ACHIEVE Study
Assessing Children’s Environmental Exposures
What is the ACHIEVE Study and why should I join?
- The ACHIEVE study is a community-based research study in the town of Holliston, Massachusetts that is assessing childhood exposure to environmental contaminants using previously shed “baby” teeth, a novel biological marker.
- Mothers who currently live in Holliston and were Holliston residents during their pregnancy are being invited to donate one or more of their child’s previously shed baby teeth and complete an in-person questionnaire conducted at their home by our researchers.
- By collecting children’s baby teeth and information via questionnaire, the ACHIEVE study will characterize children’s exposure to environmental contaminants during the prenatal period and early childhood. We will also further develop a method for using teeth to measure these exposures.
- This study is part of an overarching goal to work with the community of Holliston to understand the amount of contamination in their drinking water currently and when their children were in utero and infants, and whether this level of contamination is associated with children’s health outcomes.
- ACHIEVE is a non-profit study being conducted at Boston University, in collaboration with Clark University and Holliston community members. It is currently being funded as a pilot study by Boston University.
Why is the study located in Holliston, MA?
- Drinking water can contain contaminants, such as lead, manganese or disinfection byproducts, that may be harmful to our health. These contaminants can occur naturally in the environment or result from industrial pollution.
- Drinking water contamination is especially common in places where drinking water comes from shallow sources, such as in Holliston.
- Some Holliston residents are concerned with contaminants in their drinking water and their children’s health. They contacted Clark University and Boston University researchers who have expertise in drinking water systems, metals and children’s health in order to understand whether contaminants in their current and past drinking water may be linked to poorer health.
What are the eligibility requirements?
Eligible female participants are:
- current residents of Holliston, Massachusetts
- mothers who lived in Holliston during their pregnancy
- mothers who have a child who has lost or is currently losing teeth
- willing to donate at least one baby tooth that their child has lost
What are the study objectives?
- In our current pilot study, we seek to collect at least one shed baby tooth from each child and measure metals and other contaminants in teeth. No individual information will be shared.
- This study will be used to further develop our method for measuring contaminants in teeth.
What is required of participants?
- One 10-minute, in-person questionnaire. Researchers will conduct the questionnaire at the participant’s home.
- Donation of at least one shed baby tooth from the child who was in utero while his/her mother was a resident of Holliston, Massachusetts.
What do participants get for participating?
- As a gift to you and your child for participating, we will provide a gift card to a local coffee shop.
- You and your child being in this study will help researchers learn how to measure contaminants that children were exposed to in utero and during early life. You may also help us understand drinking water use in the town of Holliston.
Contact us HERE.