The Extraction of PFAS from Produce

Introduction

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of manufactured compounds previously used in many industries because of their favorable properties in stain resistance and flame retardance. However, they have been found to cause ill effects on human health. Their widespread use and resistance to degradation has made testing for these compounds important. Because PFAS can bioaccumulate, there is a need to test for these compounds in produce. Within this work, the PFAS EDGE was used to extract spiked PFAS from cranberries, strawberries, carrots, potatoes, and lettuce. The PFAS EDGE recovered the spiked compounds within the range proposed by the US FDA Method C-010.01 “Determination of 16 Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Food using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).” The EDGE is an excellent choice for laboratories seeking to automate their extracts of PFAS from produce.