PODCAST: A drug to lower ‘forever chemicals’? | Behind the Investigation

Share Add Us On Google Add as a preferred source on Google ROME, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — For years, residents of northwest Georgia have worried about exposure to “forever chemicals” found in their drinking water. Now, Emory University researchers are preparing to test whether a commonly used medication can help lower the chemicals’ levels in the human body. The clinical trial in Rome and Calhoun will examine a potential treatment for exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, a group of manufactured chemicals that can persist in the environment and in people’s bodies. Researchers say the study could help answer a question that has weighed on residents for years: What can be done after exposure has already occurred? A new episode of Behind the Investigation examines Emory’s clinical trial to determine whether a commonly used medication can lower levels of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in the body. Investigative reporters Andy Pierrotti and Anastassia Olmos discuss years of reporting on PFAS contamination in northwest Georgia, the residents seeking answers and the research that could offer hope to exposed communities. “This work is really impactful and it really has the potential to change the lives of a lot of people who are impacted by PFAS contamination,” said Stephanie Eick, an associate professor at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health. “Ultimately, it will really depend on what we find, but we’re hopeful.” The medication has not been proven to work for this purpose; that is what the trial is designed to investigate. Rome resident Mike Elliot was among 11 people who participated in independent blood testing arranged by Atlanta News First Investigates in 2023, after state regulators found PFAS in the Oostanaula River, a source of the city’s drinking water. Testing showed Elliot and nearly all the other participants had PFAS levels above the national median. After learning his results, Elliot recalled asking an Emory researcher why more wasn’t being done. “It seems like we should be able to yell and scream at somebody,” he said at the time. “I mean, something needs to be done. Doesn’t this make you mad?” An earlier Emory exposure study tested residents in the Rome and Calhoun areas. Emory said nearly all of the approximately 200 residents tested had PFAS blood levels within a range for which National Academies guidelines recommend prioritized medical screening. A screening recommendation is not the same as a diagnosis. Exposure to certain PFAS has been associated with increased risks of health problems, including some cancers, but health effects vary by chemical and exposure. The five-year clinical trial is supported by a $6.57 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health. Researchers will test whether a commonly used medication can reduce PFAS concentrations and examine how long treatment may be needed. In the podcast, Pierrotti said the medication is used to lower cholesterol; its name had not been disclosed at the time of recording. Participants will be asked to provide blood, urine and stool samples over about four months. The overall study will continue for five years, including follow-up and analysis. Eick said hearing from residents about their results helped prompt researchers to pursue the next step. She also said Atlanta News First Investigates earlier reporting helped accelerate the work. ‘This issue is deeply personal’| Georgia congressman forms caucus to fight PFAS pollution Atlanta News First investigations have documented PFAS concerns in drinking water, residents’ blood and lawsuits involving northwest Georgia communities. For decades, carpet and chemical manufacturing plants in North Georgia discharged industrial wastewater containing PFAS into the Oostanaula and Conasauga river basins. PFAS have been used in a range of products, including some nonstick cookware, food packaging and stain-resistant materials. Some PFAS can remain in the body for years, although how long they persist varies by compound. Jesse Demonbreun-Chapman, executive director of the nonprofit Coosa River Basin Initiative, welcomed the research but said companies that manufactured or profited from the chemicals should pay for studies. “Our position has always been that the people who have manufactured these compounds and the companies that profited by using them should be footing the bill,” he said. According to Emory, the trial is open to adults 18 and older who have lived in Floyd or Gordon counties for at least five years and meet other health requirements. Some medical conditions, a recent hospitalization and certain medications may affect eligibility; the research team can help prospective participants determine whether they qualify. Residents interested in the study can contact Emory at [email protected] . Eligibility and enrollment availability should be confirmed with the research team. Download our Atlanta News First app for your latest news and information. If there’s something you would like Atlanta News First Investigates to dig into, fill out this submission form . Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.