Risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure through marine fish consumption

Wenhui Qiu; Ge Yang; Ling Cao; Shan Nui; Yuzhe Li; Di Fang; Zhaoming Dong; Jason Tyler Magnuson; Daniel Schlenk; Kenneth M. Leung; Yi Zheng; Zhenzhong Zeng; Lian Feng; Xianming Zhang; Yanxu Zhang; Wenhong Fan; Tao Huang; Jianmin Ma; Minghong Wu; Shu Tao; Chunmiao Zheng

doi:10.1126/science.adr0351

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Risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure through marine fish consumption

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Abstract

Global food trade expansion has enriched diets worldwide but also heightened concerns about contaminant spread. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can persist in the environment for decades, yet their risks through food trade remain unclear. The global median estimated daily intake (EDI) of C8-PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate) (0.023 nanograms per kilograms per day) was mapped from 212 marine fish species, which indicated higher EDIs in North America, Oceania, and Europe. Furthermore, European countries play a pivotal role in C8-PFAS trade flows, markedly reshaping exposure pathways and driving increased exposure in many nations. These dynamics highlight the importance of establishing food-safety regulations and international trade standards. Although perfluorooctane sulfonate hazard index decreased by 72% after its 2009 regulations, unregulated long-chain PFAS continue to pose elevated risks.

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Wenhui Qiu, Ge Yang, Ling Cao, Shan Nui, Yuzhe Li, Di Fang, Zhaoming Dong, Jason Tyler Magnuson, Daniel Schlenk, Kenneth M. Leung, Yi Zheng, Zhenzhong Zeng, Lian Feng, Xianming Zhang, Yanxu Zhang, Wenhong Fan, Tao Huang, Jianmin Ma, Minghong Wu, Shu Tao, Chunmiao Zheng. 2025-12-18. Risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure through marine fish consumption. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adr0351

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