Perfluoroalkane acids in human milk under the global monitoring plan of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (2008–2019)

Highlights

● Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid highest in human milk.

● All other perfluoroalkane substances had median values of zero (101 samples).

● Branched PFOS recommended to be analyzed separately from linear isomer.

● PFOS and PFOA showed differentiated regional and income distribution.

● Human health risk assessment values not yet available at global level.

Abstract

Within the global monitoring plan (GMP) established by article 16 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) are recommended for analysis in core matrices to assess occurrence and changes geographically and with time. In 101 samples consisting of 86 national pools and 15 pools from States in Brazil obtained between 2008 and 2019, PFHxS was detected in 17% of the national pools and none in Brazil. PFOA and PFOS had a detection frequency of 100% and 92%, respectively. Other perfluoroalkane substances (PFAS) had either low detection frequencies and median values of zero (carboxylic acids C₄–C₁₁; except PFOA) or could not be quantified in any sample (sulfonic acids, C₄–C₁₀, and long-chain carboxylic acids, C₁₂–C₁₄). Correlation between PFOA and PFOS was moderately (r = 0.58). Whereas median values were almost identical (18.9 pg/g f.w. for PFOS; 18.6 pg/g f.w. for PFOA), PFOS showed larger ranges (< 6.2 pg/g f.w.–212 pg/g f.w.) than PFOA (< 6.2 pg/g f.w.–63.4 pg/g f.w.). It was shown that wealthier countries had higher PFOA concentrations than poorer countries. No difference in concentrations was found for samples collected in countries having or not having ratified the Stockholm Convention amendments to list PFOS or PFOA. The goal to achieve 50% decrease in concentrations within ten years was met by Antigua and Barbuda, Kenya, and Nigeria for PFOS and by Antigua and Barbuda for PFOA. In a few cases, increases were observed; one country for PFOS, four countries for PFOA.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Human biomonitoring / Human breast milk / LC-MS/MS analysis / Lifestyle parameters

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Acknowledgements

The contribution of the projects to support POPs monitoring in developing country regions financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by UN Environment Programme (UNEP; Geneva, Switzerland) is greatly acknowledged. The Brazil survey was financed by the Ministry of Environment.Further thanks are expressed to the national coordinators for realizing the surveys at national level, to collect and provide the human milk samples. Open Access funding provided by the BIBSAM Nature OA.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-022-1541-8 and is accessible for authorized users.

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