Occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in commercially available bottled drinking water in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants of increasing concern due to their widespread occurrence, environmental persistence, and potential adverse health effects. Monitoring PFAS in drinking water is important for consumer safety and quality assurance, particularly because water is consumed directly and is widely used as an ingredient or processing medium in foods and beverages. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and concentrations of selected PFAS in commercially available bottled drinking water in Saudi Arabia and to provide preliminary regional data relevant to contaminant surveillance and exposure assessment. Methods: Nineteen commercially available bottled drinking-water brands were purchased from retail markets in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and analyzed for selected PFAS using solid-phase extraction coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS/MS), based on U.S. EPA Method 537.1. Analytical performance was evaluated through calibration linearity, repeatability, recovery, limits of detection and quantification, and quality-control samples. The analytical procedure provided adequate performance for several target PFAS, although variable recoveries were observed for some analytes and were considered when interpreting the reported concentrations. Results: PFAS were detected in the majority of the analyzed bottled-water samples at low and variable concentrations, with eight PFAS compounds detected across the sample set. One sample contained perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) at 59.390 ng/L, exceeding the U.S. EPA maximum contaminant level used as the regulatory comparison benchmark in this study. Conclusions: The occurrence of PFAS in the majority of the analyzed bottled-water samples highlights the importance of continued surveillance of persistent contaminants in drinking water. The findings provide preliminary regional evidence that may support future PFAS monitoring, exposure and risk-assessment efforts, and water-quality assurance initiatives relevant to consumer and food safety. Novelty: The principal contribution of this study is the generation of regional occurrence data on PFAS in commercially available bottled drinking water in Saudi Arabia, rather than the development of a new analytical method. These data help address the limited information available on PFAS occurrence in bottled drinking water in the region and provide a basis for future monitoring and exposure-assessment efforts. Keywords: PFAS; bottled drinking water; Saudi Arabia; PFOA; LC-MS/MS; contaminant monitoring; water quality; consumer safety