Citation:

Liu, X. AND Z. Robbins. ASTM Standard Test Method for Determination of Fluorotelomer Alcohols in Air by Thermal Desorption - Gas Chromatography Triple Quadrupole Tandem Mass Spectrometry. U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC, 2023.

Impact/Purpose:

Elevated levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) widely detected in consumer products, building materials, indoor air, and house dust underscore the relevance of the indoor environment to human exposure. Another source of PFAS in the indoor environment is through vapor intrusion from PFAS contaminated subsurface vapor sources. Reliable experimental measurements for emissions of PFAS into the indoor environment are critical for understanding how PFAS move through the environment to impact people and ecosystems. Whereas there have been PFAS methods developed for water, soils, sediments, biosolids, biota, and outdoor air, there are currently no similar efforts for vapor-phase PFAS in indoor air. Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) are volatile and semivolatile precursors to perfluorinated carboxylic acids and other PFAS. They are widely detected in air. This standard describes a thermal desorption gas chromatography- triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS/MS) method to determine FTOHs in air. The standard can be used for measuring emissions of FTOHs to indoor air and associated environments. The method may be applicable to ambient air.

Description:

It is imperative to develop sampling and analytical methods to characterize FTOHs in indoor air for the development of mass transfer models to quantitatively predict FTOH emissions and transport for exposure assessment and risk management. This standard describes thermal desorption gas chromatography triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS/MS) method for determining fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) concentrations in air. The target FTOHs include 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexan-1-ol (4:2 FTOH; CAS No. 2043-47-2), 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctan-1-ol (6:2 FTOH; CAS No. 647-42-7), 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecan-1-ol (8:2 FTOH; CAS No. 678-39-7), and 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorododecan-1-ol (10:2 FTOH; CAS No. 865-86-1). The method is primarily focused on FTOHs measurement of air samples collected on TD tubes from emission chambers. It is applicable to samples from indoor air, including in vehicle and workplace, and associated environments, such as bags and bottles. The method may be applied to samples collected from ambient air. This test method will be used in conjunction with approved standard practices for emissions testing and air sampling.

Record Details: