Measuring PFAS in Air – The Next Frontier

Air Monitoring, Methods, and Technology
Oral Presentation

Prepared by H. Lord
ALS Global, 60 Northland Road, Unit 1, Waterloo, ON, N2V 2B8, Canada


Contact Information: [email protected]; 519-886-6910

ABSTRACT

PFAS researchers have documented releases to, and transport within, the atmosphere since the early 1950s through analyses of polar ice cores and Tibetan plateau sediments. Although volatile neutral PFAS, such as fluorinated telomer alcohols and fluorotelomer acrylates, have received significant attention in atmospheric studies, perfluoroalkyl acids also enter the atmosphere, typically by adhering to aerosols. Consequently, scientists detect a wide range of PFAS species in air samples. Reported levels are generally lowest outdoors (<3 ng/m³), higher in typical indoor environments, and highest in occupational settings, where concentrations sometimes exceed 100 ng/m³.* [Lee 2026] While PFAS concentrations tend to be relatively low in most environments, their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity, combined with the inevitability of inhalation, make inhalation an important exposure pathway.

Despite growing concern about airborne PFAS exposure, standardized measurement methods remain limited. As a result, regulatory frameworks and exposure limits for PFAS in air are largely absent.

Since 2021, the U.S. EPA has published two standard methods for monitoring PFAS in stationary sources, such as stack gases. Although originally designed to characterize emissions from PFAS destruction processes, these methods offer a useful framework for collecting and analyzing a broad range of volatile and semi‑volatile PFAS in air. In 2024, scientists from the U.S. EPA and Linköping University in Sweden published a comprehensive review of analytical methods for detecting PFAS in indoor and outdoor environments. [Wallace] Additional recent reviews reinforce the growing scientific foundation for developing standardized measurement methods across diverse atmospheric settings.

ALS Laboratories is actively developing test methods worldwide for stationary sources and ambient air monitoring. In this presentation, we will share technical developments and initial field study results using these methods. We will discuss the measures we have taken to ensure high‑quality, reliable data and describe the challenges encountered during method implementation. We aim for these advancements to support broader use of PFAS air monitoring data to inform global policy and regulatory decision‑making.

Footnotes:
*A resting adult breathes approximately 12 m³ per day.
Lee, M. et al., Safety and Health at Work, 2026, in press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2026.01.002
Wallace, M.A.G, et al., Chemosphere, 2024, 358: 142129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142129