Minnesota is your home. It’s where your children and family live, work and play. All parents want their home to be a safe and healthy place. That’s why it’s so important to know what may put you or your family at risk for disease in the land of ten thousand lakes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading cause of death in Minnesota is cancer, while in other states it is heart disease. Could this possibly be because of the air we breathe and the water we drink? The 10,000 Families Study from the University of Minnesota wants to find the answer!
10,000 Families (10KFS) is a study of family health in Minnesota. Their goal is to understand the influences of genetics, lifestyle, and environment on health and illness over time. 10KFS recently received a prestigious grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to study chemical exposures and the connection to blood cancers, such as lymphoma and leukemia. “The focus on families from across Minnesota, including diverse rural, urban and suburban communities with a variety of exposures, will allow us to draw conclusions that will benefit future generations,” says 10KFS co-principal investigator Dr. Jen Poynter. 10KFS is now investigating three common chemicals that people in Minnesota are greatly exposed to: radon, per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and glyphosate.
- Radon is an odorless and colorless gas that comes from the soil and can accumulate, lurking undetected in the home. According to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. MDH further explains that “the average radon level in Minnesota is more than three times higher than the U.S. radon level…. More than two in five homes in Minnesota have radon levels that pose a significant health risk.”
- PFAS are a family of man-made chemicals that have been widely used for decades. They are extremely stable and do not break down in the environment, which is why they’re frequently called “forever chemicals.” MDH reports that “PFAS have been found in the groundwater and surface water in Minnesota… People are exposed to PFAS primarily through drinking beverages or eating food made with contaminated water and exposure to PFAS in dust or consumer products. Some PFAS can build up and stay in the human body for many years.”
- Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide active ingredient in the United States and throughout the world. Glyphosate is the key ingredient in Roundup® herbicide and is also sold under other product names such as Rodeo®, Durango®, and Accord®. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as “a probable carcinogen.” Nonetheless, glyphosate is still used widely commercially and residentially. The MDH reports that “over 20 million pounds of glyphosate were sold in Minnesota in 2017…In 2019, glyphosate was detected in surface water…15% of storm flow river and stream samples.”
10KFS is enrolling families in their quest for health! A minimum of two family members are needed, no matter their age or health condition. The first member must be at least 18 years old and live in Minnesota. Other members, including children, can live in Minnesota or a neighboring state (North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa or Wisconsin). Participants will receive a radon kit to evaluate radon levels in their home, a wristband to test for exposure to other chemicals, and will take part in other data collection. To join the study, click on: Eligibility Survey!
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