News 12 is providing an exclusive look inside the labs at Yale University as researchers search for answers about how 1,4 dioxane impacts the human body.

News 12 is also exploring the impact a Yale University study will have on Long Islanders, as well as those participating in the first-in-the-nation study.

During the first report on Monday, News 12 shared details about why Long Islanders questioned water quality for years before 1,4 dioxane was discovered in island's the water supply.

The only way researchers can get answers to how 1,4 dioxane impacts the human body is by getting Long Islanders to participate.

More than two dozen Nassau residents filled the basement of the Hempstead Public Library on a Thursday night for a meeting about 1,4 dioxane in January 2024.

The Citizens Campaign for the Environment organized the meeting as part of the community outreach effort for the Yale Superfund Research Center study.

CCE executive director Adrienne Esposito kicked it off with Yale researchers, who joined via Zoom.

"This is a contaminant that has been found to be prevalent in Long Island's drinking water supply,” said Esposito.

From Hempstead to Hicksville, Huntington to Smithtown, scientists say the potential cancer-causing compound is making its way into Long Island’s drinking water from many different sources.

The main contributor is industry waste.

Esposito says communities of color, however, are seeing 1,4 dioxane in their drinking water at higher rates.

Meetings, like the one in Hempstead, are intended to generate interest and gather up participants for Yale’s study.

CCE is going across the island to do so, also holding an April 2024 meeting in Hicksville as well.

But back in Hempstead, the meeting meant to shore up interest for Yale’s study, built up another thing entirely – concern.

"We're on high alert because we're all affected here,” said Phylicia Forde, of Hempstead.

Another resident spoke up asking, "What can we do now to help ourselves from getting sick?"

Even though it’s been over a decade since 1,4 dioxane was discovered in Long Island’s drinking water, there’s still so much about the man-made compound that is unknown.

"What we don't know is how the human body processes 1,4 dioxane,” said Esposito.

A Yale University study hopes to answer that question, and News 12 got an exclusive look at the first-of-its-kind study.

The Yale Superfund Research Center brings together scientists from the Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science to work on four projects centered around 1,4 dioxane.

"This is the only center that really deals with 1,4 dioxane in the country and also, as far as I know, in the world,” said Dr. Vasilis Vasiliou, the Yale Superfund Research Center director.

Project 1 looks to find out how 1,4 dioxane impacts living things, and how much of it is needed to cause harm.

Dr. Georgia Charkoftaki, one of the lead scientists on Project 1, says early testing on mice has already uncovered damage to a vital organ.

"We've been able to show a direct link between dioxane and DNA damage in the liver in higher doses,” she said.

Project 2 involves collecting blood and water samples of Long Islanders, especially those who have been exposed to the compound.

Project 3 looks to pioneer the creation of sensors to quickly detect the compound in drinking water.

Dr. Irvan Luhung says the hope is to create a more streamlined and immediate testing process to detect 1,4 dioxane.

"One, informing people on the human exposure levels. And also help in defining a more agreeable standard,” he said. 

Project 4 focuses on creating an at-home water filtration system to destroy 1,4 dioxane. 

Dr. Jaehong Kim says he sees this as being a way to protect those on well water. 

"I imagine a small-scale, modular system where you connect it to your pipe, to your tap and you plug in to your electricity,” he said. 

Dr. Kim says they hope to test prototypes of at-home filtration systems on Long Island homes that use well water.

The only way for researchers to get these answers, however, are for Long Islanders to participate in the study. 

Find out how to participate in the study here.