Combined exposure to metals and PFAS and its impact on stress and heart risk
Official title: The Impact of Combined Exposure to Metals and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances on Stress, Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Mortality
Funded at North Carolina Agri & Tech St Univ · NIH-11400977 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how being exposed to metals like lead and cadmium, plus PFAS chemicals, may raise stress and increase the risk of heart disease and death in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina Agri & Tech St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Greensboro, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $141,624 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM149473-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400977 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Anyone living in areas with significant environmental contamination and psychosocial stress who could benefit from improved exposure reduction and heart disease prevention.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals with no significant exposure to the studied contaminants or those without cardiovascular risk factors may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, this study examines how everyday environmental exposures may stack with life stress to affect heart health over time. It will analyze how multiple pollutants together influence personal stress levels and community stress, as well as the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. The researchers plan to use data on chemical exposure and stress indicators to understand why some communities experience higher heart risks and deaths. The goal is to identify exposures patterns that could be reduced to improve heart health for at-risk populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to targeted strategies to lower harmful exposure and reduce stress-related heart risk in communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows associations between single contaminants and health outcomes, but combined exposure effects are less well understood and this study aims to fill that gap.
Where this research is happening
-
North Carolina Agri & Tech St Univ
Greensboro, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Obeng-Gyasi, Emmanuel — North Carolina Agri & Tech St Univ
- Study coordinator: Obeng-Gyasi, Emmanuel
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.