Unveiling per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in edible fish from the North African Mediterranean coast: Concentrations, tissue distribution, and ecological and human health implications

Per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread environmental contaminants, yet data from North Africa remain scarce. Food, particularly fish, is a major pathway for human exposure to PFAS. As fish is an integral component of North African diets, 13 commonly consumed fish species from the Gulf of Tunis and the Gulf of Gabès were analyzed in this study for 46 legacy and emerging PFAS. PFAS occurrence varied by site, tissue, and species, with higher concentrations observed in the Gulf of Tunis, likely reflecting greater anthropogenic pressures. Long-chain PFAS dominated, particularly linear perfluorooctane sulfonate (L-PFOS), which was the most abundant compound. Liver tissues showed higher PFAS concentrations (0.11–9.38 ng g -1 ww) than muscle tissues (<LOD–1.07 ng g -1 ww), consistent with the strong protein-binding affinity of PFAS. PFAS distribution across species was associated with biological characteristics, particularly fish length and weight. Biomagnification of L-PFOS was evident across specific predator–prey associations, with BMFs ranging from 6.94 to 90.5. Estimated daily intakes and hazard ratios for L-PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA indicated a low estimated health risk for the general population under the assumptions considered in this study. However, individuals with high fish‑consumption rates, such as fishermen and residents of coastal communities, may face elevated risks, particularly when consuming large quantities of some species like garfish.