Ultrashort chain and highly polar PFAS analysis: Development of methodology for the determination of residues in human and environmental samples

SETAC Europe 2025 -- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic organofluorine compounds that have become a concern due to their persistence in the environment following extensive use over the last few decades. Due to their high degree of chemical stability as well as their widespread use, PFAS compounds are now are increasingly being detected in the environment and appear to persist for extended periods of time. Because of the concerns over health and environmental issues associated with PFAS compounds, there has been a need to be able to monitor the occurrence of these materials in humans and the environment. There are numerous approaches to analysing a range of these chemicals in a number of different matrix types, and this area of analytical chemistry is constantly evolving as new PFAS analytes are identified and added to the list of those where methods already exist. Ultrashort chain (USC) PFAS are small and highly polar compounds, with very short carbon chain lengths. These have become of considerable concern, alongside their longer chain counterparts. As a result, there is an increasing need to be able to quantify these materials in a range of environmental and biological samples, in order to assess the exposure of the population to these chemicals.