Occurrence of perfluorinated alkylated substances in cereals, salt, sweets and fruit items collected in four European countries

Abstract

In the context of a European project, 12 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) were determined in 14 food items collected in four European countries representing northern, southern, eastern and western Europe. This study presents the results of PFAAs measured in fruit, cereals, sweets and salt. Out of the 12 PFAAs, 10 PFAAs were detected in 67% of the samples. Overall, PFOA was the most abundant compound and the highest concentrations were found for PFOS but all were less than 1ngg(-1). When comparing the four countries, highest levels and detection frequencies were observed in Belgium (Western Europe), followed by the Czech Republic (Eastern Europe), Italy (Southern Europe) and finally Norway (Northern Europe). Comparison of profiles and levels is difficult due to variations in constitution of the food categories in the investigated countries and countries of origin of the food items. Dietary intake assessments for PFOS and PFOA show that the daily intake of PFAAs is far below the existing tolerable levels. However, they contribute to the total dietary intake and should therefore be included in future dietary exposure assessments.

Perfluorinated Compounds in Greenhouse and Open Agricultural Producing Areas of Three Provinces of China: Levels, Sources and Risk Assessment

“…D’Hollander et al reported that the range of PFAAs in cereals, salts, sweets and fruit items in four European countries was from ND to 1.09 ng·g −1 ·fw (10.9 ng·g −1 ·dw converted by 90% water content) [12], which was almost consistent with our study. The concentration range of PFAAs in vegetables from the four European countries showed a lower value (ND-1.31 ng·g −1 ·dw).…”

“…The agricultural environment is polluted by PFAA perhaps due to the long range transport pathway, agricultural water irrigation and use of biosolids-amended soils [11]. Several field investigation papers have reported that PFAAs were widely detected in agricultural products (tea, cereals, salt, sweets, vegetables and fruit items) with PFOA showing a higher concentration [12,13,14,15]. Clark et al found the concentration of PFOA and PFOS in vegetables from the UK was up to 1000 pg·kg −1 ·ww.…”

“…Although PFAAs in remote areas of China have been reported [21], research on the distribution of PFAAs in agricultural producing areas is rather scarce, and only several studies have reported the risk of human exposure for PFOA was lower than the standard value in Europe [12,14], but no systematic report on PFAAs in agriculture producing areas in China has been found. Relatively speaking, the agricultural producing areas in rural areas may serve as the “background area” for PFAA pollution.…”

Socio-Economic Status and Health: Evaluation of Human Biomonitored Chemical Exposure to Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances across Status

“…A rough estimate on PFOS intake through diet in Belgian adults by SES shows further that fish and fruit are major contributors to the total dietary PFOS intake (see Table 4; calculation based on food PFOS concentrations and food consumption (Table 3)). In the calculation shown in Table 4, assumed PFOS concentrations in foodstuffs were retrieved from the recent EU PERFOOD (PERFluorinated Organics in Our Diet) project [69], and were set equal to 0.003 ng/g for vegetables [70], 0.043 ng/g for meat [71], 0.061 ng/g for eggs [71], 0.098 ng/g for fruit [72] (mean of positive detects), 0.301 ng/g for freshwater/marine fish [71], and 0.523 ng/g for seafood [71]. The consumption of fish versus seafood was set at a ratio of 1.5.…”

Concentrations of persistent organic pollutants in maternal and cord blood from the maternal-infant research on environmental chemicals (MIREC) cohort study

“…Efforts were implemented in 2006 to drastically reduce emissions of PFOA and its precursors by 95 % by 2010 and to work towards eliminating emissions and product content by 2015 [ 12 ]. Exposures to humans mainly occur through diet [ 13 , 14 ].…”