New “ultralow LOQ” packs for PFAS24 in natural waters

The proposed revision of the water (WFD) and groundwater directives (GWD; COM(2022) 540 final) was published in the autumn of 2022. For both directives 24 PFAS were suggested as (environmental) quality standards (EQS/QS) calculated on the basis of drinking water protection. The formal decision has not been taken on EU level yet, but in Sweden SGU (Swe Geol Survey) included PFAS24 in regulation SGU FS 2023:1 for groundwater in March 23. Recently, in December 23 the Danish EPA (Miljøstyrelsen, 2023) introduced PFAS24 for surface water.

The limit value (EQS/QS) is in all cases 4.4 ng/l PFOA equivalents. This weighted sum is estimated using RPF (relative potency factors) with numbers between 0.001 (PFBS) and 10 (PFNA) with PFOA =1. The highest factors are seen for long PFCA (C9-13) and PFSA (C>8). The system is based on liver toxicity but is assumed to be relevant for EFSA PFAS4 intake calculations too. A requirement in the monitoring of EQS values is that the LOQ (limit of quantification) should be at most 30% of the limit (2009/90/EC). Given this condition and RPF >1 for many PFAS, high demands are placed on analytical performance.

Eurofins new method and packs

For a number of years we have offered a low LOQ method for PFOS (0.039 ng/l). This method has now been further developed and extended achieving LOQs in the range 0.02-0.1 ng/l for many PFAS with special focus on those with high RPF. The weigthed PFAS24 (upper bound) sums up to 1.1 ng/l PFOA equivalents i.e. <30% of the EQS/QS. The method is aimed for natural "clean" matrices (surface-, ground- and drinking water).  Three packages are introduced, one for PFAS 24, one that combines PFAS24 and PFAS20 + 6:2FTS/PFOSA from the drinking water directive (DWD) plus SE21/DK22, and one that can be used for screening purposes (60+ PFAS). Delivery time (TAT) is 10 working days and preferred volume is 2x500 ml + 1x100 ml in Eurofins PFAS bottles for all analytical packages. A special kit with the three bottles required can be ordered free of charge. For unclean waters and natural waters with regular LOQ please see our other PFAS24/30 packs (link below). The packs below can be ordered from 22 Jan. Further information can be found in our search engine (see link)

Ultralow LOQ packages for natural/clean water:

PLWA1: WFD/GWD prel PFAS24 (COM(2022) 540 final) ultralow LOQ

PLWA0: WFD/GWD prel PFAS24 and DWD20, SE21, DK22 ultralow LOQ

PLW9Z: PFAS63 in water incl WFD/GWD prel PFAS24 ultralow LOQ

Links:

EU revision proposal (COM(2022) 540 final)
EU Directive (2009/90/EC)
SGU FS 2023:1
Miljøstyrelsen (2023)
Online analysis catalogue
PFAS24/30 (regular LOQ)

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