Occurrence and dietary intake of Perfluoroalkyl substances in foods of the residents in Beijing, China

ABSTRACT

The human diet has been considered to be the main source of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) intake, but only a few risk assessments for PFASs alternatives and isomers with persistent and bioaccumulative properties were available. Hence, the concentrations and human exposure of 10 linear PFASs, 8 branched PFASs and 4 alternatives were characterised in animal-origin and vegetable dietary food samples consumed by Beijing residents of China. Linear-PFASs were commonly found in fish, while PFBS was mainly found in vegetables. PFASs alternative 6:2Cl-PFESA was mainly detected in freshwater and marine fish, with a mean level of 223 and 158 pg/g ww, respectively. In addition, br-PFOA and br-PFOS were only detected in pork liver and fish samples. The EDI_∑PFOA and EDI_∑PFOS values were far below the tolerable weekly intake as recommended by EFSA in 2018. However, the occurrence and exposure of PFAS alternatives suggested that the risk of these contaminants should be further evaluated.

KEYWORDS:

• PFASs
• 6:2Cl-PFESA
• isomers
• human diet
• estimated dietary intake

Disclosure statement

No conflict of interest exits in the submission of this manuscript and manuscript is approved by all authors for publication.

Additional information

Funding

This is supported by the Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit Program (No. 2019-12M-5-024); National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2017YFC1600500).