Dartmouth recommended to do Merrimack cancer study

The Executive Council will consider Wednesday whether to hire Dartmouth College to do a feasibility study into whether forever chemicals from Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics or other toxic exposures played a part in elevated kidney cancer rates in Merrimack.

Company executives announced it was closing the Merrimack plant that was alleged to have caused the PFAS contamination of area drinking water supplies.

CONCORD — State officials are recommending Dartmouth College conduct an 18-month feasibility study of the impact of “forever” chemicals from the Saint Gobain Performance Plastics plant or other environmental exposures on an unusually high rate of kidney cancer in Merrimack.

The Legislature included the $500,000 study in the state budget that Gov. Chris Sununu signed last June.