Measuring PFAS in Water and Soil: Top Questions and Challenges

From nonstick pans to water-repelling clothing and more, PFAS compounds are commonly found in many products and tools we use today. Unfortunately, the production and use of these items can leave a lasting, negative impression on our health and affect our water, air and soil qualities.

Leading experts in PFAS analysis are using combustion ion chromatography (CIC), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and accelerated solvent extraction with solid phase extraction (SPE) cleanup to measure and recover PFAS from the environment.

To move forward in effective PFAS recovery, labs want to know:

What are the most sensitive methods of detecting PFAS compounds in water and soil?
Which EPA method for quantifying PFAS is best for your organic sample?
What are the most effective techniques for avoiding PFAS contamination from labware and instrumentation?
Which sample treatments enable the best PFAS recovery?
How are other labs sampling, extracting, and analyzing PFAS pollutants with CIC, LC-MS and SPE methods?

These are the very questions answered during our scientific roundtable titled In deep water with PFAS.

In case you missed the discussion, you may want to tune in to the recording.

This session featured three panelists — all experts in the field of PFAS analyses:

Dr. Susan Richardson, Arthur Sease Williams Professor of Chemistry, University of Southern California
Kevin Mchale, Staff Scientist, Field Applications, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Dr. Carl Fisher, Product Marketing Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific

During the discussion, the panelists covered five hot topics: