Food risk assessment for perfluoroalkyl acids and brominated flame retardants in the French population: Results from the second French total diet study

• Contaminations of PFAAs and BFRs in foods representing French population habits.
• Exposures to PFAAs and BFRs lower than those reported elsewhere in Europe.
• Dietary exposures to PFAAs and BFRs revealed no risk for these compounds.

To determine the exposure of the French population to toxic compounds contaminating the food chain, a total diet study was performed in France between 2007 and 2009. This study was designed to reflect the consumption habits of the French population and covered the most important foods in terms of consumption, selected nutrients and contribution to contamination. Based on French consumption data, the present study reports the dietary exposure to perfluoroalkyl acids (16 congeners) and brominated flame retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers, hexabromocyclododecane and polybrominated biphenyls). Comparison of the calculated dietary exposures with the generally accepted health-based guidance values revealed that most compounds do not pose any risk. There are however knowledge gaps for some congeners in these large chemical classes.