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Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and related fluorochemicals in chicken egg in China

  • Articles Special Topics
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Published:
Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

The ubiquitous occurrence of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in environmental samples has drawn much attention. Recent human exposure studies found relatively high perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) concentrations in blood samples from several cities in China when compared with other countries. The objectives of the present study were: (1) to measure PFC concentrations and compositions in chicken egg samples from local markets in China; and (2) to conduct a preliminary human health risk assessment of egg consumption. Eight pooled egg samples from eight locations were analyzed for 11 PFCs. The results showed that close to 100% of the PFOS in the egg was distributed in egg yolk and PFOS was not detected in egg white (<0.08 ng/g wet weight, w/w). Of the perfluoroalkylsulfonates, only PFOS was detected in all egg samples, while of the perfluoroalkylcarboxylates, perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) was detected in all samples, followed by perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) (75% occurrence) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) (50% occurrence). PFOS concentrations in egg ranged from 45.0 to 86.9 ng/g w/w. The results suggested that current concentrations of PFOS in domestic chicken eggs are unlikely to cause immediate harm to Chinese populations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Coastal Pollution and Conservation, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, HKSAR, China

    Wang Yuan, Yeung Leo Wai Yin, So Man Ka, Margaret B. Murphy & Lam Paul Kwan Sing

  2. National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8569, Japan

    Wang Yuan, Yeung Leo Wai Yin, Yamashita Nobuyoshi & Taniyasu Sachi

Authors
  1. Wang Yuan
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  2. Yeung Leo Wai Yin
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  3. Yamashita Nobuyoshi
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  4. Taniyasu Sachi
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  5. So Man Ka
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  6. Margaret B. Murphy
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  7. Lam Paul Kwan Sing
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yamashita Nobuyoshi or Lam Paul Kwan Sing.

Additional information

Supported by the Strategic Research Grant at City University of Hong Kong (Grant No. 7001990)

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Wang, Y., Yeung, L.W.Y., Yamashita, N. et al. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and related fluorochemicals in chicken egg in China. Chin. Sci. Bull. 53, 501–507 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-008-0128-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-008-0128-5

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