Emory University researchers have launched a five-year clinical trial in northwest Georgia to test whether a commonly used medication can reduce levels of PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals, already in people's blood. The trial is open to adults in the Rome and Calhoun areas, where decades of stain-resistant chemical use by the region's carpet industry contributed to widespread contamination, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in its coverage of the trial. The AJC described the medication as a cholesterol-lowering drug.
The trial is testing an idea, and it has no results yet. No treatment is currently proven to lower PFAS levels in the body.
For families in Floyd and Gordon counties, the study addresses a question many have asked since learning their blood results: Is there anything to do beyond avoiding more exposure? "This project gives us an extraordinary opportunity to move beyond simply documenting PFAS exposure to actually doing something about it," Emory environmental health professor Dana Barr said in the university's announcement.
The Blood Data Behind the Study
The trial follows an earlier Emory exposure study in the two communities. That earlier Rollins School of Public Health study found that nearly all of about 200 residents tested had blood PFAS levels high enough to warrant prioritized medical screening under guidelines from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, according to Emory's announcement of the new clinical trial. Those guidelines call for extra attention to conditions such as high cholesterol, thyroid disease, and certain cancers.
The Environmental Protection Agency has linked exposure to certain PFAS to health effects that include some cancers and developmental problems. The chemicals break down very slowly, which is why they can remain in the body for years after exposure drops.
The contamination has also reached the courts. A lawsuit against the city of Calhoun over PFAS in drinking water has since been settled, Atlanta News First reported. Water treatment upgrades can reduce future exposure, but they do nothing about chemicals already in residents' bodies.
How the Trial Will Work, and What It Cannot Yet Say
The trial is funded by a $6.57 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health.
Eligible participants must be at least 18, have lived in Gordon or Floyd County for at least five years, and be in generally good health. People with a recent hospitalization or certain conditions, such as advanced kidney disease or some gastrointestinal disorders, are excluded. Interested residents can use the university's online screening form or email [email protected].
Emory describes the study as one of the first large-scale trials to test a medical way to remove PFAS from the body. That is a real milestone, but it is also a sign of how little is known. Researchers will need to show whether the drug lowers PFAS in a large group and whether lower blood levels translate into better health, not just better lab numbers.
"They deserve answers about what can be done to reduce the levels already in their bodies," said Stephanie Eick, an Emory associate professor of epidemiology and environmental health, adding that the findings could eventually help PFAS-exposed communities across the country.
Practical Steps for Families Now
The people with the most at stake are longtime residents of Rome, Calhoun, and nearby communities, especially older adults who have lived there for decades, pregnant people, and families with young children who rely on local tap water.
Residents should not take cholesterol medication on their own in hopes of lowering PFAS. Prescription drugs carry side effects and interactions, and there is no evidence yet that any medication safely lowers PFAS in the general public. Anyone curious about joining the trial should talk with a primary care clinician first.
Reasonable steps now include asking your water utility for its latest PFAS test results, considering a certified home filter designed to reduce PFAS if your water has elevated levels, and telling your clinician about long-term residence in the area. Clinicians can use the National Academies guidance to decide which screenings make sense based on blood levels and history.
Enrollment is underway, and the trial is designed to run five years, so results are unlikely soon. The trial offers hope, not an answer. Residents can protect themselves today by reducing exposure through water, and those who want to help find a treatment can ask about joining the study.
Key Questions Answered
What is Emory testing? Whether a commonly used medication, described by the AJC as a cholesterol-lowering drug, can reduce PFAS levels already in people's blood.
Are there results yet? No. The five-year trial has just launched.
Who can join the trial? Adults 18 and older who have lived in Gordon or Floyd County for at least five years and are in generally good health, without certain conditions such as advanced kidney disease.
How high are PFAS levels in Rome and Calhoun? Emory's earlier study found that nearly all of about 200 tested residents had levels warranting prioritized medical screening under National Academies guidelines.
Should I take a cholesterol drug to lower PFAS? No. There is no proof it works, and prescription drugs carry risks. Talk with a clinician before making any change.
How can residents reduce exposure now? Check local water PFAS results, consider a certified PFAS-reducing filter if levels are elevated, and discuss screening with a clinician.
Published by Medicaldaily.com
