Spotlight on: PFAS

What are PFAS?

PFAS (poly-and perfluoroalkyl substances) are an extensive, complex group of manufactured chemicals that have been widely used in industrial and consumer products since the 1940s. They have been so well adopted because of their various useful properties such as waterproofing characteristics, keeping food from sticking to packaging or cookware, to making clothing and carpets resistant to stains, to creating more effective firefighting foam. There are thousands of different PFAS molecules, some of which have been more widely used and studied more than others, almost all of which have been found to be toxic.

Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), for example, are two of the most widely known, used, and studied chemicals. PFOA and PFOS have been replaced in the United States with other PFAS in recent years.

Because PFAS molecules have a chain of linked carbon and fluorine atoms, which is an incredibly strong bond, these chemicals break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals, and the environment over time. Accumulating toxicity has been a rising concern with over 3,000 types of PFAS threatening human health and the environment.

What are the challenges to analysis by LC-MS?

Because PFAS cannot be completely removed by most store-bought filters or standard wastewater treatment methods, it's critical for scientists to analyze the sources: drinking water, groundwater, surface water, wastewater, soil and many other environmental matrices. 

LC-MS is considered the gold standard for detecting and quantifying PFAS molecules and has become the “defacto” methodology for analysis. However, a key challenge to measuring PFAS by LC-MS, is that the compounds are so ubiquitous throughout the environment and accumulate from so many different sources. In fact, most traditional lab equipment leaches these chemicals, thus background interference can be a challenge.

Additionally, as regulations continue to adapt and become stricter, it’s vital to be armed with the most sensitive and resilient LC-MS system, ready to future-proof your lab and accommodate regulatory changes. Just as recently as April 2024, the EPA released new maximum contamination levels (MCLs) for six PFAS compounds in drinking water.

Why are PFAS so interesting?

PFAS can be present in water, soil, air, and food as well as in materials found in homes or workplaces. Due to their presence in so many facets and aspects of everyday life, these “forever chemicals” have huge short- and long-term impact on the environment, human exposure, and future health. Potential risks of human exposure to PFAS are related to immune, endocrine, and reproductive systems disruption.

Currently, it is impossible to avoid exposure and accumulation of these toxic chemicals. It is fair to say that we are facing an unprecedented chemical exposure crisis because of PFAS. 

Using LC-MS-based methods for the analysis of PFAS

PFAS testing needs have migrated beyond the typical matrices found in environmental analysis to food products, animal tissues and human biological fluids. Therefore, depending on the type of analysis a laboratory performs, the chosen workflow must be adaptable and robust enough to analyze various sample types for PFAS.

SCIEX has extensive internal experience and is a global thought leader in the industry. We constantly collaborate with and challenge the status quo on the best PFAS applications our instruments can offer our customers. Our systems are renowned for being robust: not only can your chosen LC-MS system handle the myriad complex matrices, but it will maintain consistent sensitivity over the course of many LC runs. 

Why are PFAS so concerning?

  • The PFAS family of molecules are considered the most persistent of any other synthetic molecule. Even if we could stop using them immediately, they would linger in the environment for generations to come
  • While their most well-known use is for firefighting applications, PFAS can be found in myriad industries from aerospace, semiconductor, medical, automotive, construction, electronics, and aviation, in addition to the better-known consumer products industry
  • Several health issues are deemed to be linked to exposure in humans and animals alike from immune, endocrine, and reproductive systems disruption
  • PFAS can never be “eliminated”, but reverse osmosis (RO) and activated carbon filters can be effective at removing PFAS from point-of-use devices, like your kitchen sink so that the water coming from the faucet is clean

SCIEX, there where it counts

  • Exceptional instrument stability: The SCIEX 7500+ system achieved >2x improvement in robustness, as demonstrated by >6400 injections of food matrices, compared to >3000 injections on the SCIEX 7500 system
  • Easy troubleshooting: Built-in contamination check procedures in SCIEX OS software provide an automated mechanism that allows the user to troubleshoot and monitor instrument performance during sensitivity loss
  • Ultra-high sensitivity: Enables detection of trace levels of toxins in a variety of matrices, ready to keep your laboratory at the forefront of testing requirements 

Achieving exceptional robustness for PFAS analysis in food with the next-generation SCIEX 7500+ system

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PFAS Analysis in Food: A Robustness Study in Sensitivity and Stability

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On-demand: PFAS summit: a scientific series

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Explore our complete PFAS solutions

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Solution

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  • Future-proof your methods
ExionLC AE system

Reproducibility, reliability and carryover performance to match your quantitative workflows. Dependability you can count on, from injection to injection and batch after batch.

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SCIEX 7500+ system

A new standard for instrument resilience and robustness. Engineered to maintain our highest sensitivity for up to twice as long in complex matrices.

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SCIEX OS software

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In case you missed it…

Catch up on past months topics

            Each month, the Spotlight on series will highlight a different challenging molecule or class of compounds as well as related LC-MS solutions, unmatched in terms of sensitivity and accuracy, that will help customers meet today’s and future needs.

Cyclic Peptides

Cyclic peptides are stable, bioactive molecules that resist enzymatic breakdown and can target protein–protein interactions, making them valuable for treating conditions such as autoimmune disease, transplant rejection, and inflammation. While these complex molecules are challenging to analyze, advanced LC MS platforms like the SCIEX 7500+ and 7600+ systems deliver the sensitivity and resolution needed to advance their therapeutic potential.

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SCIEX OS software

SCIEX OS software streamlines instrument control and automates data processing to simplify lab workflows and support fast, informed decisions. It serves both new and experienced users by maintaining compliance through audit trails and role-based access, while automating routine tasks so scientists can focus on discovery. Designed for all the latest SCIEX mass spectrometry systems and now enhanced with Windows 11 support to meet IT security policies and reduce cybersecurity risks.

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GLP-1

GLP-1 is a multifaceted hormone that regulates blood glucose, influences appetite and weight, and provides cardiovascular benefits. Continued research and development of GLP-1-based therapies promise to advance and expand potential uses. The sensitivity, specificity, and versatility of LC-MS plays a major role in advancing GLP-1 research with new insights.

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Bile acids

Bile acid biochemistry was once poorly understood, but growing interest in the gut-brain axis and microbiome has sparked new research. LC-MS technology is advancing knowledge of bile acids' roles and potential as therapeutic targets and biomarkers.

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Fentanyl

Fentanyl has garnered significant attention in recent years due to its critical role in both medical and illicit contexts. As a compound, it offers unparalleled pain relief, but also contributes to an alarming rate of opioid-related overdoses. Studying fentanyl is essential to developing effective therapeutic applications, understanding its pharmacokinetics, and addressing the public health crisis it poses. LC-MS/MS has emerged as a transformative technology in advancing fentanyl research, providing precise and comprehensive analytical capabilities.

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Oligonucleotides

Oligonucleotides are pivotal in genetic research, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Explore the intricacies of these molecules and how LC-MS technologies are propelling their research to new heights, enabling scientists to achieve exceptional levels of accuracy in oligonucleotide characterization and quantitation.

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Lipid mediators

The third topic in the Spotlight on series explores lipid mediators, a highly potent family of signaling molecules, perhaps best known for their role in inflammation. Due to their potent biological activities and often transient existence, precise and sensitive analytical techniques are essential for their study.

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Nitrosamines

Get a deeper understanding of what makes nitrosamines a concern, what is being done to understand and test for nitrosamines, and how SCIEX LC-MS solutions can help give you confidence in your quantitation needs: for today and tomorrow.

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PFAS

PFAS are an extensive, complex group of manufactured chemicals that are ubiquitous throughout the environment, accumulate from many different sources and whose consumption is currently unavoidable. With accumulating toxicity a rising concern, sensitive and resilient analysis is key to understanding exposure risks. LC-MS is considered the gold standard for detecting and quantifying PFAS molecules and has become the “defacto” methodology for analysis.

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Targeted protein degraders

The second topic in the Spotlight on series covers targeted protein degraders (TPDs), a cutting-edge approach in the field of drug development. By leveraging an event-driven mechanism that degrades unwanted or harmful proteins, rather than the traditional occupancy-driven approach, TPDs offer several significant therapeutic benefits that make them particularly promising for treating challenging conditions.

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