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STEEP Superfund Chan School of Public Health and the Silent Spring Institute.

Sources, Transport, Exposure & Effects of PFASs (STEEP) is a NIEHS funded Superfund Research Program and a partnership of the University of Rhode Island, the Harvard T.H.

Director Dr. Rainer Lohmann is a co-author on an article published this month in Environmental Science and Technology ...
09/19/2026

Director Dr. Rainer Lohmann is a co-author on an article published this month in Environmental Science and Technology (ES&T) called "Aligning Horizon Scanning Approaches with Differing Needs and Topics at the Science–Policy Interface on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution" by Dr. Gabriel Sigmund et al.

The paper explores the concept of "horizon scanning," described in the paper as a general term for a collection of approaches for predicting and exploring future directions of something. In this case, the "something" is environmental research and policy. Many current environmental problems and changes receive attention in the media, funding for research, and public policies written as a result. But what about issues that will predictably emerge some time in the future? Or current issues that may be overlooked due to research mostly taking place in high income countries? Horizon scanning aims to methodically answer many questions like these in the most efficient, effective, and inclusive way possible.

Find out more about horizon scanning as it relates to pressing environmental research and policy in the full article here: https://pubs.acs.org/esthag/article/60/29/20174/5207346/Aligning-Horizon-Scanning-Approaches-with

🎉Publication alert!🎉 STEEP Data Scientist Johanna Ganglbauer just published her paper "Cross-Study Validation of PFAS Sa...
09/19/2026

🎉Publication alert!🎉 STEEP Data Scientist Johanna Ganglbauer just published her paper "Cross-Study Validation of PFAS Sampling Rates in Microporous Polyethylene Tube Samplers." The study takes into account data from 5 different studies to calculate an average sampling rate in groundwater, freshwater, and saltwater. This builds on the work of former trainee Dr. Matt Dunn on employing the PE tube samplers for PFAS passive sampling.

The visual abstract from the paper is pictured here, and the publication can be found here: https://pubs.acs.org/aewcaa/article/doi/10.1021/acsestwater.6c00644/5337801/Cross-Study-Validation-of-PFAS-Sampling-Rates-in

Our favorite STEEP lab went on a lab retreat this summer! (Just kidding, we love all of our STEEP labs equally). The Loh...
09/04/2026

Our favorite STEEP lab went on a lab retreat this summer! (Just kidding, we love all of our STEEP labs equally). The Lohmann Lab took the ferry to Block Island for some team bonding (lunch and an adventure) as well as a discussion about what has been going well lately and what can be done even better in the future!

Fun Fact Friday! This year's Olympic Games were the first to impose a full ban on PFAS in the wax used to lubricate skis...
03/06/2026

Fun Fact Friday! This year's Olympic Games were the first to impose a full ban on PFAS in the wax used to lubricate skis and snowboards. The ban was enforced by testing the athletes' skis and snowboards for the toxic substances. Find out more from the Environmental Working Group about how PFAS from snow gear affects the environment (especially alpine lakes and streams) and how this ban protects us: https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2026/02/these-olympics-are-first-feature-ban-forever-chemicals-ski-and-snowboard

trainees Justin Sankey and Paola N. Román Morales are collaborating with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Natural Resource ...
02/17/2026

trainees Justin Sankey and Paola N. Román Morales are collaborating with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Natural Resource Department and Yarmouth Division of Natural Resources to sample surface waters, fish, and shellfish in Cape Cod, MA. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent of PFAS contamination in Cape Cod’s surface waters and culturally significant food sources for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Results will be compared to a previous study conducted by STEEP alumni, Heidi Pickard, PhD, published in the 2024 ES&T article "Characterizing the Areal Extent of PFAS Contamination in Fish Species Downgradient of AFFF Source Zones" that can be found here:

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.4c07016

Results will be disseminated to the tribal community, Town of Mashpee, and Town of Yarmouth to better inform consumption rates and point towards preferable/less preferable fishing/shellfishing locations on Cape Cod.

📢 Publication alert! STEEP program director Dr. Rainer Lohmann has published a Viewpoint article in Environmental Scienc...
02/04/2026

📢 Publication alert! STEEP program director Dr. Rainer Lohmann has published a Viewpoint article in Environmental Science and Technology called "A Call to Action: Engaging with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution." The panel will bridge science and policy for the globally important issues of , , and , including . The article highlights the creation, purpose, and intended impacts of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP). It calls upon scientists and all knowledge holders to contribute to the ISP-CWP.

Read the full article here:

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.5c18169

This quote is by former trainee, Dr. Jarod Snook, published in a news article by EcoRI. The article highlights Jarod’s...
02/03/2026

This quote is by former trainee, Dr. Jarod Snook, published in a news article by EcoRI. The article highlights Jarod’s recently published scientific paper that exposes a long term source of to a Rhode Island river. Jarod earned his PhD in 2025 under the guidance of STEEP director Dr. Rainer Lohmann. Other news articles that have featured his work can be found on the page.

The full article can be found here:

https://ecori.org/study-identifies-long-term-source-of-pfas-contamination-in-pawcatuck-river/

.gso alumnus and former STEEP trainee, Dr. , was featured in Waste Today magazine for his work investigating PFAS source...
02/03/2026

.gso alumnus and former STEEP trainee, Dr. , was featured in Waste Today magazine for his work investigating PFAS sources to Rhode Island's the Pawcatuck River. Dr. Snook identified that the sediments of adjacent waste retention ponds could continue to contaminate the river for over 100 years without remedial action. His comments in the article focus on the high value Rhode Islanders have for their water. The study supports scientific endeavors and solves real problems for regulators, site assessors, and the residents who surround PFAS-contaminated areas.

Read the article here:

https://www.wastetodaymagazine.com/news/study-identifies-source-of-long-term-pfas-contamination-in-rhode-island-river/

Feature alert! Former trainee, Jarod Snook, Ph.D. '25, was recently featured in the Rhody Today newsletter for his pu...
01/23/2026

Feature alert! Former trainee, Jarod Snook, Ph.D. '25, was recently featured in the Rhody Today newsletter for his publication identifying a long-term source of to a rural river in Rhode Island. His study includes laboratory and field measurements to investigate PFAS in the sediment and water of two historically contaminated textile mill waste ponds adjacent to the river. His modeling results indicate that, without remediation, the contaminated sediments could be a source of PFAS to the river for over 100 years.

Read the Rhody Today feature here:
https://www.uri.edu/news/2026/01/uri-study-identifies-long-term-source-of-pfas-contamination-to-pawcatuck-river/

or read the full paper here:
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.5c01210

Please join STEEP for Webinar 5 of "PFAS on Cape Cod – Connecting Communities with Science for Solutions"As PFAS researc...
01/21/2026

Please join STEEP for Webinar 5 of "PFAS on Cape Cod – Connecting Communities with Science for Solutions"

As PFAS research continues to expand, questions about implications for human health and clinical care are increasingly common. This session brings together a toxicologist and a clinician to share complementary research and clinical perspectives on PFAS health effects, patient concerns, and translating evolving science into practice.

You will hear from Dr. Jill Oxley, a breast surgeon at Cape Cod Healthcare with nearly three decades of clinical experience, and Dr. Angela Slitt, a Professor at URI's College of Pharmacy investigating PFAS effects on liver function, metabolism, and related health outcomes.

This webinar will be moderated by Dr. Laurel Schaider, Senior Scientist at the Silent Spring Institute whose research focuses on PFAS in drinking water and community-based environmental health.

Register for FREE here:

https://uri-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Y2f7TUeAT26IaOBDhRbnUw #/registration

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