2024 article
Residential Garden Produce Harvested Near a Fluorochemical Manufacturer in North Carolina Can Be An Important Fluoroether Exposure Pathway
Meng, P., Sheppard, N., Joseph, S., Duckworth, O. W., Higgins, C. P., & Knappe, D. R. U. (2024, November 20). JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY.
author keywords: fluoroethers; GenX chemicals; air emissions; fruits; vegetables; human exposure
open access via doi.org (publisher)
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
2. Zero Hunger
(OpenAlex)
Source: Web Of Science
Added: December 2, 2024
Dietary intake can be an important exposure route to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Little is known about the bioaccumulation of emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids (PFEAs) in garden produce from PFAS-impacted communities and the associated dietary exposure risk. In this study, 53 produce samples were collected from five residential gardens near a fluorochemical manufacturer. Summed PFAS concentrations ranged from 0.0026 to 38 ng/g wet weight of produce, and water-rich produce exhibited the highest PFAS levels. The PFAS signature was dominated by PFEAs, and hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (commonly known as GenX) was detected in 72% of samples. Based on average measured GenX concentrations, chronic-exposure daily limits were as low as 289 g produce/day for children (3–6 yr). This analysis does not consider other PFEAs that were present at higher concentrations, but for which reference doses were not available. This study revealed that consuming residential garden produce grown in PFAS-impacted communities can be an important exposure pathway.