PFAS in Food, Fish, Livestock, and Gardens

Fish

Fish can become contaminated when there are PFAS chemicals in the water they live in. Fish can also be exposed if PFAS are in sediments (very small pieces of rock, minerals, or remains of plants and animals) in water, and in foams on the water’s surface. We can be exposed to PFAS chemicals if we eat contaminated fish.   

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has fish advisories on several lakes in the state. “Fish advisories” are health recommendations issued by DOH about how much of certain types of fish is safe to eat from different bodies of water. For information on current fish advisories in Washington, visit DOH’s Fish Advisory webpage.    

Continue to eat fish at recommended safety levels. Fish has many health benefits. Ways to reduce your exposure to PFAS chemicals in fish from lakes and water bodies in Washington: 

• Eat a variety of fish caught from different sources.
• Follow fish advisories.  

Store-bought fin fish (fish that swim and have fins on their backs) have been shown to be safe to eat, Evaluation of PFAS in Commercial Fish Tissue (PDF). For information on safely eating fish, see our Healthy Fish Guide. 

Additionally, preliminary sampling showed shellfish (like clams and oysters) are safe to eat, Evaluation of PFAS in Crab Tissue (PDF). For information on fishing regulations, see the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishing and shellfishing regulations. 

Currently, there are no PFAS fish advisories for saltwater fish. WDFW and Washington State Department of Ecology continue to monitor saltwater fish and share information with DOH.  

Livestock

Livestock like cows, chickens, ducks, and pigs can swallow PFAS in contaminated drinking water, feed, and soil. When swallowed, PFAS can build up in the animal’s organs, meat, eggs, and milk. We can then be exposed to PFAS when we eat those products.  

Families and individuals who regularly consume livestock or livestock products (like milk, eggs, and cheese) from animals raised with contaminated drinking water, feed, or pasture are at risk for higher exposure to PFAS. To learn more, DOH offered initial testing of home-raised meat and eggs in two communities with PFAS in their well water. We found one type of PFAS chemical, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), most frequently in animal products Chicken eggs were the most likely livestock products to contain detectable levels PFOS.  

There are no PFAS regulations or advisories to guide you in eating and drinking livestock meat and products. However, you can reduce your exposure if you:

• Switch your animals to an alternative source of water. This allows the animals to begin getting rid of the PFAS from their bodies, eggs, and milk. Alternative water options to consider include:  
  • Using irrigation water that has tested free of PFAS for your animals and pasture.  
  • Getting drinking water from a local water filling station 
  • Connecting to a well that is not contaminated.  
  • Using bottled water for small livestock, like chickens.  
  • Installing a Point of Use (POU) Filter certified to lower PFAS levels in water (PDF) on the tap you use for your livestock.
• Avoid eating organ meats. PFAS can build up in the animal’s liver, kidney, and blood. 

There are no current standards for allowable PFAS in commercial food products from animals. If you raise animals and sell meat eggs or dairy products, contact the Washington Department of Agriculture for guidance. Email foodsafety@agr.wa.gov or call 360-902-1876. 

Gardening

Limited information suggests that eating home-raised fruits and vegetables is not a significant source of PFAS exposure when the garden water meets federal or state advisory levels for PFAS chemicals in drinking water. We’re still learning about how much PFAS garden plants might absorb when water levels of PFAS are much higher. 

In general, PFAS from soil or irrigation water can be absorbed through the roots of plants. Some types of PFAS tend to stay in the roots, while other types of PFAS get into shoots, leaves, and fruits more easily. PFAS levels in fruits and vegetables are influenced by plant type, soil conditions, and the amount of PFAS in irrigation water. 

Ways to minimize your exposure to PFAS in home-raised fruits and vegetables: 

• Wash or scrub all dirt off produce before eating to avoid swallowing soil. PFAS may be in soil particles. 
• Peel and wash root vegetables before eating.
• Create new raised beds with soil from an uncontaminated area. Grow your vegetables in these new beds. Do not fill the beds with your current soil.
• Add clean compost or biochar to your garden soil. Increasing the organic content of your garden soil by adding compost or manure can reduce the amount of PFAS your plants pick up from the soil. 
• If your water is contaminated with PFAS, do not use manure from your own animals on your gardens. Animals that drink contaminated water can pass the PFAS out of their body with their manure.  
• Use rainwater or install a PFAS-certified filter (PDF) to remove PFAS from garden irrigation water. 

There are no current standards for allowable PFAS in commercial produce. If you raise and sell crops, contact the Washington State Department of Agriculture for their most updated guidance; or email foodsafety@agr.wa.gov or call 360-902-1876. 

Additional Information  

• PFAS in Drinking Water: Safety Questions about Gardening, Livestock, and Pets (PDF) 
• Coffee and Chat about PFAS and Gardens with DOH’s PFAS Experts (YouTube)