The Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) has published a new sampling guidance document for leachate samples. MPART’s Leachate PFAS Sampling Guidance document covers the processes, decontamination procedures, and acceptable materials for sampling landfill leachate for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Sample collection sources discussed in the guidance include aboveground tanks, underground tanks, vaults, sumps, and leachate risers. The primary focus of the leachate sampling guidance is to ensure that landfill leachate samples collected are representative of the bulk aqueous solution being sampled (a leachate accumulation tank, leachate from an individual landfill cell, etc.), and not contaminated by external sources of PFAS.
The leachate guidance includes information on potential sources for PFAS cross contamination, sampling equipment, equipment decontamination prior to sampling, sample collection and handling, sampling collection, field quality assurance/quality control, sample shipment, and equipment decontamination after sampling.
The leachate guidance is the latest in a series of PFAS sampling documents, which now includes:
General PFAS Sampling Guidance
Residential Wells
Groundwater
Soil
Wastewater
Surface Water
Fish Tissue
Sediment
Surface Water Foam
Biosolids & Sludge
Leachate
MPART is a multi-agency team representing heath, environment and other branches of state government to investigate sources and locations of PFAS contamination in the state, to take action to protect people's drinking water, and to keep the public informed about this emerging contaminant.
Merit Laboratories is a leading national PFAS environmental laboratory, analyzing drinking water, soil, wastewater, groundwater, and other sample matrices, including biosolids and sludge. Analytical methods performed by Merit for PFAS include drinking water by EPA 533, EPA 537.1, and EPA 537 rev. 1.1 and soil, wastewater, groundwater, and surface water by ASTM D7979-19 with Isotopic Dilution and ASTM D7968-17.