Frequent consumption of seafood appears to significantly increase the risk of exposure to certain harmful chemicals (PFAS). This suggests that seafood represents a potentially underestimated source of PFAS exposure and that guidelines for safe consumption levels would be appropriate.
A new study involving experts from Dartmouth College in the US has examined how seafood consumption affects the risk of exposure to so-called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The results can be read in the specialist journal “Exposure and Health”.
Over 1,800 people surveyed
The team surveyed a total of 1,829 people living in New Hampshire to determine the frequency of consumption, portion sizes, types and sources of seafood (fish and shellfish) among adults and children ages two to eleven.
Additionally, the experts purchased the most commonly consumed types of seafood at a seafood market in New Hampshire and quantified 26 PFAS. PFAS are compounds that are particularly common in plastics and non-stick coatings.
If health benchmarks were available for the identified PFAS, the team calculated a hazard quotient to estimate the risk of exposure from seafood consumption.
How do PFAS harm health?
PFAS appear to cause significant harm to human health. According to the team, their presence in the body is associated with, among other things, fetal anomalies, high cholesterol levels and thyroid, liver and reproductive disorders.
Overall, 95 percent of adults surveyed said they had consumed seafood in the last year. 94 percent of these people had eaten fish or shellfish in the last month, and more than two-thirds of respondents had consumed seafood in the last week. Canned shrimp, haddock, salmon and tuna were consumed particularly frequently.
These seafood are particularly contaminated
In general, the highest concentrations of certain PFAS were found in crabs (1.74 nanograms per gram of meat) and lobsters (3.30 nanograms per gram of meat). In contrast, concentrations of individual PFAS in other fish and seafood were mostly less than one nanogram per gram, the team said.
Based on the participants’ information on the frequency of seafood consumption and the size of the meals eaten, the researchers finally estimated the daily consumption of seafood in adults (median: 33.9 g per day) and children (5.0 g per day).
Moderate consumption is safe
Experts say the risk quotients they calculated suggest that people who eat seafood could be exposed to high levels of PFAS, potentially posing a health risk. However, moderate consumption of seafood appears to be relatively safe.
Also read:
- PFAS: How common chemicals change our metabolism
- PFAS: Packaging can release toxic compounds into food
- Too many chemicals in the blood of children and adolescents
Make sure you eat a balanced diet
“People who eat a balanced diet and consume typical, moderate amounts of seafood should be able to reap the health benefits of seafood without incurring excessive risk of PFAS exposure,” study author Kathryn Crawford reported in a press release.
In addition, establishing safety guidelines would help protect people who are particularly vulnerable to pollutants, such as pregnant women and children, the doctor adds.
The experts’ recommendation is not to stop eating seafood at all, as it is an excellent source of lean protein and omega fatty acids. Still, seafood is a potentially underestimated source of human exposure to PFAS, according to the team. (as)
