02 Jan Study Evaluates Risk of PFAS Exposure From Eating Fish
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Wenhui Qiu
Wenhui Qiu, PhD
Associate Professor
School of Environmental Science and Engineering
Southern University of Science and Technology
Shenzhen, China
Dr. Chunmiao Zheng
Chunmiao Zheng, PhD
AGU Fellow, Chair Professor
Hydrologic Science
Eastern Institute of Technology
Ningbo, China
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of artificially synthesized chemicals widely used in industrial production and consumer goods manufacturing. These substances are persistent in the environment, can accumulate through the food chain, and enter the human body and build up over time, posing a potential threat to health. As an important component of the global diet, marine fish may serve as a major source of PFAS intake for humans. However, the contribution of marine fish as a source of PFAS exposure and the associated health risks still lack systematic assessment on a global scale.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Response: Using a marine food web model, the study predicted PFAS concentrations in 212 edible marine fish species globally, which account for 99% of the catch in the studied regions, and validated the predictions with measured data. The PFAS concentrations in these fish are found to be linked to the historical emissions and dilution capacity of the marine environment, with higher concentrations observed in fish at higher trophic level. The study found that PFAS exposure levels through marine fish consumption vary among populations in different countries, which is related to economic levels, dietary patterns, and historical PFAS usage; Global seafood trade has the potential to reshape PFAS exposure patterns, as PFAS are being transferred from high-residue regions to low-residue regions through international seafood trade; International control policies can effectively reduce the risk of PFAS exposure; Due to their higher persistence and bioconcentration potential, some long-chain PFAS pose more prominent ecological and health risks globally.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: Overall, the risk of PFAS exposure from consuming marine fish remains relatively low, which is partly attributable to the effective control of pollutant emissions by relevant international regulations. To further mitigate potential risks, consumers are advised to consciously pay attention to the origin information when purchasing imported seafood and give priority to fishery products sourced from clean marine areas.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a results of this study?
Response: Foremost, field sampling and pollution surveys should be strengthened in regions lacking monitoring data. Additionally, multi-source data such as marine hydrological information and pollution emissions can be integrated to develop high spatiotemporal-resolution predictive models for PFAS concentrations in marine ecosystems. It is also essential to systematically quantify the contribution of fish from highsea fishing and aquaculture to dietary PFAS exposure, thereby improving whole-chain risk assessment.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?
Response: Although current regulatory measures help control the continuous exposure to legacy PFAS, a great amount of alternative compounds are emerging, including short-chain PFAS, perfluoroalkyl ethers, and chlorinated PFAS. While many of these alternatives remain difficult to quantify accurately, some have been confirmed to exhibit toxicity comparable to that of legacy PFAS, suggesting that similar environmental and health risks may reemerge. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen safety assessments during the research, development, and marketing stages of chemicals to avoid the cycle of “pollute first, regulate later.”
Citation: Wenhui Qiu et al.Risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure through marine fish consumption.Science 390,1305-1309(2025).DOI:10.1126/science.adr0351
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Last Updated on January 2, 2026 by Marie Benz MD FAAD