# Assessment of Bioactive Surfactant Levels in Selected Cereal Products
## 3 Results
### Discussion
's work reported that PFBA, on average, contributed 56.5% of the total PFAS concentrations in edible crops [54]. The presence of PFBA and other perfluorolkyls in cereal products may also be explained by the additional processing required to obtain a product intended for human consumption, as well as the migration of PFAS from packaging materials. Nevertheless, PFAS levels, except PFBA, do not seem to be of concern. PFOA was the most frequently detected compound among the five PFAs, but its concentration did not exceed 0.430 ng/g. Similar maximum levels were obtained for both PFPeA and PFIrxA (0.339 ng/g and 0.440 ng/g, respectively). The maximum concentration of PFOS reached the level of 8.39 ng/g, but its detection frequency was lower than 15%. This may be due to the fact that the transfer of PFAS into reproductive and storage organs is comparatively low, as evidenced by some recent studies [54; 55; 56], all of which reported that PFASs have a tendency to concentrate more in the vegetative compartments of plants than in the storage organs. [PERSON] et al. examined the associations between PFAS concentrations in wheat grains with respect to PFAS concentration in the soils where plants were grown [26]. The results obtained by [PERSON] et al. led to the conclusion that PFAS concentration increases with increasing soil contamination. Moreover, bioaccumulation in storage organs did not only occur for C4-C7 perfluoroalkyls but also for longer-chain PFASs (\(\geq\)C8). The highest increase in the concentration was recorded for PFPeA and PFBA, and it decreased as carbon chain length increased. These conclusions correspond well with our study. A healthy human diet should mainly include the following: fruit and vegetables, legumes (e.g., lentils and beans), nuts, and whole grains (e.g., unprocessed maize, millet, oats, wheat, and brown rice). Thus, grains and grain products are a necessary part of any healthy diet. Worldwide, cereals account for approximately 50% of plant production. In accordance with OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2021-2030, global cereal production has been increasing in recent years and is projected to increase even more by 2027 [17]. The same trend can be observed for levels of cereal consumption, and demand might surpass supply in this regard [57]. Crop production growth was also observed in Poland over the years 2010-2019 [58]. In the same period, cereal grain consumption in terms of processed products decreased from 108 kg per capita per year in 2010 to 101 kg per capita per year in 2019. Table 6 summarizes the average monthly consumption of selected foodstuffs in households. In most cases (except for pasta, pasta products, groats, and flakes), the consumption level trend is descending. This was the first cross-sectional study covering such a wide range of cereal-based food items. The reported burden of PFAS in cereal products was not very high. Of the ten investigated PFASs, only five were found at detectable levels, but, with the exception of PFBA, these levels were relatively low. Nevertheless, due to the existing TWI (tolerable week intake) levels of PFOA and PFOS, which are currently set at 6 ng/kg bw/week and 13 ng/kg bw/week [59], respectively, even small amounts could pose a threat to public health. Contaminated crops could contribute to human exposure to PFAS through direct ingestion in the form of cereal-based products. Bioconcentration and bioaccumulation of these compounds may lead to an increase in body burden, which may cause toxic effects. Indicating the specific sources of contamination of cereal-based products is not possible due to the substantial variability of the factors that influence PFAS contamination levels (aerial deposition, uptake from crops via soil or water, processing, packaging, and food preparation). Regarding the existing European TWI standards, as well as the results of the current study, PFAS levels, especially PFBA, should be subject to monitoring and evaluation in order to improve knowledge regarding their further environmental dissemination.