Seafood lovers may have to worry about forever chemicals inside their next shrimp cocktail night or lobster dinner, according to a recent study.
Dartmouth College researchers tested several types of seafood purchased from various locations in New Hampshire for 26 different types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly known as PFAS. Their findings showed that bottom feeders such as shrimp and lobster exhibited the highest levels of PFAS contamination.
PFAS, often referred to as "forever chemicals'", are microscopic substances that take thousands of years to break down in the environment and human body. They are pervasive, found in various products including textiles, nonstick cookware, and food packaging, and have been detected in water supplies, soil, and air, according to The Daily Mail.
Testing revealed that shrimp and lobster had the highest concentrations of PFAS, with levels exceeding 1 nanogram per gram of flesh. Shellfish, in particular, may be more susceptible to PFAS contamination due to their proximity to coastal sources of PFAS pollution.
Megan Romano, co-author of the Dartmouth study, urged people to consider the risks and benefits when eating seafood in future.
'Our recommendation isn't to not eat seafood - seafood is a great source of lean protein and omega fatty acids,' she said.
'But it also is a potentially underestimated source of PFAS exposure in humans.'
'Understanding this risk-benefit trade-off for seafood consumption is important for people making decisions about diet, especially for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children.'
For the study, researchers analyzed samples of cod, haddock, lobster, salmon, scallop, shrimp, and tuna, and surveyed over 1,800 New Hampshire residents about their seafood consumption habits. The results indicated that residents of the state consume seafood at a rate higher than the national average, potentially exposing themselves to elevated levels of PFAS.
Notably, a separate study conducted in 2023 found that Asian-Americans, who often have diets rich in seafood, had significantly higher levels of PFAS in their blood compared to other ethnic groups. This suggests that a seafood-heavy diet could be a significant contributor to PFAS exposure.
The researchers focused on New Hampshire due to its high seafood consumption rates, with 95% of adults surveyed reporting seafood consumption in the past year. Shrimp emerged as the most consumed seafood among New Hampshire residents, followed by haddock, salmon, canned tuna, and lobster.
There is no safe level of exposure to PFAS, with a growing body of research linking these chemicals to numerous health conditions, including cancer, infertility, fetal abnormalities, and autism.
