EXPOSURE TO PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES IN BELGIAN FLANDERS: A CASE STUDY OF Sander lucioperca

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a heterogeneous group of synthetic chemicals containing carbon-fluor bonds, including perfluorinated carboxylates and sulfonates. Due to their many properties, including resistance to water and dirt, PFAS have been used since the 1950s in a variety of applications, including packaging, cookware, clothing, carpets, fire-fighting foams, and the development of medical and personal care products. PFAS are known to persist in the environment and to bioaccumulate in the food chain. Furthermore, various adverse health effects are associated with PFAS exposure. For the sum of 4 PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS), a tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 4.4 ng/kg bw/week was set by EFSA in 2020. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of PFAS in recreationally caught Pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) used for human consumption by anglers. Fifty-nine samples of pikeperch from 14 different areas in Flanders, Belgium were collected between 2022 and 2023. Muscle tissue was dissected and analysed for 25 PFAS using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-(ESI–)-MS/MS). All samples contained between 7 and 21 PFAS. Nearly half of the samples contained between 13 and 15 PFAS. Out of the PFAS included in the TWI of EFSA, PFHxS and PFOS were present in all samples. PFNA and PFOA were detected in 95% and 46% of the samples respectively. Among the sulfonates, those with 6-8 carbons (PFHxS, PFHpS, PFOS) were the most detected (>96%), followed by the long chains with 9-12 carbons (44-75%). Among the carboxylates, the long-chains with 9-14 carbons were detected in almost all samples (> 95%) followed by PFOA (8 carbons). In contrast, emerging PFAS such as ether sulfonic acid F53B (major and minor components), DONA, HFPO-DA and shortchains carboxylates (carbon < 8) and sulfonates (carbon < 6) were poorly detected (<5%). Hence, the exposure of the Belgian angler population consuming their caught fish was evaluated to better understand the potential risks they may face. The mean exposure was 7.1 ng/kg bw/week, with a minimum of 1.8 ng/kg bw/week and maximum of 23 ng/kg bw/week. Therefore, the mean and maximum scenarios exceed the TWI. This study provides important insights into the current state of PFAS contamination and distribution.