Occurrence and dietary exposure assessment of PFOS and PFOA in cultured Trachinotus ovatus in China

In this study, investigation was conducted into concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in Chinese farmed Trachinotus ovatus between 2014 and 2015 using a modified QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) and ultra fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS) method. The tissue distribution (muscle, skin, liver, kidney and gill) in Trachinotus ovatus was also assessed. The detection frequencies of PFOS and PFOA in fish were 92% and 3%, respectively, and the mean concentrations were 0.392 and 0.015 μg/kg wet weight. The analysis of PFOS distribution in different tissues in Trachinotus ovatus showed the following trend: skin> gill> kidney> liver> flesh. Results revealeded farmed Trachinotus ovatus in China to generally be contaminated with PFOS. Moreover, the average daily intake for Chinese urban residents calculated on the basis of pollution content was 0.268 ng/kg body weight/d (PFOS) and 0.014 ng/kg body weight /d (PFOA), respectively. Both hazard ratio values were less than 1, indicating that exposure levels of PFOS and PFOA through Trachinotus ovatus consumption may not lead to adverse health effects in the Chinese population.