New SGU report on PFAS in groundwater and environmental status classes
In collaboration with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Swe-EPA; NV) and as part of the government assignment regarding PFAS, SGU (Geological Survey of Sweden) has carried out a first screening of PFAS in groundwater. This work has covered areas with no known pollution sources, i.e. that the occurrence of PFAS primarily originates from atmospheric deposition and diffuse spreading. Sampling in 2023 included 174 locations within the station network for national monitoring. A total of 46 different PFAS were analysed, which comprised Swedish Food Agency (SLV) PFAS21 for drinking water and PFAS24 according to SGU FS 2023:1. In addition, five ultrashort PFAS (e.g. trifluoroacetic acid, TFA) were included among those studied. All PFAS analyses were performed by Eurofins.
The overall detection rate of PFAS was 90%, but this percentage was mainly caused by TFA which was found in 153 samples. If this compound was excluded, the frequency was instead reduced to around 30%. Apart from TFA, PFOA, PFHxS, TFMS and PFOS could be detected above the reporting limit (LOQ) relatively often (>20 samples). The highest levels were also observed for TFA with a median level of 190 ng/l and a maximum level of 2700 ng/l. In general, TFA decreased from south to north, an observation that was also made in Eurofins drinking water study (see link). The second highest level was found for another ultrashort PFAS, TFMS (trifluoromethyl sulfonate; 76 ng/l). Among the longer "common" PFAS substances, concentrations up to 8.7 ng/l (PFBA) could be seen, while the median concentrations were typically <LOQ. The PFAS4 limit value for drinking water, 4 ng/l, was exceeded in two samples and the PFAS24 threshold value, 4.4 ng/l PFOA eqv, in three.
SGU summarizes that a diffuse spread of PFAS and then especially TFA occurs and affects groundwater bodies even if the number of exceedances of limit values was low. Further work is recommended to include additional sampling sites, repeated sampling at selected sites to see trends/variation, geographic and statistical analysis.
Environmental status classes for PFAS in groundwater
In addition to the screening report, SGU has also set down status classes for PFAS in groundwater. Classes have been calculated for PFAS24 (SGU FS 2023:1) and PFAS4 (LIVSFS 2022:12). The classes shall form a basis for assessment of chemical groundwater status within the water management. The class intervals are adapted, based on the national data base and have a similar statistical distribution for PFAS4 and 24. If an individual water still ends up in different classes for the two limit values, the highest class must be selected (i.e. "worst case"). It is assessed that total levels near or above class 5 for PFAS4 or 24 (“very high levels”) indicate influence from a local pollution source. It is also emphasized that the new groundwater directive is still under revision and that changes may take place when a final decision is made.
|
Class |
Status |
PFAS24 |
PFAS4 (ng/l) |
|
1 |
Very low level |
<0.3 |
<0.3 |
|
2 |
Low level |
0.3–1 |
0.3–1 |
|
3 |
Moderate level |
1–2 |
1–2 |
|
4 |
High level |
2–4.4 |
2–4 |
|
5 |
Very high level |
≥4.4 |
≥4 |
Eurofins analytical offer
We have a wide range of analytical packages for PFAS in natural waters with low reporting limits. For example, there are both PFAS24 and 30 packages, where the latter covers all the substances included in both PFAS24 and PFAS21 according to SLV (LIVSFS 2022:12) and PFOSA (acc. to DK PFAS22). In addition to our packages with standard LOQ (most substances 0.3 ng/l, PFAS4 0.1 ng/l in some), we offer our "ultralow" packs where many PFAS have an LOQ of 0.02-0.03 ng/l. These packs reach an upper bound (incl LOQ) PFAS24 sum of 1.1 ng/l PFOA eqv (i.e. <30% of limit value). Eurofins can also determine ultrashort PFAS in water including TFA and TFMS. Read more at the links below or search in our online analysis catalogue.
Contact Eurofins experts!
Questions about PFAS can be answered by our analytical advisory service, which can be reached via the customer support, 010-490 8110 or e-mail: sh-analys.miljo.se@etn.eurofins.com
Links:
SGU report (in Swe): https://www.sgu.se/grundvatten/pfas-i-grundvatten/
SGU status classes (in Swe): https://www.sgu.se/anvandarstod-for-geologiska-fragor/bedomningsgrunder-for-grundvatten/grundvattnets-kvalitet--organiska-amnesgrupper/pfas/pfas--gransvarden-och-tillstandsklasser/
Eurofins PFAS water packs: https://www.eurofins.se/about-pfas/analytical-packages/environment/
Eurofins “ultralow” analysis: https://www.eurofins.se/tjaenster/miljoe-och-vatten/nyheter-miljo/new-ultralow-loq-packs-for-pfas24-in-natural-waters/
Eurofins ultrashort PFAS study: https://www.eurofins.se/tjaenster/miljoe-och-vatten/nyheter-miljo/eurofins-study-ultrashort-pfas-in-swedish-and-norwegian-drinking-water/
Eurofins analysis catalogue: https://analyskatalog.eurofins.se/