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Investigating the Prevalence and Health Risks of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in New Mexico De Facto Water Reuse

Award Number: R16ES039203
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/17/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2029

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Investigating the Prevalence and Health Risks of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in New Mexico De Facto Water Reuse - Project Summary The project focuses on assessing health risks posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in drinking water sources resulting from de facto reuse (DFR) of treated wastewater. DFR occurs when treated wastewater is unintentionally present in downstream freshwater, which can introduce contaminants that are recalcitrant to conventional wastewater treatment and ultimately affect drinking water safety. PFAS are a group of highly persistent anthropogenic chemicals widely used in consumer products and industrial processes. They pose significant public health concerns due to their environmental persistence, wide distribution, and potential adverse health effects such as liver damage, endocrine disruption, and immunotoxicity. Despite growing awareness of PFAS risks, limited research exists on PFAS exposure through DFR-affected drinking water, and the health risks associated with this pathway remain poorly understood. This research project aims to address the above-mentioned knowledge gap by investigating PFAS prevalence in DFR-affected water and developing a new risk assessment framework, combining occurrence prediction, health risk estimation, and in vitro verification. The central hypothesis of this project is that higher DFR mixing rates correlate with increased PFAS levels in downstream water and that the associated health risks are influenced by both PFAS occurrence profile and the specific water treatment technologies employed. To test these hypotheses, the project outlines three specific aims: First, we will use advanced machine learning models (i.e., Bayesian Networks) to predict PFAS occurrence in DFR-affected water, incorporating new monitoring data to refine and validate developed models. Second, we will assess PFAS-induced health risks by estimating exposure through Monte Carlo simulations and computing the health risk tableau according to reference doses from the PFAS-Tox database. Finally, we will verify the computed health risks through in vitro exposure experiments and further quantify PFAS interaction on their health outcomes under mixture exposure scenarios. The expected outcomes of this research are significant, both scientifically and socially. The project aims to develop data-driven tools for forecasting PFAS occurrence in drinking water resources under various DFR mixing scenarios, which could inform local PFAS health advisories. The research will also contribute to a deeper understanding of PFAS-induced health risks from DFR-affected drinking water, thereby supporting national efforts to ensure drinking water safety. Moreover, the game theory-inspired exposure experiments will provide quantitative insights into PFAS interaction in realistic co-exposure scenarios. Beyond its scientific merits, the project also serves important educational and career development purposes. It will provide research opportunities for undergraduate students at New Mexico State University, enhancing their participation in the field of environmental health and therefore supporting New Mexico workforce development. Additionally, the project will support the career development of the junior Principal Investigator, allowing for the generation of high- quality preliminary data that will serve as a foundation for long-term investigations into the nexus of emerging contaminants and public health issues.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $177,460 )
2026	2026	NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY	1050 STEWART ST.	LAS CRUCES	NM	88003	DONA ANA	USA	Environmental Health	000	1	8/14/2026	NEW	$177,460
														Subtotal = $177,460

Grand Total All Awards = $177,460

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Investigating the Prevalence and Health Risks of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in New Mexico De Facto Water Reuse

Award Number: R16ES039203

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/17/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2029

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