Contamination profiles of legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in various vegetable oils collected in Chinese markets.

Dietary intake is one of the major sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in humans. In this study, 96 samples encompassing 11 types of vegetable oils collected in Chinese markets were analyzed for 37 PFAS using a combined liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction protocol, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Short-chain (CF2 < 7) and emerging PFAS were predominant in all oils, with a total (ΣPFAS) concentration range of < 0.00723-1454 pg/g. The concentrations of ΣPFAS in sunflower oil, camellia oil, and sesame oil were higher than those in other types of oils. Alternative PFAS, 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) were detected for the first time in edible oils, with maximum concentrations of 1438 pg/g and 182 pg/g, respectively. Highly refined oils contained higher average concentrations of short-chain and emerging PFAS than less refined oils, indicating that the importance of considering the impact of refining processes on PFAS contamination profiles. Meanwhile, different oil processing methods had different effects on the presence of PFAS in the oils. All estimated daily intakes of PFAS through oils for Chinese population were below the tolerable intake levels.