# Michigan Site for ATSDR Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Contaminated Drinking Water Multi-site Health Study

> **NIH ALLCDC U01** · MICHIGAN STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES · 2021 · $1,000,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Drinking water contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has affected millions worldwide,
including Michiganders at over 50 confirmed sites and 64 public water supplies. PFAS exposure has been
linked to altered immune, endocrine, and liver function and to abnormal reproduction and development and
possibly carcinogenesis. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) multi-site health
study is an important step toward the long-term goal of characterizing the toxicity of PFAS along these
endpoints, and including Michigan markedly strengthens this national study. Michigan’s cohort will enable
ATSDR to capture a range of documented exposures to PFAS in areas where (1) we have a clear
understanding of the source and extent of the exposure, essential to reconstructing historical levels of water
contamination; (2) the geographic scope of water contamination has been delineated; and (3) communities
are supportive of engaging in activities to better understand the impact of these exposures on their individual
and collective health. We will securely and effectively conduct data analysis and historical reconstruction,
including water modeling, physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling where appropriate, and
statistical analysis of the relationship between chemical exposure and health outcomes. The Michigan
Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and its Investigative Team will leverage existing public
health infrastructure, including well-established relationships with the proposed communities, and ongoing
PFAS exposure assessments and environmental investigations across the state to effectively and efficiently
complete the core research protocol. We will expand on the core research by using newborn blood spot data
to understand (1) historical and current infant PFAS blood levels and (2) relationships between newborn
PFAS blood level and pregnancy complications (e.g., preeclampsia) and infant health effects (e.g., birth
weight, thyroid function). This proposal represents a target sample population of 2,000 adults (male and
female) and 600 children ages 4 to 17 years old allocated evenly among municipal and residential well users
at two sites. As stated in the core protocol, we will collect data from adults and children who have been
exposed to PFAS-contaminated water any time since 2005. Participants will attend a local clinic during which
they will complete questionnaires, have anthropometric measurements taken, and provide blood and urine
samples. Consent for medical records abstraction will also be requested. Children will complete several
neurobehavioral assessments, and school records will be sought for analysis. The core protocol will be
followed exactly. In the investigator-initiated research, our investigative team will request consent for
newborn blood spot testing. We are positioned to fully involve these proposed communities and to implement
future public health response...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10220794
- **Project number:** 5U01TS000310-03
- **Recipient organization:** MICHIGAN STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
- **Principal Investigator:** Kory John Groetsch
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,000,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-30 → 2024-09-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10220794

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10220794, Michigan Site for ATSDR Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Contaminated Drinking Water Multi-site Health Study (5U01TS000310-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10220794. Licensed CC0.

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