Abstract:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), particularly the four key compounds
PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, and PFOS (PFAS4), are highly persistent synthetic pollutants
with strong bioaccumulative potential. These compounds have documented
adverse health effects, including immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, and developmental
impacts. Global evidence indicates that PFAS contamination in
animal-source foods—such as milk, eggs, and meat—is more prevalent near industrial
or firefighting-related hotspots, driven by exposure through contaminated
water, feed, and soil. Concentrations exceeding regulatory thresholds have been
reported globally, with PFOS and PFOA frequently dominating contamination
profiles. Currently, there are no guidelines for livestock feed, soil, or drinking
water for livestock, which complicates exposure assessments in food production
systems. To date, no published data exist on PFAS levels in Sri Lankan livestock
or animal-source foods. This review synthesizes international findings to identify
potential exposure pathways and risks relevant to Sri Lanka’s smallholders
and other vulnerable livestock production systems, where reliance on groundwater
and imported feed may heighten vulnerability. The study emphasizes the urgent
need for a national PFAS monitoring and management strategy, incorporating
hotspot mapping, routine testing, regulatory limit setting, and farmer training to
safeguard food safety and public health in Sri Lanka. In the absence of locally
available or affordable analytical capabilities, insights from international experiences
in similar contamination contexts can serve as a practical foundation for
developing effective initial risk assessment and mitigation approaches. Looking
ahead, investing in national analytical capacity, digital surveillance tools, and predictive
modeling could enable Sri Lanka to move toward proactive, data-driven
approaches to managing emerging contaminants like PFAS.
