Professor Kenneth Leung, BBS, JP, Co authors Science Paper on Global Food Safety Risks
Prof. Kenneth Leung, BBS, JP, Affiliate Professor of the School of Energy and Environment (SEE) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), has recently co‑authored a research paper entitled “Risks of per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure through marine fish consumption”, published in Science, one of the world’s most prestigious peer‑reviewed scientific journals. The research was jointly led by Prof. Qiu Wenhui and Prof. Zheng Chunmiao, from the School of Environmental Science and Engineering at Southern University of Science and Technology in the Chinese Mainland.
The study, conducted in collaboration with an international research team, identifies a correlation between the global contamination of per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in widely consumed edible marine fish and the associated risks to human health. PFAS are synthetic chemicals widely used in industrial and consumer products, and they are known for their persistence in the environment. The findings demonstrate that PFAS contamination in marine fish is a global issue, with risks transferred across borders through the international fish trade. This means that even regions with relatively low local pollution may face elevated exposure risks through imported seafood.
Prof. Leung and his team at CityUHK, including Prof. Ruan Yuefei and Dr. Wang Qi, conducted tests on local fish species commonly caught in Hong Kong waters. While overall PFAS exposure risks from local fish remain low, several species were found to contain relatively high PFAS concentrations, including:
- Blackspot threadfin (Polydactylus sextarius)
- Daggertooth pike conger (Muraenesox cinereus)
- Indian thryssa (Thryssa kammalensis)
- Burrowing goby (Trypauchen vagina)
Prof. Leung emphasized that predatory species at high trophic levels, high‑fat species, and bottom‑dwelling species tend to pose greater PFAS‑exposure risks. He advised that vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, young children, and individuals with chronic illnesses should be especially cautious when choosing seafood. Maintaining a balanced diet and limiting consumption of fish species known to have elevated PFAS levels can help minimize potential health risks.
This collaborative study provides critical evidence of the global food‑safety risks posed by PFAS contamination in marine fish. By contributing to this important international research, Prof. Leung and his team have advanced scientific understanding that will inform public health awareness and seafood consumption practices.
The full article is available in Science at: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adr0351.