Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have discovered that certain commonly prescribed medicines can help the body eliminate perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of persistent environmental pollutants, more quickly. The findings, published in the journal Environment International, strengthen existing evidence that some cholesterol-lowering drugs can accelerate PFAS removal from the bloodstream, although the health benefits of doing so remain uncertain.
A Legacy of Contamination
The research was conducted in Ronneby, a town in southern Sweden, where drinking water was found to contain very high levels of PFAS in 2013. The contamination was traced to aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used for decades in firefighting exercises at the nearby Air Force Wing F17. After the discovery, the municipality immediately switched to clean water sources, but many residents were left with dangerously high PFAS concentrations in their blood.
PFAS compounds, often referred to as “forever chemicals,” are widely used in industrial and consumer products for their water- and grease-resistant properties. However, they do not break down easily in the environment or in the human body, leading to bioaccumulation over time. It can take several years, or even decades, for these substances to be naturally eliminated, and this process varies considerably between individuals.
Testing Medicines for PFAS Elimination
To better understand how the body can clear PFAS, the Gothenburg team conducted a controlled study involving 10 volunteers aged 25 to 47. Each participant alternated between taking medication for 12 weeks and spending 12 weeks without medication, serving as their own control group.
The researchers tested two drugs: cholestyramine and colesevelam, both used to lower cholesterol by binding bile acids in the intestine and preventing their reabsorption. This mechanism also appears to help trap PFAS compounds, which are then excreted through the digestive system instead of re-entering the bloodstream.
The results were striking. During the 12 weeks without medication, participants’ PFAS levels decreased by only a few percent. In contrast, during the medicated period, reductions of up to 40 percent were recorded for some PFAS compounds.
“The PFAS substances we studied were more rapidly eliminated from the body by two of the medicines,” said Axel Andersson, a researcher at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, and leader of the study. “Cholestyramine confirmed earlier findings from a Danish study, while colesevelam showed similar effects for the first time.”
Potential Implications and Cautions
While the results confirm that these medicines can accelerate PFAS elimination, researchers caution that the health benefits of faster clearance remain unknown. Andersson, who also co-authored the Danish study, stressed the need for further investigation.
“In groups with high PFAS levels in the blood, medicines can indeed be used to lower the levels and speed up the otherwise slow elimination. However, more research is needed to determine whether there are real health benefits, both in the short and long term,” he explained. “It is also important to weigh potential benefits against possible side effects of these drugs.”
The study adds valuable insight to a growing global effort to understand and mitigate the impact of PFAS exposure. With PFAS linked to various health risks, including immune disruption, hormone imbalance, and certain cancers, identifying safe and effective ways to remove them from the human body remains a critical public health challenge.