PFAS in the River: Studying Impacts on Maternal and Child Health

Research by Liping Feng, MD, and Heather Stapleton, PhD, both faculty members of ITEHP, was recently featured in a Duke Today article. Together, they are working to explore the effects of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS, collectively) on maternal and fetal health. PFAS are used in everyday applications where they repel moisture and grease, found in furniture upholstery, carpeting, and even pizza boxes. These compounds are known as “forever compounds” because of their ability to persist and not break down, remaining in the environment and even our bodies long after any exposure. Together, Drs. Feng and Stapleton have been investigating how exposures to PFAS in the environment, such as in our drinking water, are impacting the health of women and their children.

To learn more about the research of Drs. Feng and Stapleton, along with their community advocacy efforts, click the link below to read the full Duke Today article!

https://today.duke.edu/2022/07/global-concerns-maternal-health-come-close-home