Optimised analytical method for per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS)
Achievable limits of quantification significantly reduced
Apr 2021. With an optimised and even more sensitive analytical method for the determination of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), a group of currently much-discussed environmental contaminants, Eurofins now supports you in the monitoring of food, feed and biota.
Even more sensitive analyses for PFAS in response to EFSA's demands
Not only since the toxicological re-evaluation of tolerable intake levels for the two most important representatives of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) (perfluoroctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA)) by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) this group of environmental contaminants is under the focus of risk managers, environmental authorities, official food and feed monitoring and producers.
In its opinion of 2020, EFSA once again highlighted the need for more sensitive analytical methods for PFAS in food. Eurofins keeps a close look on developments with regard to environmental contaminants in its Competence Center for Dioxins & Persistent Organic Compounds and is constantly working on improving existing analytical methods for the determination of PFAS.
After the limits of quantification for numerous parameters had already been reduced at the beginning of 2020, Eurofins has now successfully established an optimised method with even lower limits of quantification for these substances. This significant improvement allows for a more sensitive monitoring of PFAS in food, feed and biota samples.
The new low limits of quantification for PFAS at a glance for you
The limits of quantification that can now be achieved are listed in the following table in comparison to the previous ones.
|
Class |
Skeleton |
Parameter |
Limit of quantification until March 2021 |
Limit of quantification since March 2021 |
|
PFCAs |
C4 |
Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) |
0.5 µg/kg |
0.3 µg/kg |
|
C5 |
Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) |
0.5 µg/kg |
0.3 µg/kg |
|
|
C6 |
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) |
0.3 µg/kg |
0.1 µg/kg |
|
|
C7 |
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) |
0.3 µg/kg |
0.1 µg/kg |
|
|
C8 |
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) |
0.5 µg/kg |
0.3 µg/kg |
|
|
C9 |
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) |
0.3 µg/kg |
0.3 µg/kg |
|
|
C10 |
Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) |
0.3 µg/kg |
0.1 µg/kg |
|
|
C11 |
Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) |
0.3 µg/kg |
0.1 µg/kg |
|
|
C12 |
Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) |
0.3 µg/kg |
0.1 µg/kg |
|
|
C13 |
Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrA) |
0.3 µg/kg |
0.3 µg/kg |
|
|
C14 |
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA) |
0.3 µg/kg |
0,3 µg/kg |
|
|
PFSAs |
C4 |
Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) |
0.3 µg/kg |
0.1 µg/kg |
|
C5 |
Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) |
0.3 µg/kg |
0.1 µg/kg |
|
|
C6 |
Perfluorhexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) |
0.3 µg/kg |
0.1 µg/kg |
|
|
C7 |
Perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS) |
0.3 µg/kg |
0.1 µg/kg |
|
|
C8 |
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) |
0.3 µg/kg |
0.1 µg/kg |
|
|
C10 |
Perfluorodecane sulfonate (PFDS) |
0.3 µg/kg |
0.1 µg/kg |
|
|
FOSAs |
C8 |
Perfluorooctane-sulfonamide (PFOSA) |
0.5 µg/kg |
0.3 µg/kg |
|
C8+1 |
N-Methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamide (N-MeFOSA) |
1 µg/kg |
1 µg/kg |
|
|
C8+2 |
N-Ethyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamide (N-EtFOSA) |
1 µg/kg |
1 µg/kg |
|
|
FOSEs |
C8+1 |
N-Methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido ethanol (N-MeFOSE) |
1 µg/kg |
1 µg/kg |
|
C8+2 |
N-Ethyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido ethanol (N-EtFOSE) |
1 µg/kg |
1 µg/kg |
|
|
FOSAAs |
C8+1 |
N-Methylperfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (N-MeFOSAA) |
1 µg/kg |
1 µg/kg |
|
C8+2 |
N-Ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (N-EtFOSAA) |
1 µg/kg |
1 µg/kg |
|
|
FTSs |
C6 |
4:2 Fluortelomer sulfonate (4:2 FTS) (H4PFHxS) |
0.3 µg/kg |
0.1 µg/kg |
|
C8 |
6:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) (H4PFOS) |
0.3 µg/kg |
0.3 µg/kg |
|
|
C10 |
8:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonate (8:2 FTS) |
0.3 µg/kg |
0.3 µg/kg |
|
|
C12 |
10:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonate (10:2 FTS) |
0.5 µg/kg |
0.5 µg/kg |
|
|
Others |
C7 |
7H-Dodecafluoroheptanoic acid (HPFHpA) |
1 µg/kg |
1 µg/kg |
|
C8+2 |
Perfluoro-3,7-dimethyloctane acid (PF-3,7-DMOA) |
1 µg/kg |
0.1 µg/kg |
|
|
C10 |
2H,2H-Perfluorodecane acid (H2PFDA) |
1 µg/kg |
1 µg/kg |
|
|
C11 |
2H,2H,3H,3H-Perfluoroundecane acid (H4PFUnA) |
1 µg/kg |
0.3 µg/kg |
PFCAPFCAs: Perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acids, PFASs: Perfluoroalkylsulfonates, FOSAs: Perfluorooctane sulfonamides, FOSEs: Perfluorooctane sulfonamido ethanols, FOSAAs: Perfluorooctane sulfonamidoacetic acids, FTSs: Telomer Sulfonates
Analysis and consulting on environmental contaminants in food and feed products
Do you have any questions regarding persistent organic pollutants (POPs) like PFAS or our analytical methods? Please do not hesitate to turn to your personal account manager or contact our experts directly.
