PFAS Testing

Element performs PFAS testing to precisely measure their presence in water, soil, waste products, foams, concrete and more. Our team support you by identifying PFAS compounds in parts per trillion to mitigate environmental contamination and protect human health.

What is PFAS?

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of synthetic organofluorine chemicals that have been widely used in industry and manufacturing since the 1940s, including applications such as non-stick cookware, stain-repellent clothing, fast food packaging, cosmetic make-up, and firefighting foams. They are found at many manufacturing and waste/wastewater treatment facilities as well as in the wider environment.

All PFAS have at least one fully fluorinated methyl (–CF3) or methylene (–CF2–) group, with the carbon-fluorine bonds (C–F) imparting high thermal stability and resistance to degradation, making them useful in a wide variety of products.

Why test for PFAS?

PFAS compounds are persistent and bio-accumulative, meaning they do not break down in the environment, and can readily migrate to the air, water, soil, and food. They are often known as 'forever chemicals' and are attracting widespread interest due to their harmful effects on human health.

As awareness in PFAS compounds emerged, regulatory interest often focused on Perfluorooctanesulphonic Acid (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), two of the most used PFAS substances. However there are >5,000 known PFAS and regulatory scope, customer demand and analysis capabilities, are expanding rapidly.

Key Benefits of PFAS testing with Element

• Comprehensive Analysis: Element provides PFAS testing across diverse samples, including water, soil, air, consumer products, and more.
• Low-Level Detection: Utilizing advanced technology, Element achieves detection levels in the parts per trillion range, ensuring precise identification even at trace concentrations.
• Regulatory Adherence: All testing follows USEPA methodologies, with ISO17025 accreditation for low-level PFAS testing in drinking water, as well as wastewater, soils, and other environmental matrices, ensuring compliance with recognized standards.
• Targeted Substance List: Element tests for up to 50 substances, aligning with US EPA, Health Canada, EU Drinking Water Directive and DWI requirements, meeting both regulatory and client-specific needs. We offer customized method development to identify PFAS substances not on target lists.
• State-of-the-Art Equipment: Recent investment in advanced equipment, like the Agilent 1290 HPLC 6495 Triple Quadrupole MS, ensures accurate results. Our laboratories are ISO 17025 accredited, enhancing the reliability of results.

Our testing capabilities

We work closely with customers to deliver on the analyses to quantify PFAS compounds in the parts per trillion range. All testing is based on USEPA methodologies, samples include:

• Water
• Soil
• Waste products
• Firefighting foams
• Concrete

Element has offered PFAS testing by liquid chromatography, coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, since 2015. Element's Deeside (UK) laboratory has recently invested in an Agilent 1290 HPLC 6495 Triple Quadrupole MS, which can achieve the required regulatory detection levels without requirement for additional sample preparation. Deeside holds ISO17025 accreditation for the testing of Low Level PFAS in waters.

Element's Fort Wayne (US) facility has built an isolated PFAS laboratory with multiple state of the art Agilent HPLC triple quadropole MS instruments as well as Biotage automated extraction equipment. Fort Wayne is ISO 17025 and NELAP accredited in multiple environmental matrices, offering rapid and low-level analysis.

PFAS compounds need to be quantified in the parts per trillion range, requiring highly sensitive testing methodologies. Our team are experienced in meeting these stringent detection levels. In addition, we also offer the Total Oxidisable Precursor Assay, or ‘TOP’ assay. This can be performed on soils, waters, and fire-fighting foams, and is a more comprehensive analysis technique for identifying the presence of some other PFAS or precursors not included in the target list.