The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on April 10 announced the final rule for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. The rule establishes individual Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA (GenX chemicals). The MCLs are set at 4.0 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, and 10 ppt for PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA. Additionally, a Hazard Index (HI) MCL of 1 is established to account for combined health effects of PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS.
With this announcement, the number of PFAS samples tested will increase dramatically in the U.S. over the coming years, with some laboratories expected to test thousands of samples a month to meet the updated regulation needs. This growth highlights the importance of working with a technology partner that not only understands the EPA technical requirements but also the throughput requirements and the application support needed to ensure accurate data is produced and reported efficiently. As part of the continued commitment to meeting global PFAS regulatory requirements, Thermo Fisher Scientific has developed automated PFAS testing workflows with the Dionex AutoTrace 280 Solid-Phase Extraction Instrument PFAS and TSQ Plus triple quadrupole mass spectrometer platform to meet the current EPA drinking water requirements.
Key reasons why automating PFAS workflows is crucial
- Enhanced productivity and efficiency: Automating PFAS sample preparation eliminates repetitive and mundane tasks, allowing drinking water laboratory personnel to focus on more critical activities such as data review and reporting. By streamlining workflows, automated workflows can significantly increase productivity, reducing turnaround times and enabling labs to handle a larger volume of samples without compromising accuracy or quality.
- Improved accuracy and reliability: Manual SPE processes common to the EPA PFAS drinking water sample preparation methods are inherently prone to human errors, which can have serious consequences in sample testing. Automation of any of these steps minimizes the risk of errors by ensuring consistency and precision in each step of the workflow. This leads to more reliable and reproducible results, reducing the need for retesting and improving overall data quality.
- Standardization and compliance: Automating PFAS workflows enables the implementation of standardized processes across the laboratory, ensuring consistent and compliant practices across the testing network. This is particularly important when it comes to meeting regulatory requirements, as automation can provide traceability, documentation, and audit trail capabilities, facilitating compliance with regulatory standards.
- Cost-effectiveness: While there may be an initial investment in implementing automation, it often leads to long-term cost savings. Automated systems can optimize resource utilization, minimize reagent waste, and reduce the need for manual labor. Additionally, faster turnaround times allow PFAS laboratories to further differentiate their services in the marketplace.
Automating PFAS workflows: the bottom line
In summary, automating PFAS workflows is essential for laboratories to meet the increased sample testing requirements. It improves productivity, accuracy, standardization, and compliance while offering cost savings and scalability. By embracing automation, laboratories can efficiently handle higher volumes of samples and deliver reliable results faster.
Related content
For more information on the PFAS workflows suitable for the new EPA drinking water regulations for drinking water, and soil as prescribed by the EPA 1633 regulations, please review the following PFAS compendium and application note:
- LC-MS/MS analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soil samples in accordance with EPA Method 1633
- PFAS Analysis Application Note Compendium
Listen to Dr. Toby Astill’s interview with LCGC International
Visit the website: Solutions for PFAS Detection
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