Associations Between Seafood Consumption and Serum PFAS Levels Among Asian/Pacific Islanders in the San Francisco Bay...

Prior U.S. studies have reported higher per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) levels among Asian/Pacific Islanders (API) than other race/ethnicity groups. High seafood consumption may disproportionately expose API communities to adverse health effects from PFAS-contaminated seafood. We estimated associations between seafood consumption and serum PFAS levels among Chinese and Vietnamese American adults in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.

From 2016 to 2017, Biomonitoring California collaborated with community partners to recruit 195 participants. Participants completed an exposure questionnaire and provided blood samples for analysis of PFASs and mercury. We pooled associations between seafood consumption and six PFASs using multivariable linear regressions adjusted for demographic covariates and immigration history using a two-stage approach.

PFOS, PFUnDA, PFDA, and PFNA increased 6-10% per five meals of any seafood over the past 30 days. Consuming fish more than three times per week over the past 30 days was associated with higher PFOS (38%) and PFUnDA (42%) compared to consumption below USDA guidelines of at least two meals of fish per week. Caught fish consumed three or more times per week over the past year was associated with 66-125% higher levels of PFOS, PFUnDA, PFDA, and PFNA, compared to consumption less than once per month. Consumption of non-fillet fish parts was associated with 34-124% higher PFOS, PFUnDA, PFDA, PFNA, PFHxS, and PFOA levels compared to no consumption.

These findings suggest a significant route of PFAS exposure for two populations and identify opportunities to reduce exposures through expanding testing and developing culturally appropriate advisories for seafood consumption.

The online version contains supplementary material available at10.1007/s12403-025-00743-y.