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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania » Eastern Regional Research Center » Microbial and Chemical Food Safety » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #418676
Research Project: Technology Development, Evaluation and Validation for the Detection and Characterization of Chemical Contaminants in Foods

Location: Microbial and Chemical Food Safety

Title: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) accumulation in fish occupying different trophic positions from East Canyon Creek, a seasonally effluent-dominated river, Utah, USA

Author
item Sapozhnikova, Yelena
item STROSKI, KEVIN - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item HADDAD, SAMUEL - Baylor University
item BURKET, S REBEKAH - Baylor University
item LUERS, MICHAEL - Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District
item BROOKS, BRYAN - Baylor University

Submitted to: Environmental Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/26/2024
Publication Date: 11/28/2024
Citation: Sapozhnikova, Y.V., Stroski, K., Haddad, S., Burket, S., Luers, M., Brooks, B. 2024. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) accumulation in fish occupying different trophic positions from East Canyon Creek, a seasonally effluent-dominated river, Utah, USA. Environmental Research. 266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.120480.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.120480

Interpretive Summary: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have attracted significant scientific and public attention due to their high persistence, ability to bioaccumulate, and documented toxic effects to human health. PFAS human exposure pathways are not clearly understood, but current knowledge indicates drinking water and seafood as the major exposure pathways. In this study, we examined levels of PFAS in fish samples of brown trout and mottled sculpin collected from the East Canyon Creek in Utah, USA in 2014. Out of 35 tested PFAS, 20 were detected, and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) contributed up to 47% to the total PFAS amounts. The levels of PFAS were significantly higher than the amounts found in fish samples in the general US food supply, suggesting local communities depending on fishing may be at higher risk of PFAS exposure. Continuous monitoring of fish for PFAS is needed to better understand associated risks, especially for local communities.

Technical Abstract: Fish and seafood are considered a major source of human dietary exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). In this study, we examined levels of 35 PFAS in fish samples of brown trout and mottled sculpin, which occupy different trophic positions, collected one decade ago from East Canyon Creek in Utah, USA. We observed 20 PFAS ranging from 0.46-63.9 ng/g and from