Managing health risks of perfluoroalkyl acids in aquatic food from a river-estuary-sea environment affected by fluorochemical industry. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Pei; Lu, Yonglong; Su, Hongqiao; Su, Chao; Johnson, Andrew C.; Yu, Longfei; Jenkins, Alan
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 138(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: PFAA -- PFOA -- Aquatic food -- Fluorochemical industry -- River-estuary-sea -- Human health risk; PFASs per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances -- PFAA perfluoroalkyl acid -- PFCA perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid -- PFSA perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid -- PFOS perfluorooctane sulfonic acid -- PFOA perfluorooctanoic acid -- PFBA perfluorobutanoic acid -- FIP fluorochemical industry park -- ww wet weight -- TL trophic level -- TMF trophic magnification factor -- BW (bw) body weight -- AA-EQS annual average environmental quality standards -- TDI tolerable daily intake -- EDI estimated daily intake -- MDHHS Michigan Department of Health and Human Services -- FCSV fish consumption screening value -- ACSV aquatic food consumption screening values; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105621
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Industrial fluorochemical waste contaminates the river-estuary-sea environment. PFOA contamination is dominant in aquatic animals with a >90% overall contribution. The freshwater winkle has the highest PFOA concentration of 2161 ng/g (ww) Trophic levels and carbon sources vary widely within some aquatic species. Aquatic food consumption screening values of PFOA are provided. Abstract: Substantial perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) production still occurs in China, and the consumption of aquatic products is a critical exposure pathway of PFAAs in humans. In this study, specimens of 16 freshwater and 40 marine species were collected in the river-estuary-sea environment affected by a mega fluorochemical industry park in China in 2015, and the edible tissues of these organisms were analyzed for PFAA levels. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the dominating contaminant with an overall contribution of more than 90%, and concentrations as high as 2161 ng/g wet weight (measured in the freshwater winkle). All species with the greatest PFOA levels were benthic. The trophic magnification factor (TMF) of PFOA was 1.10 for freshwater species and 1.28 for marine species, indicating that PFOA was slightly magnifying. Analysis of carbon source indicated that freshwater species were more benthic feeding, while marine species were more pelagic feeding. Aquatic food consumption screening values of PFOA were modified according to estimated daily intake (EDI) values, which generated recommendations for limited meal categories and the do-not-eat category. Thus, this study provides recommendations for mitigating the health risks of PFAA-contaminated aquatic food, ranging from food selection to consumption frequency and proper food processing.