Nearly a decade after state regulators discovered toxic chemicals in North Georgia’s drinking water, a new Emory University study reveals what some residents feared: elevated levels of PFAS — also known as forever chemicals — in their blood.

The preliminary study, released this month and still undergoing peer review, tested the blood of 177 residents living in Rome and Calhoun. The findings showed that nearly 25% of participants had PFAS concentrations high enough to warrant additional medical evaluations, according to guidelines set by the National Academies of Sciences. These include screenings for cancer, thyroid disease, and high blood pressure.

The research is the first known effort to evaluate potential human exposure in the region since regulators discovered elevated PFAS levels in the area’s drinking water nearly 10 years ago.