ALS has the expertise, technology, and capacity to perform all analysis for PFAS/PFCs.
Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), formerly referred to as Perfluorochemicals (PFCs), are a class of synthetic compounds widely used in industrial applications that are characterized by a fully fluorinated hydrophobic linear carbon chain attached to a hydrophilic functional group. PFAS' are of interest due to their extreme persistence in the environment, ability to bioaccumulate, toxicity potential, and adverse human health effects.
The chemical structure of PFAS gives them unique properties, such as thermal stability and the ability to repel water and oil, making them useful in a wide variety of industrial and consumer products (fabric stain protectors, waterproofing of fabric, non-stick cookware, food packaging, lubricants, firefighting foams).
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are two of the best known and most studied PFAS. In their ionic form, they are water soluble and can readily migrate from soil to groundwater, where they can be transported long distances. PFOS is the predominant PFAS found in aquatic species around the world.
Other PFAS of environmental concern include Perfluorooctane sulfonamides, sulfonamido ethanols, Fluorotelomer sulfonates, and other forms of Perfluoro carboxylates and Perfluoro sulfonates.
The EPA Science Advisory Board suggests that PFOA is likely to be carcinogenic, and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists has classified PFOA as a Group 3 carcinogen. The U.S. National Health and Nutrition Survey indicates serum PFOA and PFOS are associated with thyroid disease in the U.S. population, and several PFAS are now part of the EPA UCMR-3 list.
ALS utilizes three methods for the analysis of PFAS:
- In-house analytical method for water, soil, sediment, and tissues by LC/MS/MS
- EPA Method 537 selected perfluorinated alkyl acids in Drinking Water by LC/MS/MS
- ASTM D7979-15 PFAS in water, sludge, influent, effluent, and wastewater by LC/MS/MS
|Perfluoro Sulfonates||Initial Name|
& Sulfonamido Ethanols
|Fluorotelomer Sulfonates||Initial Name|
|Sodium 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctane sulfonate||6:2 FTS|
|Sodium 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecane sulfonate||8:2 FTS|