Research reveals high levels of PFAS contamination in food supply chains
High levels of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ have been detected in those that consume a diet rich in white rice, eggs, red meat, seafood and coffee, according to the latest research into dietary sources of the synthetic chemicals.
The study, published in July, took blood and breast milk samples from more than 1,500 mothers living in New Hampshire in the US, collected since 2009.
It found that for ‘every one’ standard deviation in intake of eggs per day the participants saw a 4.4% increase in PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) in their bloodstream, as well as a 3.3% and 10.3% rise respectively in levels of PFOA (perfluorooctanoate) and PFDA (perfluorodecanoate).
A similar increase in concentrations was found among those eating high quantities of white rice, red meat, coffee and seafood.
The latest finding follows mounting concern around the presence of the synthetic chemicals in everyday foods, which have been linked to a number of health problems, including cancer, thyroid disease, liver damage and fertility issues.
‘Contaminated every corner of the globe’
These latest findings into the presence of PFAS chemicals in food supply chains are “alarming but not entirely surprising,” says Eadaoin Carthy, an assistant professor in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering in Dublin City University.
“These chemicals have been detected in various environmental media, including water, soil, and air, which eventually leads to their presence in the food supply,” she explains. “There has been growing concern and research over the past decade about PFAS contamination, particularly in drinking water and consumer products. However, the extent of their prevalence in food items like white rice, eggs, red meat, seafood, and coffee underscores a broader and more pervasive issue than previously understood.”
“PFAS have contaminated every corner of the globe,” agrees Dr. Shubhi Sharma, a researcher at CHEM Trust. There are numerous ways the chemicals can enter food supply chains, she explains, including via PFAS-based pesticides used during crop production, if food is grown in contaminated water or soil, or via packaging which has PFAS in it.
The CHEM Trust’s own research found that PFAS are widely used in disposable food packaging and tableware in Europe, with Intentional PFAS treatment confirmed in 32 out of the 42 samples sent to the laboratory for analysis.
“This is highly concerning because research has linked some PFAS to severe health issues, including certain cancers, Alzheimer's disease, and developmental challenges in children,” says Sharma.
Urgent action
It’s thought that the findings of this latest study could be used to develop dietary interventions during pregnancy specifically to reduce the exposure of expectant mothers and their unborn children to PFAS, say the authors.
But many environmentalists and campaigners are calling for more comprehensive actions from authorities and leading food companies.
“The only way to control PFAS pollution is to tackle it at the source,” says Sharma. “The European Union must urgently implement the universal PFAS restriction, as well as introduce a stronger REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) restriction to prevent other similar issues in the future.”
The Pesticides Action Network (PAN) is also calling for authorities in the UK to take action to ban the use of PFAS-based pesticides, which they argue is ‘absolutely unnecessary’ for growing food. There are 25 PFAS pesticides currently in use in the UK, six of which are classified as ‘Highly Hazardous,’ say the group. The list includes the insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin which, in addition to being a ‘forever chemical’, is highly toxic to both humans and bees. Their research found that in 2022, 9,200 kg of lambda-cyhalothrin was applied to 1.69 million hectares of UK land, the equivalent of eleven times the size of Greater London.
“There are a lot of unknowns about the impact on human health from dietary exposure and certainly the issue of PFAS chemicals in conjunction with other pesticide residues,” says PAN UK policy officer Nick Mole. The campaign group “don’t think the food industry or the UK government are responding with the right level of urgency and there is a need for more research on the human health implications of PFAS chemicals, including PFAS pesticides,” he adds. “As our research noted there are currently 25 PFAS pesticides used in the UK and banning these immediately could help address the problem.”
In addition to legal action, food companies could move to adopt safer alternatives to PFAS in packaging and processing materials, points out Carthy. “Implementing better filtration and purification systems can [also] help reduce PFAS levels in water and food production processes.
“As awareness and scientific capabilities improve, we can expect further research in the coming months and years to uncover more detailed insights into the full scale of PFAS contamination in food and other areas,” she believes.
Sourced From: Science of the Total Environment
'Association of diet with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in plasma and human milk in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study
Published on: 10 July 2024
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173157
Authors: Y. Wang, J. Gui, C. G. Howe, J. A. Emond, R. L. Criswell, L. G. Gallagher, C. A. Huset, L. A. Peterson, J. Cook Botelho, A. M. Calafat< B. Christensen< M. R. Karaga, M. E. Romano
