Bioaccumulation, distribution and depuration of PFAS in chickens from a contaminated region

The presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment raises concerns for food safety, particularly for households producing their own food. This study investigated PFAS bioaccumulation, distribution and depuration in 27 laying chickens, reared near industrially PFAS-contaminated sites in Belgium. Twenty-two chickens were euthanized before depuration to assess PFAS concentrations across nine biological matrices, i.e., serum, breast, fat, gizzard, heart, kidney, liver, skin, and thigh. The remaining five chickens were relocated to a PFAS-free environment to study depuration by periodically collecting eggs. After a period of at least 28 days, the chickens were also euthanized, and the nine biological matrices were analyzed. Thirty-two PFAS, including short- and long-chain carboxylic (PFCA) and sulfonic (PFSA) substances, and emerging PFAS, were quantified using very sensitive validated analytical methods. Biological matrices from chickens before depuration showed PFAS concentrations up to twenty-three times higher and a broader PFAS profile than after the depuration period. Serum, liver, and kidneys were the primary accumulation sites before depuration, with fat containing similar levels before and after depuration. PFAS levels in eggs decreased progressively during the monitoring period, with PFOS dominating the PFSA profile. Both PFSA and PFCA compounds showed consistent declines, illustrating that egg production could be a significant pathway for PFAS elimination. These findings demonstrate how environmental exposure and depuration dynamics influence PFAS contamination in biological matrices. PFAS accumulation in chicken tissues and eggs can enter the human food chain through the consumption of meat and eggs, representing a potential risk to food safety.