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Evaluation of sheep exposure to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances through hair sample analysis Cover

Evaluation of sheep exposure to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances through hair sample analysis

Journal of Veterinary Research
Volume 69 (2025): Issue 2 (June 2025)
By: Sławomir Gonkowski,  Julia Martín,  Nariste Kadyralieva,  Irene Aparicio,  Juan Luis Santos and  Esteban Alonso  
Open Access
|Apr 2025
Figures & tables

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1.

Sources of sheep’s exposure to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances

Fig. 2.

Mean concentration levels (± standard deviation) of perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBuA), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in sheep hair samples from the Kyrgyz Republic Alamedin (1) and Sokuluk (2) regions. * – P-value < 0.05; *** – P-value < 0.001; **** – P-value < 0.0001

Concentration levels (ng/g), frequency of detection (%), method detection limit (MDL (ng/g)) and method quantification limit (MQL (ng/g)) of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (n = 50) – cumulative data from hair samples of Kyrgyz Republic sheep

CompoundRangeArithmetic meanGeometric mean25th percentileMedian75th percentileSamples >MDL (%)MDLSamples >MQL (%)MQL
PFBuA0.95–14.182.24 ± 2.341.791.251.542.301000.301000.90
PFPeA0.99–27.905.55 ± 4.544.503.334.185.851000.201000.60
PFHxA< MQL–3.871.06 ± 0.780.82<MQL0.881.441000.20700.60
PFHpA<MQL–4.321.02 ± 0.760.78<MQL<MQL0.951000.20640.60
PFOA<MQL–2.670.87 ± 0.680.65<MQL0.801.211000.20520.60
PFOS<MQL–3.36<MQL<MQL<MQL<MQL<MQL1000.2040.60

The poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances observed in selected previous hair sample studies and included in this Kyrgyz Republic sheep hair sample study

SubstancenRange (pg/mg)Median/mean (pg/mg)1Frequency detection2Reference
Human hair
Belgium
PFPeA114<MQL<MQL/-6.1(4)
PFHxA<MQL–2.4<MQL/-18.4
PFHpA<MQL–1.4<MQL/-4.4
PFOA<MQL–3.4<MQL/-86.8
PFOS<MQL–11.3<MQL/-0.9
China
PFBuA28ND-0(7)
PFPeAND–326-/31.740
PFHxAND–201-/29.273
PFHpAND–68.5-/12.633
PFOA18.3–1390-/277100
PFOS1.01–51.0-/6.76100
South Korea
PFPeA94ND–0.75<MDL/0.4816(14)
PFHxAND–0.14<MDL/0.132
PFHpAND–0.28<MDL/0.1426
PFOA1.3–9.83.2/3.6100
PFOS0.69–154.2/4.8100
Spain
PFBuA425.8–15.57.8/8.914(20)
PFPeA4.6–13.36.8/7.426
PFHxA2.0–10.68.9/8.126
PFHpA0.6–10.12.4/3.186
PFOA0.6–9.51.4/2.057
PFOS0.7–11.01.9/2.776
Dog hair
Poland
PFBuA300.98–26.69.66/11.2100(18)
PFPeA<0.14–15.64.39/5.3196.7
PFHxA<0.14–18.95.92/7.4596.7
PFHpA<0.14–13.21.35/2.1086.7
PFOA1.51–66.717.4/21.2100
PFOS<0.14–1.630.70/0.7686.7
Sheep hair
Kyrgyz Republic
PFBuA500.95–14.81.54/2.24100/1002This study
PFPeA0.99–27.904.18/5.55100/1002
PFHxA<MQL–3.870.88/1.06100/702
PFHpA<MQL–4.32<MQL/0.87100/642
PFOA<MQL–2.670.80/0.87100/522
PFOS<MQL–3.36<MQL/<MQL100/42

Key characteristics of the Kyrgyz Republic regions from which sheep hair was sampled for poly- and perfluoroalkyl substance determination

Region nameAlamedinSokuluk
Area (km2)1,5032,550
Human population in 2024 (in thousands)180.6250.6
Human population density (thousands/km2)0.1200.098
Administrative centreLebedinovkaSokuluk
Distance in the straight line from the centre of Bishkek to administrative centre of the region (km)9.5022.29
Population concentrations51 settlements in 17 rural communities1 town and 68 settlements in 19 rural communities
Number of sheep and goats in 2015 1, 2123,01951,033
Wool production in 2024 (in tonnes)158329.1

Linear range, method detection limits (MDLs), method quantification limits (MQLs), recovery and precision of the selected poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances analysed in hair samples of Kyrgyz Republic sheep

CompoundLinear range (ng/g)MDL (ng/g)MQL (ng/g)Recovery (%)Inter-day precision (RSD %)
Low levelMedium levelHigh level
PFBuA0.9–1000.30.996 ± 399 ± 3100 ± 44
PFPeA0.6–1000.20.693 ± 593 ± 797 ± 53
PFHxA0.6–1000.20.688 ± 792 ± 892 ± 55
PFHpA0.6–1000.20.687 ± 686 ± 690 ± 63
PFOA0.6–1000.20.691 ± 290 ± 295 ± 24
PFOS0.6–1000.20.683 ± 788 ± 589 ± 45

Optimised tandem mass spectrometry parameters for multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) analysis of Kyrgyz Republic sheep hair sampled for poly- and perfluoroalkyl substance determination

CompoundPrecursor ion (m/z)MRM 1a (m/z)MRM 2b (m/z)Fragmentor (V)Collision energy (eV)
PFBuA213169.051.6550
PFPeA263219.089.7550
PFHxA313269.0119.0600
PFHpA363319.0332.8650
PFOA413369.0194.3620
PFOS49980.051.514540
PFOA-13C4417371.9172.0774
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2025-0023 | Journal eISSN: 2450-8608
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Language: English
Page range: 285 - 292
Submitted on: Nov 7, 2024
Accepted on: Mar 27, 2025
Published on: Apr 4, 2025
Published by: National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year
Keywords:
endocrine disruptors,
exposure,
farm animals,
hair,
wool
Related subjects:
Life sciences,
Molecular biology,
Microbiology and virology,
Life sciences, other,
Medicine,
Veterinary medicine

© 2025 Sławomir Gonkowski, Julia Martín, Nariste Kadyralieva, Irene Aparicio, Juan Luis Santos, Esteban Alonso, published by National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 69 (2025): Issue 2 (June 2025)
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