In an article published on September 12, 2023, in the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Anh Quoc Hoang from the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and co-authors analyzed 17 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging from Vietnam. They purchased 18 samples ranging from cookie wrappers, to instant noodle cups, to mochi paper trays, from supermarkets and fast-food restaurants in Hanoi. After performing extractions in methanol for 2h with ultrasound at 60 °C, targeted screening for 13 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and four sulfonates (PFSs) was done with liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
The researchers detected PFAS in 16 out of 18 samples, mostly in low levels (up to 2.95 ng/g packaging). Only the three mochi paper tray samples contained higher concentrations with 372 to 624 ng/g. Here, most PFAS were long-chain PFCAs. Generally, PFAS types and levels varied greatly depending on the packaging type and origin while PFCAs were detected more frequently than PFS.
Hoang and co-authors also performed a literature review to allow a comparison with PFAS concentrations measured in food contact materials (FCMs) around the world. This showed that the PFAS profile of their samples was similar to FCMs from China and India. However, they emphasized that “information about PFASs in FCMs from developing Asian and African countries is scarcer than the developed world” and called for further research to focus on PFAS occurrence and impacts in these nations. While health costs of PFAS have been calculated for Europe (FPF reported) and the United States (FPF reported) such estimates are yet absent for Asia and Africa.
In addition to their mini-review on global PFAS levels, the scientists also discussed potential sources of PFAS in FCMs as well as their behavior and fate. Due to the low concentrations of PFAS in their own experiments, the authors assumed the PFAS were unintentionally added, non-functional (e.g., impurities, degradation products) chemical components.
In the summer of 2023, a few more research articles focused on PFAS in Asia looking into drinking water, edible oils, and baking trays. The baking tray study additionally compared samples from China and Spain but only detected PFAS from the Chinese samples (FPF reported). PFAS in environmental media have been suggested to present a new planetary boundary (FPF reported).
Reference
Hoang, A. Q., et al. (2023). “Perfluoroalkyl substances in food contact materials: preliminary investigation in Vietnam and global comparison. ” Environmental Science and Pollution Research. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29746-5
