U.S. general population.
- Elevated serum concentrations of perfluorohexane sulfonate (39%) and perfluorononanoic acid (73%) were observed.
- Perfluorooctanesulfonate levels were similar to the U.S. population.
Conclusions:
- This study is the largest population assessment of community PFC exposure.
- Enables new evaluations of associations between PFOA and health parameters.
- Provides a model for future studies on populations exposed to environmental contaminants.
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