Concentrations and human exposure assessment of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances in farmed marine shellfish in South Africa. (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abafe, Ovokeroye A.; Macheka, Linda R.; Abafe, Onajite T.; Chokwe, Tlou B.
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 281(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Perfluoroalkyl substances -- Shellfish -- Estimated daily intake -- Risk assessment -- South Africa; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130985
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Although the consumption of seafood is a major route of human exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), data on their concentrations in marine shellfish and the exposure of the African population to PFAS through the consumption of shellfish is lacking. In this study, the concentrations of 15 PFAS were measured in four species of farmed marine shellfish by using a validated UHPLC-MS/MS method. These concentrations were used to determine the human daily intake of PFAS through the consumption of marine shellfish and the hazard quotient thereof. PFPeA, PFOS, PFHxA and PFTeDA were the most prevalent compounds with detection frequencies of 94, 88, 76 and 71%, respectively. The Σ11 PFAS concentrations (in ng g −1 wet weight (ww)) ranged from 0.12 to 0.49, 4.83–6.43, 0.64–0.66 and 0.22 ng g −1 ww in abalone, mussel, oyster and lobster, respectively. The prevalence of PFCAs reflects the current contamination profile of PFAS in farmed shellfish. The estimated daily intake for Σ10 PFAS through the consumption of marine shellfish ranged from 0.05 to 1.58 ng kg −1 bw d −1 . Overall, the hazard quotients for these compounds were low, indicating that these compounds do not pose a health risk to the South African population through shellfish consumption. This study provides background data for future studies on the occurrence of PFAS and other emerging contaminants in the African coastal environment. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: PFAS were quantified in Haliotis midae (Abalone), for the first time, globally. First time detection of PFAS in farmed marine shellfish in Africa. Short-chain PFAS were more prevalent than long-chain PFAS in farmed shellfish. PFPeA was the major contributor to the EDI of PFAS.