• Exposure to PFAS can also occur through food contaminated by these chemical substances.
• According to the findings of a study, there is an association between the consumption of eggs, rice, coffee, fish and red meat and higher levels of PFAS in plasma and breast milk.
• It is hypothesised that these foods become contaminated through irrigation water, the soil where animals graze, cookware and packaging.

Highly polluting and non-biodegradable chemical substances, PFAS are present everywhere and there are many ways in which they can contaminate food, from cooking with non-stick pans to water used to irrigate crops or for cooking. A recent study conducted in the United States investigated exposure to PFAS through food by analysing the diet of pregnant women and PFAS levels in the body. According to the observations made, higher consumption of eggs, coffee and white rice, as well as seafood and red meat during pregnancy is associated with higher concentrations of PFAS in plasma and breast milk.

PFAS, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, comprise thousands of chemical compounds used in various fields for their water-repellent, anti-fouling and flame-retardant properties, and are known as "forever chemicals" because they do not break down naturally. Several studies have shown how PFAS accumulate in the body and are associated with cancer, birth defects, liver and thyroid disease, and fertility problems.

How diet can affect PFAS levels in plasma and breast milk: the study

The study was conducted on 3,000 pregnant women: in particular, it was observed that the consumption of fish, seafood and eggs was positively associated with plasma PFAS, that the consumption of white rice was positively associated with PFOA, substances belonging to the PFAS group, in milk, and that the consumption of red meat was positively associated with PFOS, among the most common and dangerous PFAS compounds, also in milk.

PFAS: the possible sources of food contamination

These foods are not inherently risky, but it is the contamination they undergo that makes them a potential health hazard. The authors of the recent study hypothesised that rice becomes contaminated with PFAS through polluted soil or irrigation water or via non-stick cookware. As for eggs, contamination could occur through soil fertilised with sewage sludge where chickens feed, and the same applies to beef. For coffee, the water used to prepare it, filters and paper cups could be contaminated. For fish and seafood, the source of contamination is water pollution.

"The findings indicate the need to responsibly manage the environment and to keep PFAS out of the food chain," said Megan Romano, a researcher at Dartmouth College and lead author of the study. "We are now in a situation where PFAS are everywhere and will remain so even if we take aggressive corrective measures."

To reduce exposure to PFAS, researchers suggest prioritising fruit and vegetables and wholegrains in the diet, which are associated with lower PFAS levels, and diversifying protein sources.