Occurrence and risk assessments of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in tea bags from India

The presence of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment continues to raise safety concerns due to their widespread presence, durability, ability to accumulate in the body, and potential health effects at low concentrations. Given the widespread consumption of tea, it is important to understand if it could be a source of PFAS exposure. In this study, 108 tea bag samples were collected from the Indian market and analyzed for the presence of 12 PFAS using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The results showed that 90% of the samples contained detectable levels of PFAS, with concentrations ranging from <LOD to 109.02 ng/g. The most commonly found PFAS were PFOS, PFHxS, and PFuNA. The estimated daily intake of PFAS based on these concentrations was calculated to be between 0.003 ng kg-1 d-1 and 1.40 ng kg- 1 d-1. As tea is consumed daily, there is a probability that a considerable amount of PFOS, PFHxS, and PFuNA could be absorbed into the body. This study is crucial as it provides valuable insights into the potential health hazards associated with long-term exposure to PFOS, PFHxS, and PFuNA in India. Furthermore, the study highlights the need for continued monitoring and assessment of PFAS levels in commonly consumed products to ensure the population's safety.