By ROGER WARBURTON/ecoRI News contributor

The Rhode Island Department of Health recently released data accumulated during its testing for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in 2019. The agency tested every major drinking-water supply in the state and the water in every school that had its own well(s). In all, 87 percent of Rhode Islanders had their primary source of water tested.

PFAS were detected in 44 percent of the locations tested.

PFAS chemicals never break down in the environment and can stay in the human body for many years.

Local researchers have linked these fluorinated chemicals to thyroid disease, low birth weight, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Two bills in the General Assembly would take action on these “forever chemicals.”

Scientists at the Environmental Working Group and Indiana University have conducted a review of 26 PFAS and found that all display at least one characteristic of known human carcinogens. The study, published March 4 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, found that the most well-studied PFAS compounds — PFOA, formerly used by DuPont to make Teflon, and PFOS, formerly an ingredient in 3M’s Scotchgard — exhibit up to five key carcinogenic characteristics.

Moving the mouse over any of the information icons in the downloadable map will present a summary of the testing at that site. Green icons represent sites where no PFAS were detected. Darker red icons represent sites where PFAS were detected.

Clicking on an icon will present the data for that site in a pop-up box. Many test sites are only identified by town, without an address. For example, Pawtucket sites are simply identified by their well number. For sites having the same address, ecoRI News placed the icons in a vertical line. Zooming in will spread out the icons and you can click on them to determine the results of the test.

Researchers with the Brown University Superfund Research Program assisted the Department of Health in collecting the PFAS data.

Roger Warburton, Ph.D., is a Newport, R.I., resident.