An exploratory analysis of poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances in pet food packaging from the United States

By Chinthakindi, Sridhar, Hongkai Zhu, and Kurunthachalam Kannan
Env. Tech. & Inn.
November 17, 2020
DOI: 10.1016/j.eti.2020.101247

Poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were reported to be used in food packaging to impart water and oil repellency. Little is known, however, with regard to the occurrence of PFAS in pet food packaging. In this study, 37 pet food packaging and 11 pet foods were analyzed for the determination of 13 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA), including nine perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCA; C4-C12) and four perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSA; C4-C10). Furthermore, samples were extracted in organic solvents (methanol and ethyl acetate) and an aliquot of the extract was analyzed using total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay to determine the occurrence of PFAS precursors that may be present in packaging. PFSA concentrations were below their respective limits of detection. Plastic food packaging samples contained ∑PFCA (sum of 9 PFCAs) concentrations an order of magnitude higher (range:

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