Emory Researchers Provide PFAS Exposure Study Participants with Preliminary Findings

Researchers from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health recently provided residents of Rome and Calhoun, Georgia, with preliminary results from a study to determine how the levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” in their bodies compared to the general U.S. population.

The study was conducted in response to concerns from residents and involved collecting blood samples from nearly 200 adults in these communities.

Study participants were mailed their individual results the first week of June. On Wednesday night, the Rollins researchers shared their preliminary findings of how the overall samples in these communities compared to the national average.

By the Numbers

177 – Number of participant samples tested from adults in Rome and Calhoun

40.1% – Percent of study participants with levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), part of the PFAS group of chemicals, higher than the PFOA levels of 95% of the U.S. population.

11.9% – Percent of study participants with levels of perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS ), part of the PFAS group of chemicals, higher than the PFHxS levels of 95% of the U.S. population.

7.7% – Average increase in total PFAS levels for every 10 years of residence in Gordon and Floyd counties.

76% – Percent of study participants with total PFAS levels within the range to warrant prioritized medical screening, per clinical guidelines published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM).

23% – Percent of study participants with total PFAS levels high enough to warrant additional medical evaluation and lab testing, per clinical guidelines published by NASEM.

What the Experts Say

“With such a large percentage of participants exceeding the level that NASEM recommends for prioritized clinical follow-up to evaluate specific health conditions linked to PFAS, it clearly indicates an exposure problem exists in the area. Moving forward, it is important to understand how they are being exposed so they can mitigate their exposure,” says Dana Barr, PhD, one of the study’s lead researchers and a professor of environmental health at Rollins.

“This study demonstrates how science can serve our communities. The residents were concerned about their exposure levels, and we provided them with valuable information. They now have a clearer understanding of what is in their bodies, and if they have additional health concerns, they can share these data with their health care providers,” Barr adds.