Professor Kenneth Leung Featured by Television Broadcasts on Food Safety and Sustainability

Professor Kenneth Leung Mei‑yee, BBS, JP, Affiliate Professor of the School of Energy and Environment (SEE) and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), was recently interviewed by Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB), Hong Kong’s leading broadcaster, to share expert insights on food safety and environmental sustainability.

In the interview, Prof. Leung presented findings from a collaborative study conducted with the Southern University of Science and Technology in the Chinese Mainland. The research revealed that certain marine fish species commonly consumed in Hong Kong, including Blackspot threadfin (Polydactylus sextarius), Daggertooth pike conger (Muraenesox cinereus), Indian thryssa (Thryssa kammalensis), and Burrowing goby (Trypauchen vagina), contain relatively high concentrations of PFAS. Popular fish such as salmon, cod, tuna, and swordfish were also found to exhibit elevated PFAS levels.

Prof. Leung further noted that higher concentrations of pollutants are often found at the upper levels of the food chain. However, he reassured the public that as long as people avoid long‑term dependence on a single fish species, the overall food safety risk remains relatively low. He explained that, according to international food safety standards, a 60‑kilogram adult should not consume more than 180 nanograms of PFAS per day. For example, Trypauchen vagina contains 4.24 nanograms of PFAS per gram, meaning daily intake should not exceed approximately 42 grams of fish meat.

The study, published in the international journal Science, further advises that vulnerable groups, including the elderly, pregnant women, young children, and individuals with chronic illnesses, should exercise greater caution and reduce consumption of fish species with higher PFAS concentrations to minimize potential health risks.