A UKSRC team of researchers led by Dr. Yekaterina Zaytseva is studying perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) exposure on gastrointestinal (GI) pathology. The GI tract is directly exposed to environmental pollutants via contaminated drinking water, food and other sources. PFOS is one of the most detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as ‘forever chemicals’, in both surface water and groundwater in Kentucky. UKSRC Director Dr. Kelly Pennell, Earl Parker Robinson Chair Professor of Environment and Sustainability, Department of Civil Engineering in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering noted that “Kentucky has a much higher incidence of colorectal cancer as compared to the rest of the United States. The research Dr. Zaytseva’s team is doing within UKSRC to understand the impact of PFOS exposure on GI pathology is a critically important step in developing interventions to mitigate disproportionate health risks experienced by Kentuckians. Recent research results by this UKSRC team were highlighted in a Sept. 5th article which summarize the lab’s recent Chemosphere publication.