Per and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) Testing

Per and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) belong to a broad group of chemicals characterized by a fully fluorinated hydrophobic carbon chain bonded to diverse hydrophilic heads.

PFAS have unique characteristics such as chemical and thermal stability and can lower surface tension. These characteristics make PFAS very useful in various applications, such as, food packaging materials, fire-fighting foams, fat and water repellents for paper, leather and textile treatment, performance chemicals and in the production of fluorinated polymers.

PFAS Chemistry and Adverse Health Effects

Additionally, PFAS can be classified as a type of persistent organic pollutant (POPs) as they are very resistant to decomposition. Due to their toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation potential, PFAS are considered global environmental pollutants. Besides the environment, the food chain represents another source of exposure, and the risk to consumers related to the presence of PFAS in foods has recently become of increased interest.

Products Potentially Containing PFAS

Due to their characteristics of persistence and toxicity, PFAS are very harmful to human health (some are classified as poisons, others as carcinogens) and the environment. PFAS accumulate in living organisms, they are present in the atmosphere, air, and water, and their transmission is also due to their migratory nature. The danger from PFAS lies in their growing concentration in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

The following products are vulnerable to PFAS contamination. Cotecna laboratories are equipped to detect PFAS to ensure product safety.

• Food and feed products
• Food contact materials like non-stick cookware
• Water- and stain-resistant fabrics (e.g., waterproof clothing, upholstery, carpets)
• Food packaging materials (e.g., microwave popcorn bags, pizza boxes, fast food wrappers)
• Firefighting foam (particularly Aqueous Film-Forming Foam, or AFFF)
• Waterproofing sprays and treatments
• Cosmetics (e.g., foundation, mascara, nail polish)
• Cleaning products
• Polishes and waxes

PFAS are also used in industrial applications such as electronic manufacturing, hydraulic fluids, and oil recovery processes.

PFAS Detection

To help mitigate the risk to health and the environment, governments are increasingly regulating the acceptable levels of PFAS in various products. The European Union, for example, has passed several regulations and legislature to regulate the use of PFAS in food and feed products.

To meet regulatory and safety standards, Cotecna laboratories use advanced equipment and methodologies to test for PFAS. We utilize highly sensitive and selective analytical techniques for the determination of organic micropollutants at the ultra-trace-level. Cotecna laboratories exclusively use LC-MS/MS applications for PFAS detection.

Our laboratories

The following Cotecna laboratories specialize in PFAS testing

• Neotron
• NofaLab
• Wimpey Laboratories