Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continue to present significant analytical, treatment, and regulatory challenges for safe drinking water assurance. While various efforts have focused on a defined group of legacy PFAS, ultrashort-chain PFAS with three or fewer carbon atoms have emerged as widespread aquatic contaminants. These emerging PFAS, including growingly concerned trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) with wide ranges of industrial applications over multiple decades, are highly acidic, water soluble, mobile, and persistent in the environment. TFA has been detected at elevated levels and rates in drinking water and human blood serum worldwide. In addition to its evolving evidence of liver toxicity, impaired fertility, and developmental abnormalities, TFA is also resistant to common water treatment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently included seven ultrashort-chain PFAS in the proposed Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) over a monitoring period of 2028 to 2030.
This webinar will present whether emerging ultrashort-chain PFAS occur independently or co-occur with legacy PFAS routinely detected in drinking water. The presentation will examine analytical approaches for measuring these contaminants in representative drinking water and bottled water. Analytical discussion will be emphasized on how differences in chemical properties can influence method procedures and performance including sample preparation, chromatographic separation, mass-spectrometric detection, and matrix effects relevant to ultrashort-chain PFAS. The discussion regarding occurrence of legacy PFAS will include the important national occurrence data generated in the ongoing UCMR 5 and provide an expanding foundation for understanding PFAS occurrence, geographic patterns, and potential sources. The discussion regarding occurrence of emerging ultrashort-chain PFAS will be placed in the development of UCMR 6. The research findings will reveal the occurrence levels and rates of emerging ultrashort-chain PFAS in potable water and their co-occurrence alongside more routinely measured legacy PFAS.
Length: 60 minutes
Presenters: Yongtao (Bruce) Li - Eurofins Environment Testing