Assessing Human Exposure to PFAS through Fish Consumption in the Delaware Bay

• Cole Seifert, Environmental Science, University of Delaware

• Mi-Ling Li, Department of Earth Sciences, Water Science and Policy Program, University of Delaware

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of several thousand compounds characterized by a variable length carbon chain with the presence of many carbon-fluorine bonds. These compounds are useful in manufacturing and consumer applications but are difficult to degrade and highly persistent in the environment. Several important health issues are associated with this group of compounds, including increased cholesterol levels, changes in liver enzyme levels, altered immune response, reproductive system changes, and cancer. Also noted are decreased vaccine efficacy, and suppression of the general immune response in humans. As such, it is critical to assess human exposure to PFAS through food, drinking water, and other media. One such source of exposure is through the consumption of fish. Delaware Bay recreational and subsistence anglers consume a greater amount of self-caught fish from the bay and may be at higher risk for exposure to PFAS. The consumption habits of this population have not been extensively studied and thus represent a significant knowledge gap. The goal of this research was to characterize the type and quantity of fish most frequently consumed. To this end, a survey was distributed at various coastal locations throughout Delaware, with both wild-caught and store-bought consumption habits being examined. In the future, the fish consumption data from this survey will be combined with PFAS concentration data in fish to produce a full picture of anglers’ exposure to PFAS. Such information can support the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) in developing data-based fish advisories for PFAS.