Dietary Exposure of Chinese Adults to Perfluoroalkyl Acids via Animal-Origin Foods: Chinese Total Diet Study (2005–2007 and 2011–2013)

Abstract

Diet has been regarded as the main exposure source of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), but the national dietary survey of PFAAs in China was limited. Here, eight typical PFAAs were detected in milk, aquatic food, meat, and eggs from the Chinese Total Diet Studies (TDSs) during 2005–2007 and 2011–2013. Aquatic food was found to be the main source of PFAAs among animal-origin foods. The estimated dietary intakes of ∑PFAAs from animal foods (EDIanimal‑origin foods) in coastal areas were relatively higher than in inland areas. The highest EDIanimal‑origin foods of PFOS [4.07 and 2.02 ng kg–1 of body weight (bw) day–1] and PFOA (2.19 ng kg–1 of bw day–1) found in Shanghai and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA, 2.72 ng kg–1 of bw day–1) in Fujian approach or exceed current minimal risk levels from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and tolerable weekly intakes from the European Food Safety Authority, suggesting potential risk of PFAA exposure from animal-origin foods in these areas