MDEQ Releases Minimum PFAS Analyte List for Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) Initiative. Spoiler Alert: Merit Labs analyzes all of them.

The MDEQ recently released the list of PFAS compounds that should be analyzed as part of the Industrial Pretreatment Program.  The list, considered a minimum list of PFAS compounds, was created by the MDEQ based upon the potential for these analytes to be present in Michigan, the availability of the chemical standards for laboratory testing, and ability of laboratories to perform the testing.

Merit Laboratories performs testing for all of the PFAS compounds listed in the MDEQ IPP PFAS directive.  The list of IPP PFAS compounds includes:

• Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTeA)
• Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTriA)
• Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)
• Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)
• Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)
• Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
• Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
• Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)
• Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)
• Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)
• Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)
• Perfluorodecanesulfonic acid (PFDS)
• Perfluorononanesulfonic acid (PFNS)
• Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)
• Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)
• Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)
• Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS)
• Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)
• Perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA)
• Fluorotelomer sulphonic acid 8:2 (FtS 8:2)
• Fluorotelomer sulphonic acid 6:2 (FtS 6:2)
• Fluorotelomer sulphonic acid 4:2 (FtS 4:2)
• 2-(N-Ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamido) acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA)
• 2-(NMethylperfluorooctanesulfonamido) acetic acid (N-MeFOSAA)

Merit Laboratories offers two analytical options for PFAS. Analytical methods performed by Merit Laboratories include EPA 537 and ASTM D7979.

ASTM D7979 is a method for non-drinking water matrices, including support for the MDEQ IPP PFAS initiative. Merit Laboratories can analyze for the MDEQ PFAS requested list of PFAS substances using ASTM D7979. During our method development for ASTM D7979, Merit was able consistently demonstrate much better recoveries for all PFAS compounds.  The better recoveries are partly attributed to much less sample handling.  Sample handling can both contaminate and remove compounds of interest in your samples. This method has been utilized in Australia to assist in an aggressive approach to PFC contamination issues. Additionally, this is the method that EPA Region 5 uses when testing for these compounds. 

Merit Laboratories performs EPA 537 in drinking water for the list of PFAS substances that are EPA-approved by the method. EPA 537 is a prescriptive Drinking Water Method for PFCs.  It can only be used for the compounds in drinking water samples and is limited in the allowable modifications, according to the method.  The MDEQ list of PFCs requires a different method.

To set-up a PFAS project, contact Merit Laboratories  at 517.332.0167 or email at info@meritlabs.com. We will guide you through the sample collection container needs, compound lists, holding times, and method selection.