PFAS in Drinking Water: Health Risks, Science, and Solutions for Alaska and Beyond
March 17, 2026 @ 9:00am (AKDT)
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a class of highly persistent chemicals that have been linked to serious health effects, including increased risk of certain cancers, immune system suppression, developmental harms, and impacts on liver and thyroid function. In Alaska, concerns about PFAS contamination, particularly near military installations, airports, and firefighting training sites, have raised urgent questions about drinking water safety, long-term health risks, and community protections.
We’ll hear from Anna Reade, lead PFAS scientist at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), who works at the intersection of science and policy to reduce harmful chemical exposures. Dr. Reade will break down the latest science on PFAS health effects, explain how these chemicals move through water systems and the human body, and share tools communities can use to better understand their risks.
We’ll also be joined by Senator Scott Kawasaki of the Alaska State Senate, who was raised in Fairbanks and has long served Interior Alaska. Senator Kawasaki will discuss the policy landscape in Alaska, what the state is doing to address PFAS contamination, and how residents can engage in solutions to protect public health.
This webinar will provide clear, accessible information and create space for community discussion about drinking water safety, health concerns, and next steps for Alaska families. Whether you’re directly impacted or simply want to learn more, we invite you to join the conversation.
CHE-Alaska is part of CHE’s broader network, which is an international partnership of almost 5,000 individuals and organizations in 87 countries and all 50 US states that are committed to addressing environmental impacts on human health across the lifespan.
We encourage you to become a CHE partner so you can receive their monthly email newsletters, announcements about upcoming webinars, and other updates on a range of environmental health topics. Visit www.healthandenvironment.org to learn more.
Featured speakers
Anna Reade works at the intersection of science and policy to reduce and eliminate harmful exposures to toxic chemicals for the safety of people and the environment. As NRDC’s lead scientist on PFAS, she conducts research and develops innovative scientific tools and freely available resources to support wider understanding and communication of PFAS science. She also brings the most current scientific principles and data to guide NRDC’s PFAS policy work. Prior to joining the Healthy People & Thriving Communities team, she worked in the California State Senate as a policy fellow with the California Council on Science and Technology. Reade received her PhD in developmental biology from the University of California, San Francisco, where she was a National Science Foundation graduate research fellow. She is based in the San Francisco office.
Senator Kawasaki, alongside his sister Sonja, was raised in Fairbanks for nearly his entire life. After graduating from Lathrop High School, Scott attended UAF where he received a BS degree in Biomedical Sciences. In 1999, at age 24, Scott Kawasaki became the youngest member ever to sit on the Fairbanks City Council and has served in the Alaska State House of Representatives for 12 years and in the State Senate for the past 5 years. An avid fisherman, when he’s not visiting with neighbors or busy at his office, Scott takes every chance he can get to go out and enjoy Alaska’s great wilderness. He’s just an everyday, hardworking guy who cares about his community and the people within it.