Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in indoor dust and food packaging materials in Egypt: Trends in developed and developing countries

PFASs concentrations in dust samples collected from three microenvironments in Cairo ranged from 1.3 to 69 ng g−1 with FTOHs being dominant. The 8:2 FTOH was detected in all samples. Among the FOSAs and FOSEs the MeFOSE was dominant while among ionic PFASs, PFOS and PFOA were most prominent. The concentrations of PFASs were among the lowest worldwide. Correlations between worldwide concentrations of PFOS + PFOA and country development indexes highlight higher usage and human exposure in more developed countries. Food packaging was analyzed for PFSAs, PFCAs and PAPs. The 6:2 and 8:2 monoPAPs were found to be above the MDL in 18% of the samples. PFOA was detected in 79% of the samples with median concentration of 2.40 ng g−1. PFOS was detected in 58% of the samples with median concentration of 0.29 ng g−1 while PFHxS and PFDS were below detection limit. Different human exposure scenarios were estimated. •PFAS levels in home and car dust from Cairo, Egypt among the lowest worldwide.•PFSAs, PFCAs and PAPs were detected in food packaging.•Higher levels of PFOS + PFOA in developed countries evident through HDI correlations.•Human exposure through dust estimated to be below the TDI values of PFOS and PFOA.