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A Review of Sample Collection, Analytical Methods, and Distribution of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Indoor and Outdoor Air
Citation:
Wallace, M., M. Smeltz, J. Mattila, H. Liberatore, S. Jackson, E. Shields, X. Xhani, E. Li, AND J. Johansson. A Review of Sample Collection, Analytical Methods, and Distribution of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Indoor and Outdoor Air. CHEMOSPHERE. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, , na, (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142129
Impact/Purpose:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a unique class of chemicals synthesized to aid in industrial processes and to benefit consumer products such as clothing, cosmetics, and fire-fighting products. The widespread use of PFAS and their stability has led to their ubiquitous presence throughout the world. Due to the potential health concerns of some PFAS, research has extensively focused on water, soil, and organismal detection, but the presence of PFAS in the air has become an area of growing concern. Research has provided thorough methods of polar PFAS, while the investigation of the speciation and quantitation of polar and nonpolar PFAS in air is still in its early development. This literature review aims to present the last two decades of research characterizing PFAS in outdoor and indoor air, focusing on active and passive sampling and analytical methods totaling over 80 publications. Most active air sampling studies use high volume-active air sampling (HV-AAS) with polyurethane foam (PUF)/XAD sorbents for volatile sampling and glass fiber filters (GFF) or quartz fiber filters (QFF) for particle sampling, while passive analyses often employ sorbent impregnated PUF-passive air sampling (SIP-PAS). The PFAS classes targeted and detected in air samples include fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (FASAs), perfluoroalkane sulfonamido ethanols (FASEs), perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs), and perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSAs). Although the manufacturing of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) has ceased, these two PFAS are often detected in air samples. The diversity and extensive number of PFAS warrants additional air sampling methods to fully characterize this fluorinated class, an area of research that will hopefully become a new focus in the evolving investigation of PFAS in the environment.
Description:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmental contaminants generated through industrial processes such as chemical manufacturing and are present in many consumer products. While methods have been developed for PFAS analysis in water and soil samples, there are limited methods for PFAS detection in air. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently investigating analytical methods for sampling and analysis of PFAS compounds in air, but some important questions regarding air sampling have arisen. This journal article will be a review of PFAS compounds detected in indoor and outdoor air over the past 20 years. Sampling methods, instrumental methods, solvents used for extractions, and sampling locations will be included in the discussion. This information will be used to inform target compounds for TD-GC/MS method development and PFAS passive sampling investigation.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: A Review of Sample Collection, Analytical Methods, and Distribution of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Indoor and Outdoor Air