Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) from Hubei Province, China: exposure, risk assessment and bioaccumulation

This study investigated the exposure levels of PFASs in crayfish sourced from Hubei Province, assessed the health and safety risks associated with consuming crayfish, and explored the bioaccumulation of PFASs in sediment affecting crayfish. The results showed that 10 types of PFASs were detected in all crayfish samples, with a detection rate of 100%, and the concentration range of ∑PFASs was 0.90-2.67 μg/kg ww, with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA) being the most abundant compounds. In sediment samples, 8 types of PFASs were detected with a 100% detection rate, and perfluorobutyric acid (PFBA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) were found to be the most abundant. The hazard index (HI) for PFASs in crayfish was significantly larger than 1, and Monte Carlo simulation results indicated that exposure to PFASs through consumption of the edible portions of crayfish may pose a significant risk to human health. Spearman correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation (p < 0.01) between the concentrations of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), and PFOS in crayfish and their corresponding compounds in sediments. Additionally, the biological-sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) values for PFOA and PFNA exceeded 10, indicating a certain potential for bioaccumulation.