PFAS in Solid Matrices: Waste and Soils
Mérieux NutriSciences - Italia
Better Food. Better Health. Better World.
PFAS represent an increasingly pressing environmental challenge, significantly impacting various matrices, including solid ones such as soil and waste. Recent regulatory developments and new analytical techniques are providing increasingly effective tools for monitoring and managing these pollutants.
PFAS in Soil: Impacts and Risks
PFAS in soil pose a complex problem due to their persistence and mobility. These compounds can accumulate in contaminated soils from industrial discharges, landfills, and treated wastewater. The presence of PFAS in soil can lead to: ? Bioaccumulation in the food chain, with potential implications for agriculture and food safety. ? Contamination of groundwater, as many PFAS are highly mobile and resistant to degradation. ? Health and ecosystem risks, arising from contact with contaminated soil and inhalation of aerosolized particles.
To tackle this challenge, it is essential to adopt advanced analytical techniques to monitor and limit the spread of these contaminants.
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a draft risk assessment on sewage sludge processed into biosolids, often used in agriculture as soil amendments or fertilizers. The study, based on simulation models, suggests that even low PFAS levels (1 ppb – parts per billion) could pose a significant health risk, exceeding the safety thresholds established by the EPA. Farming families, who consume more produce from their own land, would be among the most exposed groups. After the public consultation phase, open from January 15, 2025, to March 17, 2025, the EPA will finalize the assessment and conduct further studies.
In Europe, recent studies by the European Environment Agency (EEA) have highlighted widespread PFAS contamination, identifying approximately 23,000 sites, with 2,300 classified as highly polluted. This contamination affects not only surface and groundwater but also soils, posing potential risks to terrestrial ecosystems and human health. The agency has emphasized the urgency of implementing measures to reduce PFAS pollution, including the need to expand geographic surveys and apply more sensitive analytical methods to monitor soil contamination.
Stopping Contamination at Its Source
One of the main issues is the mobility of PFAS across different environmental matrices. PFAS migrate into food products, waste, and leachates, contaminating soil and groundwater. This highlights the need for an integrated approach to monitoring and risk management.
For this reason, Europe is working on the universal PFAS restriction proposal advanced by Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, which is still under evaluation.
The Analytical Approach for Solids: Total Organic Fluorine (TOF)
The analysis of PFAS in solid matrices is becoming a key element in environmental monitoring strategies.
A crucial tool in this field is Combustion Ion Chromatography (CIC), a method for determining Total Organic Fluorine (TOF) in solids, including PFAS-contaminated soils and sludge. The sample is combusted at ≥1000 °C in an oxygen or oxygen/argon stream, and the gaseous hydrogen fluoride is absorbed into reagent water: the organic fluorine is converted into inorganic fluoride, which is then quantified using ion chromatography. CIC offers a fast and reliable analysis, providing a comprehensive assessment of PFAS contamination, including compounds not covered by traditional analytical methods.
Watch the Webinar “PFAS and WASTE”
We recently had the honor of collaborating with FEAD - European Waste Management Association for the webinar: PFAS and Waste: European Challenges and Initiatives.
The agenda included:
?? Contact us to discuss PFAS: [email protected]