You are here:
The ENTAiLS Toolkit: an integrated workflow to perform non-targeted analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
Citation:
Whitehead, H., Tim Buckley, J. Sobus, Jackie Bangma, D. Macmillan, T. Ferland, A. Chao, A. Williams, G. Janesch, R. Poeske, E. Newman, C. Braverman, M. Small, S. Urban, Z. Cao, A. Dahlmeier, S. Saravia, R. Rushing, M. Devault, W. Linck, E. Kalve, D. Schiessel, AND J. McCord. The ENTAiLS Toolkit: an integrated workflow to perform non-targeted analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. Springer, New York, NY, 417:3997-4009, (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-025-05921-0
Impact/Purpose:
Nontargeted analysis is recognized by states and regions as a critical laboratory capability for evaluating and managing the PFAS environmental health threat; the goal of this ROAR collaboration was to evaluate and resolve state/regional barriers to NTA and develop methods and resources for broader NTA adoption. The toolkit provided acts as useful learning material for novice NTA users and as a valuable quick reference material for more experienced users and quality assurance staff. The workflow and associated training materials from this project have been requested by multiple state and federal agencies, including NIEHS, CDC, FDA, Environment Health Canada, and USGS to form the basis for future nontargeted methods and training.
Description:
Environmental health concerns over per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have prompted public health laboratories to pursue monitoring studies determining PFAS occurrences. Select laboratories have begun implementing non-targeted analysis (NTA) methods to address the disparity between the few (< 100) PFAS typically measured using targeted analyses and the thousands of known PFAS. While NTA can provide a more comprehensive understanding of PFAS occurrence, significant barriers prevent its widespread adoption in public health laboratories. Notable barriers include a lack of harmonized guidance, standardized methods, and workflows that enable robust NTA application. EPA's Office of Research and Development has been working to overcome these barriers as part of technical collaborations with state environmental and public health laboratories. As a product of these efforts, ORD has developed the ENTAiLS Toolkit, a publicly available compilation of best practices and an open-source data processing workflow for PFAS NTA studies. The ENTAiLS Toolkit offers NTA practitioners comprehensive guidance and integrated tools that can aid the identification and characterization of PFAS in drinking water resources.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: The ENTAiLS Toolkit: an integrated workflow to perform non-targeted analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40471254/