Psychosocial distress among individuals residing in a rural PFAS-contaminated community

Elizabeth Scharnetzki, Center for Interdisciplinary Population & Health Research, MaineHealth Institute for Research, 1 Riverfront Plaza, Floor 4, Westbrook, ME, 04092, USA; Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, USA. Electronic address: Elizabeth.Scharnetzki@mainehealth.org.
Lisa B. Rokoff, Center for Interdisciplinary Population & Health Research, MaineHealth Institute for Research, 1 Riverfront Plaza, Floor 4, Westbrook, ME, 04092, USA; Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, USA.
Katherine Senechal, Center for Interdisciplinary Population & Health Research, MaineHealth Institute for Research, 1 Riverfront Plaza, Floor 4, Westbrook, ME, 04092, USA.
Michelle Bosquet Enlow, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
Abby F. Fleisch, Center for Interdisciplinary Population & Health Research, MaineHealth Institute for Research, 1 Riverfront Plaza, Floor 4, Westbrook, ME, 04092, USA; Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, USA; Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall St, Portland, ME, 04102, USA.
Rachel Criswell, Center for Interdisciplinary Population & Health Research, MaineHealth Institute for Research, 1 Riverfront Plaza, Floor 4, Westbrook, ME, 04092, USA; Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, USA; Skowhegan Family Medicine, Redington-Fairview General Hospital, 46 Fairview Avenue, Skowhegan, ME, 04976, USA.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-19-2025

Institution/Department

Center for Interdisciplinary Population and Health Research

Journal Title

International journal of hygiene and environmental health

Abstract

Few studies have evaluated how awareness of PFAS contamination impacts psychosocial distress. We sought to quantify psychosocial distress associated with awareness of drinking water PFAS contamination in the Maine Biosolids Study (n=146), a rural cohort affected by agricultural biosolids spreading. Participants had residential well water PFAS concentrations measured by the Department of Environmental Protection and were notified about concentrations above or below the Maine Interim Drinking Water Standard [∑6 PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFHpA, PFDA) ≥20 ng/L]. We utilized negative binomial mixed effects regression to study associations of awareness of water PFAS above the Standard with PFAS-related psychosocial outcomes and state-dependent anxiety. We explored effect modification by pre-existing mental health diagnoses and resilience coping style. Fifty-eight percent of participants had drinking water PFAS above the Standard, and 35% had pre-existing mental health diagnoses. Affected participants with drinking water PFAS above the Standard had greater PFAS-related anxiety, worry and fears about health risk, and perceived stigma [for example, IRR (95% CI): 1.69 (1.32, 2.15)]. Knowledge of elevated water PFAS was associated with greater state-dependent anxiety, although confidence intervals included the null [IRR (95% CI): 1.21 (0.90, 1.61)]. Associations of awareness of water PFAS with worry about PFAS health risk and state-dependent anxiety were stronger among individuals without a prior mental health diagnosis [e.g., IRR (95% CI): 2.30 (1.49, 3.57) versus 1.27 (0.80, 2.02)]. We found no effect modification by resilience coping style. Individuals with knowledge of elevated drinking water PFAS had greater PFAS-related psychosocial distress. Mental health support and community education are public health needs in PFAS-affected communities.

First Page

114736

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