Occurrence of PFAS in Specialty Crop Production

Key takeaways:

A family of compounds known as PFAS are recognized by regulatory agencies worldwide as a contaminant

PFAS are ubiquitous in households (non-stick cookware, some microwave-safe single-use containers, certain wrinkle-free and stain-free textiles and surface treatments) and in the environment (jet fuel, grease-resistant coatings, firefighting foam).

Repeated FDA supermarket surveys of fresh produce detected either no or only traces of PFAS in fresh produce. Commonly found in shellfish, seafood, some ultra-processed foods.

Soils and ag water in production areas located away from PFAS manufacturing facilities, airports, large urban areas are generally free from PFAS

Common sources of PFAS contamination (biosolids, urban run-off) are already excluded from specialty crop production for FSMA compliance

Executive summary

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large and diverse class of over 12,000 synthetic compounds, recognized as environmental contaminants of concern due to their persistence and potential health risks (National Academy of Sciences, 2022). PFAS can enter the environment through three main pathways--emissions from manufacturing facilities, landfill leachate, and discharges from wastewater treatment plants. Human exposure primarily occurs via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, with ingestion of contaminated food and water being the most common route. Inhalation of dust or airborne PFAS and dermal contact with certain products also contribute to overall exposure. Global regulatory framework aiming to exclude PFAS from foods, waters and the environment is rapidly evolving.

PFAS are ubiquitous and used in thousands of consumer and industrial products, including nonstick cookware, firefighting foams, jet fuel, and protective gear. A review of 52 studies that examined 15 categories of consumer products—encompassing 1,040 individual items—identified 107 distinct PFAS (Dewapriya et al., 2023). PFAS concentrations in consumer products varied widely, ranging from 0.26 parts per trillion (ppt) to 29,000 parts per million (ppm). The highest average concentrations were detected in textiles, followed by household chemicals, then cosmetics. Firefighting products exhibited the highest mean PFAS concentration, with 39 products showing an average of 488.51 ppm (range: 0.11–11,031.30 ppm) (Benotti et al., 2020; Favreau et al., 2017a, 2017b; Fiedler et al., 2010; Herzke et al., 2012; Weiner et al., 2013). Textile finishing agents reported a mean concentration of 302.92 ppm (range: 2.92–1,370.00 ppm) across 12 products (Mumtaz et al., 2019). Ten studies evaluating household chemicals—covering 122 products—had an aggregated mean PFAS concentration of 208.08 ppm (range: 0.0005–3,490.60 ppm) (Blom and Hanssen, 2015; Borg, 2017; Favreau et al., 2017a, 2017b; Fiedler et al., 2010; Guo et al., 2009; Herzke et al., 2012; Kotthoff et al., 2015; Liu et al., 2014, 2015).

FDA repeated sampling of fruit and vegetable samples from retail outlets detected either no PFAS at all or only low traces of PFAS over the 4-year sampling period (2019-2023). Foods of animal origin, on the other hand, were an important contributor to human exposure to PFAS based on the same survey. Fish and shellfish can accumulate PFAS from polluted waters, making them a notable dietary source. Similarly, animals that graze on contaminated land or drink tainted water may accumulate PFAS in their meat and in dairy products. Drinking water can also become contaminated through leaching from landfills, industrial sites, and other polluted areas.

While biosolids (treated sewage sludge) are often contaminated with PFAS and can contaminate soils, the use of biosolids in horticulture is already limited because of grower’s intent to comply with FSMA. In the soils that did not experience recent biosolid deposition or a run-off from highly contaminated sites, levels of PFAS are very low (although academic studies detected very low levels of PFAS in remote areas). Under laboratory conditions, there is evidence of PFAS uptake by plants.

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Occurrence of PFAS in Specialty Crop Production

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