“BURLINGTON — The Vermont Department of Health will be providing for blood tests for some people who may have been affected by PFOA contamination of drinking water in Bennington and North Bennington, but who have not been previously tested for PFOA levels in their blood.

The Vermont Legislature has made funding available for this effort.

In 2016, private drinking water wells in the area around the former Chemfab/Saint-Gobain facility had detections of PFOA ranging from non-detectable to nearly 3,000 parts per trillion, 150 times Vermont’s health advisory of 20 parts per trillion.

A blood test can measure the level of PFOA in an individual’s blood, and this can be compared to levels measured by CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for adults and older children in the U.S. Most adults have low levels of PFOA in their blood.

The blood test cannot tell if a person’s exposure to PFOA will cause health problems in the future, or if a health problem was caused by PFOA, but it may help inform discussions with a person’s doctor about their health.

A person is eligible for the PFOA blood test if the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation tested the well of a home in North Bennington/Bennington where you live now, or where you lived any time in the past 10 years; or you worked or lived at the former Chemfab/Saint-Gobain site at 940/1030 Water Street in North Bennington, or you work or live there now.

In addition, you must not already have had your blood tested at a Health Department-sponsored clinic in 2016 and 2017.

If you are interested in having your blood tested, complete the online survey at healthvermont.gov/PFOAbloodtesting 2018 by Friday, Aug. 10.

There is no cost to participants for the blood draw, laboratory analysis and report.

In a related announcement this week, attorneys representing residents in a class-action lawsuit against Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, the firm the state has determined is the responsible party for the PFOA contamination, advised residents that blood testing will be a requirement for anyone seeking long-term medical monitoring because of elevated PFOA blood levels for those with contaminated wells — one of the goals of the suit in U.S. District Court.”

Read the full article by the Bennington Banner