Airborne PFAS: The Next Frontier for Detection and Mitigation

Mike Chang on why tackling PFAS in the air could become a defining test of analytical and engineering collaboration

FOR YEARS, regulators and researchers have focused on food and water as the primary sources of human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – a class of around 9,000 highly persistent “forever chemicals”. Recent research, however, has highlighted the air we breathe as a significant, previously underappreciated exposure route, posing fresh challenges in understanding and addressing the associated health risks, which include infertility, developmental issues, immune disruption, and certain cancers.

However, tackling airborne contamination is difficult. While regulators in the UK, EU and elsewhere are attempting to address PFAS in consumer goods, developing regulations focused on limiting airborne PFAS will be multifaceted and complex. In the meantime, manufacturers are turning to specialised laboratories to monitor PFAS in their products and supply chains and identify safer alternatives.

Sources of airborne contamination

PFAS are used in thousands of everyday products – from textiles and floor waxes to non-stick coatings and firefighting foams – thanks to their grease- and water-repellent properties. Indoors, emissions can arise from treated carpets, upholstery and cleaning products. Outdoors, sources include industrial discharge, waste incineration and contaminated water spray or sea mist.

As people spend around 90% of their time indoors, inhalation can contribute meaningfully to overall PFAS exposure. Concentrations in air depend on product use, ventilation and proximity to industrial emitters. In short, every time we inhale, we risk being exposed to PFAS.

Test and measurement

Accurate detection and quantification of PFAS in air are essential for understanding exposure and guiding mitigation strategies. Analytical laboratories typically rely on advanced techniques, such as liquid or gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS or GC-MS), capable of identifying PFAS species down to parts-per-trillion levels.

Air samples are collected using filters, canisters or passive samplers, which are then extracted and concentrated to isolate PFAS prior to analysis. The resulting chromatographic and mass-spectral data provide a detailed fingerprint of the compounds present and their concentrations.

PFAS are generally considered to be low-volatility substances – they don’t readily evaporate or exist in the gas phase under normal environmental conditions. Instead, they are more likely to bind to particles in the air. This makes it difficult to collect airborne PFAS as gases: sampling must often focus on aerosols, particulates or deposition, complicating detection.

Recent innovations – automated extraction, ultra-high-resolution MS, and comprehensive spectral libraries – are improving throughput and sensitivity, allowing labs to support regulators and manufacturers in tracking PFAS migration, evaluating exposure pathways and verifying mitigation efforts.