# Collaborative Research and Action: Empowering an Exposed Community

> **NIH NIH R01** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $555,027

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract:
The Michigan PBB Registry was established in order to study the health of thousands of people exposed to
brominated flame retardants as a result of the largest agricultural disaster in US history. Previous research by
this team has shown significant health effects associated with exposure to polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)
including earlier menarche, increased risk of miscarriages and lower estrogen levels among women, and more
urogenital problems among men. Over the past few years, Emory researchers have conducted over two dozen
community meetings throughout Michigan, collaborated with community partners, shared research findings
with the community, responded to community needs, and sought community input for future research plans.
This proposed study, collaboratively developed by scientists, community partners, and public health officials,
addresses several major concerns expressed by the PBB community. Specifically, affected individuals have
expressed interest in a possible treatment to remove PBBs from their bodies, concern about heritable effects
from PBB on their children and grandchildren, continuing health concerns beyond those related to
reproduction, and frustration that local health-care providers seem unaware of the statewide PBB exposure
and/or its possible health effects. To address these concerns, the proposed study has four specific aims. The
first is to evaluate the utility of a nutritional aid as a potential means of accelerating the elimination of PBB by
conducting a randomized double-blind clinical trial. The second aim will explore the heritability of changes in
the epigenome associated with PBB exposure by studying families across three generations. The epigenome
of parents, their children, and their grandchildren will be examined to determine if epigenetic patterns
associated with direct exposure to PBB of parents are apparent in the children and grandchildren. Aim three
will address community concerns regarding additional health effects beyond reproductive outcomes.
Participants will complete health questionnaires and provide serum samples for analysis to determine if PBB
exposure is associated with neurodegenerative diseases, joint pain/disorder, cancer, immune function and
liver/pancreatic problems. If any of the self-identified adverse outcomes are associated with PBB exposure,
additional funding will be sought to further explore these associations. Finally, the public health action plan will
seek to raise environmental health awareness in Michigan. Educational programs will be developed for
healthcare providers, policy-makers, and citizens to increase local capacity to address exposure concerns.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10329029
- **Project number:** 3R01ES025775-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHELE MARCUS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $555,027
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-02-01 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10329029

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10329029, Collaborative Research and Action: Empowering an Exposed Community (3R01ES025775-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10329029. Licensed CC0.

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