(P17-004-25) Analysis of Regional Differences in Dietary Intake and Blood Perfluorinated Compounds Exposure in the General Adult Aged 50 and Older in South Korea

Objectives: Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are widely ingested, administered, and inhaled, leading to growing public concern regarding their potential risks. This study conducted human biomonitoring to assess blood exposure to PFCs in adult men and women aged 50 and older in Korea.

Methods: A survey was conducted from May to September 2023 targeting individuals aged 50 and older across the country. The survey items included body measurements, blood, lifestyle habits (drinking, smoking, exercise, etc.) and dietary intake evaluation. The dietary survey used a 24-hour recall method and was conducted twice, face-to-face and by telephone. The collected data was converted into usable data using the CAN Pro 6.0 program, developed by the Korean Nutrition Society.

Results: A total of 387 subjects (167 men, 220 women), with an average age of 63.5 years, were examined for differences in blood PFCs concentrations and regional differences. The concentrations of short-chain PFCs were low in the Gyeonggi and Gangwon regions (p < 0.05, p< 0.05), while the concentrations of long-chain PFCs were high in the Gyeongsang region (p < .0001). On the other hand, the concentrations of long-chain PFCs were low in the Jeolla region (p < 0.01). As a result of analyzing this with food group intake, in the case of subjects with high exposure to long-chain PFCs(PFOA, PFOS, PENA, PEDA) in the blood, vegetable (p < 0.01) and seafood (p < 0.01) intake showed a positive correlation compared to subjects with low exposure to long-chain PFCs in the blood.The analysis results of blood perfluorinated compound exposure and food groups by region confirmed that the concentration of PFOS in the Chungcheong region was unusually high compared to other regions, which was related to the high intake of vegetables.

Conclusions: The conclusion of this study is that the relationship between PFCs in blood of subjects and food groups by region showed a significant correlation, and long-chain compounds showed more significant results than short-chain compounds. It suggests that regional differences in dietary intake can affect exposure to PFCs, and it confirmed that regional dietary factors are an important part of exposure to PFCs. Based on this, it suggests that customized dietary improvement by region is necessary to reduce exposure to PFCs.

Funding Sources: This research was supported by a grant from Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2023.