Bennington College has received a $90,000 grant to study the chemical PFOA, which has been found in surrounding water sources.
The National Science Foundation awarded Bennington College the Rapid Response grant to support a new course and research into perflurooctanoic acid. A relatively understudied chemical, it has been linked to serious health effects including cancer. Study will focus on how the chemical behaves in water, ground, and plants.
The chemical has been found in the public water supplies in Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh, New York. Private wells have been affected in the Town of Hoosick and North Bennington, Vermont.
The chemical was long used as component of PTFE, more commonly referred to as Teflon.
