Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in food and water from Faroe Islands

  • Nordic Research on Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs)
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Diet and drinking water are suggested to be major exposure pathways for perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). In this study, food items and water from Faroe Islands sampled in 2011/2012 were analyzed for 11 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and 4 perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids (PFSAs). The food samples included milk, yoghurt, crème fraiche, potatoes, fish, and fish feed, and the water samples included surface water and purified drinking water. In total, nine PFCAs and four PFSAs were detected. Generally, the levels of PFAS were in the lower picogram per gram range. Perfluorobutanoic acid was a major contributor to the total PFASs concentration in water samples and had a mean concentration of 750 pg/L. Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) was predominating in milk and wild fish with mean concentrations of 170 pg/g. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was most frequently detected in food items followed by PFUnDA, perfluorononanoic acid, and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Levels of PFUnDA and PFOA exceeded those of PFOS in milk and fish samples. Prevalence of long-chain PFCAs in Faroese food items and water is confirming earlier observations of their increase in Arctic biota. Predominance of short-chain and long-chain homologues indicates exposure from PFOS and PFOA replacement compounds.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Begley TH, Hsu W, Noonan G, Diachenko G (2008) Migration of fluorochemical paper additives from food-contact paper into foods and food simulants. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 25:384–390

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berger U, Glynn A, Holmstrom KE, Berglund M, Ankarberg EH, Tornkvist A (2009) Fish consumption as a source of human exposure to perfluorinated alkyl substances in Sweden—analysis of edible fish from Lake Vattern and the Baltic Sea. Chemosphere 76:799–804

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boiteux V, Dauchy X, Rosin C, Munoz JF (2012) National screening study on 10 perfluorinated compounds in raw and treated tap water in France. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 63:1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bossi R, Riget FF, Dietz R, Sonne C, Fauser P, Dam M, Vorkamp K (2005) Preliminary screening of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and other fluorochemicals in fish, birds and marine mammals from Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Environ Pollut 136:323–329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buck RC, Franklin J, Berger U, Conder JM, Cousins IT, de Voogt P, Jensen AA, Kannan K, Mabury SA, van Leeuwen SP (2011) Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the environment: terminology, classification, and origins. Integr Environ Assess Manag 7:513–541

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Butt CM, Berger U, Bossi R, Tomy GT (2010) Levels and trends of poly- and perfluorinated compounds in the arctic environment. Sci Total Environ 408:2936–2965

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cai M, Yang H, Xie Z, Zhao Z, Wang F, Lu Z, Sturm R, Ebinghaus R (2012) Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in snow, lake, surface runoff water and coastal seawater in Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica. J Hazard Mater 209–210:335–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carloni D (2009). Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) production and use: past and current evidence, UNIDO: 1–38

  • Clarke DB, Bailey VA, Routledge A, Lloyd AS, Hird S, Mortimer DN, Gem M (2010) Dietary intake estimate for perfluorooctanesulphonic acid (PFOS) and other perfluorocompounds (PFCs) in UK retail foods following determination using standard addition LC-MS/MS. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 27:530–545

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D'Eon JC, Hurley MD, Wallington TJ, Mabury SA (2006) Atmospheric chemistry of N-methyl perfluorobutane sulfonamidoethanol, C4F9SO2N(CH3)CH2CH2OH: kinetics and mechanism of reaction with OH. Environ Sci Technol 40:1862–1868

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D'Hollander W, de Voogt P, De Coen W, Bervoets L (2010) Perfluorinated substances in human food and other sources of human exposure. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 208:179–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Domingo JL (2012) Health risks of dietary exposure to perfluorinated compounds. Environ Int 40:187–195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Domingo JL, Ericson-Jogsten I, Perello G, Nadal M, Van Bavel B, Karrman A (2012a) Human exposure to perfluorinated compounds in Catalonia, Spain: contribution of drinking water and fish and shellfish. J Agric Food Chem 60:4408–4415

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Domingo JL, Jogsten IE, Eriksson U, Martorell I, Perello G, Nadal M, Bavel B (2012b) Human dietary exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances in Catalonia, Spain. Temporal trend. Food Chem 135:1575–1582

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EFSA (2012) Perfluoroalkylated substances in food: occurrence and dietary exposure. EFSA Journal 10:1–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis DA, Martin JW, De Silva AO, Mabury SA, Hurley MD, Sulbaek Andersen MP, Wallington TJ (2004) Degradation of fluorotelomer alcohols: a likely atmospheric source of perfluorinated carboxylic acids. Environ Sci Technol 38:3316–3321

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EPA (2012). New Chemical Review of Alternatives for PFOA and Related Chemicals. http://www.epa.gov/oppt/pfoa/pubs/altnewchems.html. Accessed 21 Dec 2012

  • Ericson I, Marti-Cid R, Nadal M, Van Bavel B, Lindstrom G, Domingo JL (2008) Human exposure to perfluorinated chemicals through the diet: intake of perfluorinated compounds in foods from the Catalan (Spain) market. J Agric Food Chem 56:1787–1794

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ericson I, Domingo JL, Nádal M, Bigas E, Llebaria X, van Bavel B, Lindström G (2009) Levels of perfluorinated chemicals in municipal drinking water from Catalonia, Spain: public health implications. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 57:631–638

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gulkowska A, Jiang Q, So MK, Taniyasu S, Lam PK, Yamashita N (2006) Persistent perfluorinated acids in seafood collected from two cities of China. Environ Sci Technol 40:3736–3741

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haug LS, Salihovic S, Jogsten IE, Thomsen C, van Bavel B, Lindstrom G, Becher G (2010) Levels in food and beverages and daily intake of perfluorinated compounds in Norway. Chemosphere 80:1137–1143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Houde M, De Silva AO, Muir DC, Letcher RJ (2011) Monitoring of perfluorinated compounds in aquatic biota: an updated review. Environ Sci Technol 45:7962–7973

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ISO, 2009. Water quality—determination of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA)—method for unfiltered samples using solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. ISO/DIS 25101:2009. Available (20130322) at: http://www.iso.org/iso/home/store/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=42742

  • Ji K, Kim S, Kho Y, Paek D, Sakong J, Ha J, Choi K (2012) Serum concentrations of major perfluorinated compounds among the general population in Korea: dietary sources and potential impact on thyroid hormones. Environ Int 45:78–85

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kallenborn R, Berger U, Järnberg U, Dam M, Glesne O, Hedlund B, Hirvi J-P, Lundgren A, Mogensen BB and Sigurdsson AS (2004) Perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS) in the Nordic environment, Nordic screening project report Tema Nord, Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen, 552

  • Kärrman A, Ericson I, van Bavel B, Darnerud PO, Aune M, Glynn A, Lignell S, Lindstrom G (2007) Exposure of perfluorinated chemicals through lactation: levels of matched human milk and serum and a temporal trend, 1996–2004, in Sweden. Environ Health Perspect 115:226–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kärrman A, Harada KH, Inoue K, Takasuga T, Ohi E, Koizumi A (2009) Relationship between dietary exposure and serum perfluorochemical (PFC) levels—a case study. Environ Int 35:712–717

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kissa E (2001) Fluorinated surfactants and repellents. Marcel Dekker, New York

  • Lindstrom AB, Strynar MJ, Libelo EL (2011) Polyfluorinated compounds: past, present, and future. Environ Sci Technol 45:7954–7961

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Llorca M, Farre M, Pico Y, Muller J, Knepper TP, Barcelo D (2012) Analysis of perfluoroalkyl substances in waters from Germany and Spain. Sci Total Environ 431:139–150

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mak YL, Taniyasu S, Yeung LW, Lu G, Jin L, Yang Y, Lam PK, Kannan K, Yamashita N (2009) Perfluorinated compounds in tap water from China and several other countries. Environ Sci Technol 43:4824–4829

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Naile JE, Khim JS, Hong S, Park J, Kwon B-O, Ryu JS, Hwang JH, Jones PD and Giesy JP (2013). Distributions and bioconcentration characteristics of perfluorinated compounds in environmental samples collected from the west coast of Korea. Chemosphere 90(2):387–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakayama SF, Strynar MJ, Reiner JL, Delinsky AD, Lindstrom AB (2010) Determination of perfluorinated compounds in the upper Mississippi river basin. Environ Sci Technol 44:4103–4109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson JW, Fraser AJ, Hatch EE, Scammell MK, Webster TF (2012) P49-Fast food consumption and other dietary measures predict PFC serum concentrations in the U.S. population. Reprod Toxicol 33:1–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noorlander CW, van Leeuwen SP, Te Biesebeek JD, Mengelers MJ, Zeilmaker MJ (2011) Levels of perfluorinated compounds in food and dietary intake of PFOS and PFOA in the Netherlands. J Agric Food Chem 59:7496–7505

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Post GB, Cohn PD, Cooper KR (2012) Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), an emerging drinking water contaminant: a critical review of recent literature. Environ Res 116:93–117

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prevedouros K, Cousins IT, Buck RC, Korzeniowski SH (2006) Sources, fate and transport of perfluorocarboxylates. Environ Sci Technol 40:32–44

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Renner R (2006) The long and the short of perfluorinated replacements. Environ Sci Technol 40:12–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rotander A, Karrman A, van Bavel B, Polder A, Riget F, Auethunsson GA, Vikingsson G, Gabrielsen GW, Bloch D, Dam M (2012) Increasing levels of long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) in Arctic and North Atlantic marine mammals, 1984–2009. Chemosphere 86:278–285

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schenker U, Scheringer M, MacLeod M, Martin JW, Cousins IT, Hungerbuhler K (2008) Contribution of volatile precursor substances to the flux of perfluorooctanoate to the Arctic. Environ Sci Technol 42:3710–3716

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stahl T, Mattern D, Brunn H (2011) Toxicology of perfluorinated compounds.pdf. Environ Sci Eur 23:1–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stock NL, Furdui VI, Muir DC, Mabury SA (2007) Perfluoroalkyl contaminants in the Canadian Arctic: evidence of atmospheric transport and local contamination. Environ Sci Technol 41:3529–3536

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suominen K, Hallikainen A, Ruokojarvi P, Airaksinen R, Koponen J, Rannikko R, Kiviranta H (2011) Occurrence of PCDD/F, PCB, PBDE, PFAS, and organotin compounds in fish meal, fish oil and fish feed. Chemosphere 85:300–306

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taniyasu S, Yamashita N, Yamazaki E, Petrick G and Kannan K (2013). The environmental photolysis of perfluorooctanesulfonate, perfluorooctanoate, and related fluorochemicals. Chemosphere 90(5):1686–92

    Google Scholar 

  • UNEP (2012). The new POPs under the Stockholm Convention. http://chm.pops.int/Implementation/NewPOPs/TheNewPOPs/tabid/672/Default.aspx. Accessed 21 Dec 2012

  • van der Veen I, Weiss J, van Leeuwen S, Cofino W and Crum S (2012). 5th Interlaboratory study on perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food and environmental samples. Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), VU University, Amsterdam. Report nr. W-12/09, 254

  • Vestergren R, Cousins IT (2009) Tracking the pathways of human exposure to perfluorocarboxylates. Environ Sci Technol 43:5565–5575

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vestergren R, Berger U, Glynn A, Cousins IT (2012) Dietary exposure to perfluoroalkyl acids for the Swedish population in 1999, 2005 and 2010. Environ Int 49:120–127

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Shi Y, Pan Y, Cai Y (2010) Perfluorinated compounds in milk, milk powder and yoghurt purchased from markets in China. Chin Sci Bull 55:1020–1025

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weihe P, Kato K, Calafat AM, Nielsen F, Wanigatunga AA, Needham LL, Grandjean P (2008) Serum concentrations of polyfluoroalkyl compounds in Faroese whale meat consumers. Environ Sci Technol 42:6291–6295

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82, Örebro, Sweden

    Ulrika Eriksson, Anna Kärrman & Anna Rotander

  2. Faroese Food- and Veterinary Agency, Falkavegur 6, FO-100, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

    Bjørg Mikkelsen

  3. Environment Agency, Traðagøta 38, FO-165, Argir, Faroe Islands

    Maria Dam

Authors
  1. Ulrika Eriksson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anna Kärrman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anna Rotander
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bjørg Mikkelsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Maria Dam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ulrika Eriksson.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Leif Kronberg

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOC 118 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Eriksson, U., Kärrman, A., Rotander, A. et al. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in food and water from Faroe Islands. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 7940–7948 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1700-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1700-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation