A PBK Model for PFAS Transfer from Feed to Fillet in Farmed Atlantic Salmon
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Despite the establishment of maximum limits for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in seafood, no equivalent limits exist for PFAS in fish feed - the primary contamination route in aquaculture. We conducted controlled feeding experiments with Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ), exposing fish to six PFAS congeners (PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, PFDA, PFBS) for 70 days followed by a 56-day depuration phase. Toxicokinetic data were collected across ten tissues including bile. These data were used to develop a physiologically based kinetic (PBK) model incorporating a Dynamic Energy Budget sub-model for salmon growth dynamics, using a Bayesian inference framework. The model accurately reproduced PFAS kinetics across all tissues and was externally validated against EFSA commercial surveillance data. Simulations indicate that current feed contamination levels pose low dietary PFAS exposure risk. This model provides the first species-specific tool for deriving PFAS feed guidance values for Atlantic salmon, directly supporting regulatory decision-making.
