Monitoring and Occurrence of PFAS in Drinking Water | AAAS EPI Center
present, most analytical methods target a set of fewer than 40 individual PFAS chemicals, whereas thousands of PFAS exist and at least 600 are used in industrial and consumer product applications 12 . Table 2 presents EPA-validated laboratory methods that can be used to measure PFAS levels, along with the number of compounds that can be analyzed, applicable sample matrices, and detection limits. Detection limits vary among different individual PFAS and laboratories. EPA Method 537 was published in 2009 as the first procedure for measuring PFAS in drinking water, and this method was used during UCMR 3. EPA has since published additional methods to measure additional compounds. With EPA Methods 537.1 and 533, a total of 29 short- and long-chain PFAS can be measured 13 . Table 2 - EPA-Validated PFAS Laboratory Methods
LOWEST CONCENTRATION MINIMUM REPORTING LEVEL (LCMRL)*
APPLICABLE SAMPLE MATRICES
NUMBER OF PFAS ANALYZED
METHOD
BENEFITS/CHALLENGES
Higher detection limits than newer drinking water methods, effective capture of long-chain PFAS, partial capture of short- chain PFAS Lower detection limits than Method 537, ability to measure four additional PFAS Effective capture of short-chain PFAS Ability to measure PFAS in more complex aqueous matrices, high detection limits that make the method more useful as a screening method
EPA METHOD 537 16 EPA METHOD 537.1 14 EPA METHOD 533 17 EPA METHOD 8327 18
Drinking water
14
2.9 to 14 ng/L
Drinking water
18
0.53 to 6.3 ng/L
Drinking water
26
1.4 to 16 ng/L
Surface water, groundwater, wastewater
24
In development
*Considers both accuracy and precision of analytical method – based on the lowest true concentration for which future recovery is predicted to fall, with high confidence (99%), between 50% and 150% Useful Tips for PFAS Sampling When sampling water for PFAS analysis, care must be taken to prevent contamination, as many materials can skew results. Specific procedures must be followed, which include avoiding the use and wear of everyday materials that contain PFAS such as insect repellent, sunscreen, Tyvek boot covers, water- or stain- resistant clothing including some rain jackets, sharpies, plastic clipboards, cosmetics, and waterproof
18
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