Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
PFAS is the generic name for organofluorine compounds. PFAS exhibit numerous unique properties, such as water and oil resistance, heat resistance, chemical resistance, and non-absorption of light, that depend on the bond strengths between the fluorine (F) and carbon (C) elements contained in the compound. For these reasons, PFAS are used for a wide range of applications and products, such as water repellents, surface treatment agents, emulsifiers, fire extinguishing agents, and coatings. However, due to the strong bonds between the F and C atoms, PFAS are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” since they are difficult to break down, resulting in environmental persistence and accumulation in living organisms. Some PFAS compounds known to be toxic have been registered as substances covered by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and are now prohibited from being manufactured or used. Given the above circumstances, there is a need for the detection and analysis of PFAS in water, food, soil, and other samples, an analysis that is primarily performed using LC-MS/MS.
To monitor trace amounts of PFAS, a wide variety of factors must be considered, such as the compounds' wide range of chemical properties and potential contamination from equipment and the surrounding environment.
This process requires not only determining appropriate analysis conditions but also analytical expertise.
Tap water and drinking water is typically treated water sourced from rivers and other surface waters. Consequently, if the water source is contaminated, the tap water or drinking water could be contaminated as well.
Therefore, countries and regions have been considering contamination levels and standardized analytical methods for PFAS.
In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published methods 533 and 537.1 as the analytical methods for PFAS in drinking water. In addition, in April 2024, the EPA disclosed their finalized PFAS national primary drinking water regulation. This regulation indicates the maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) as legally enforceable PFAS concentrations in drinking water.
Because PFAS offer a range of useful functions, they are used as coatings for various products. If PFAS are used in a production line process and uncontrolled wastewater from the factory is discharged into the environment, this wastewater could cause environmental pollution. For this reason, it is recommended that factory wastewater be monitored to determine whether it contains PFAS.
Testing methods have been developed for non-potable water, such as factory effluent, as well as for tap and drinking water.
PFAS in the soil can accumulate in humans via agricultural and livestock products, leading to concerns about their potential harmful effect on human health. Furthermore, there are concerns that PFAS in factory gas emissions or other sources can become dispersed in the atmosphere, causing an ongoing broad exposure risk to respiratory systems. Consequently, it is becoming increasingly important to analyze PFAS compounds in matrices other than water samples.
Due to the unique properties of PFAS, they are widely used in food packaging, textiles, household items, and many other products. However, those same properties make them likely to accumulate in humans, animals, and the environment.
Due to the increasing concerns about PFAS exposure to consumers and the environment, extensive investigative studies and research are being conducted on a wide variety of consumer products and food packaging materials.
Because of how PFAS are defined, they include an extremely wide range of compounds. Therefore, the number of compounds covered by various official analytical methods will presumably increase in the future.
One challenge of the expanding number of target compounds will be processing all the peak waveforms in chromatograms. To achieve high analytical throughput and improve the reliability of results, a highly accurate peak integration program is essential. It is also becoming increasingly important to verify the presence of latent and unknown PFAS compounds. That will require screening methods that are highly effective at identifying PFAS.
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Revealing the Invisible Web: Solutions for Efficient PFAS Analysis
This video explores how innovative technology can help break the cycle of PFAS accumulation. Whether you're a laboratory professional, environmental scientist, food safety expert or regulatory official, this video provides valuable insights into effective PFAS detection and management strategies.