PFAS Environmental Matrices

With more that 20 years experience in PFAS testing, SGS has the capacity, expertise, facilities, and track record needed to provide fast and accurate analysis on PFAS and emerging contaminants analysis.

We have pioneered commercial PFAS analysis in North America since 2003. As the acknowledged best practice leaders, we were chosen to develop and validate the EPA standard method 1633 for PFAS analysis.

EPA 537.1 and EPA 533 for Finished Drinking Water Testing

We are accredited and UCMR5 qualified with high capacity for drinking water testing across the US.

As PFAS MCLs are finalized and updated, SGS is well equipped to provide high-quality drinking water testing for compliance and other monitoring. There are two options available for drinking water testing and depending on state and program requirements, either EPA 537.1 or EPA 533 is applicable.

EPA 1621 Organic Fluorine Screening

EPA 1621 measures organic fluorine in aqueous matrices using adsorption on carbon cartridges followed by combustion ion chromatography (AOF-CIC).

The method provides a single concentration for organic fluorine with blank limited method reporting limits of 1-2 μg/L. EPA 1621 is being recommended for wastewater samples to fulfill NPDES permitting requirements and is being promulgated by the EPA Office of Water. SGS is one of the first commercial labs to offer EPA 1621 and recently participated in the multi-laboratory validation organized by the US EPA. 

EPA 8327, ASTM D8421 and D8535

EPA 8327, ASTM D8421 (aqueous) and ASTM D8535 (soil) are direct injection/quick extraction LC-MS/MS methods for specific target PFAS. When you need to make quick site screening or remediation assessment, they can be used to provide rapid 1–5-day turnaround time PFAS data. While not as definitive as EPA 1633A and more prone to interferences, they are useful when applied thoughtfully.

ASTM D8421 is also being promulgated along with EPA 1633A by the EPA Office of Water.  

EPA 1633A: All Other Environmental Matrices

SGS developed and validated EPA 1633 for the US EPA and is the leading lab network on EPA 1633 with multiple accredited lab locations. EPA 1633 is used for:

• NPDES waste permitting and landfills
• All wastewater PFAS measurement applications
• All new DoD projects starting 2022
• Most ambient monitoring including surface/ground water, soils and sediments, tissue and vegetation
• Site characterization, remediation and due diligence
• All other target PFAS monitoring applications that align to the standard 40 list of PFAS
• With screening levels (RSLs) being published for additional PFAS such as TFSI and PFPrA, we now offer extended analysis for these targets under the EPA 1633A framework.

EPA 1633A is now finalized after completion of the multi-laboratory validation and is awaiting promulgation. It is recommended for use in all regulatory and non-regulatory contexts as the standard PFAS method for all uses other than drinking water compliance testing. While we may still support legacy in-house isotope dilution methods for PFAS (537ModID) for project continuity purposes, the expectation is that PFAS monitoring will switch over to 1633A almost entirely by end of 2025.

Extraction:

• Spike with isotopically labeled standards
• Solids: Sequential basic extraction
• Aqueous: pH adjustment
• Tissue: Sequentially/extended basic Extraction

Cleanup:

• Use of WAX cleanup for all analysis to deal with complex matrices
• Use of dispersive carbon cleanup

Reliable and defensible data is the cornerstone of informed decisionmaking, especially when dealing with substances as critical as PFAS. From sample collection to analysis and reporting, following these guidelines will help you maintain the highest standards of data quality, ultimately empowering you to make sound, evidencebased choices in managing PFAS.

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For more information contact:
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