To all of our friends and partners in California impacted by the devastating wildfires, Merit Laboratories is here to support you. When wildfires ravage communities, natural landscape, and places we call home, the impact is major. Lives are interrupted while homes, schools, and businesses are destroyed. Another significant impact of wildfires is environmental contamination.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to address the growing concerns over PFAS by adding nine new compounds to the Toxics Release Inventory. This move aims to improve transparency and provide better data on the presence and release of these persistent chemicals in the environment.
The analysis of PFAS by EPA 1633A and ASTM D8421 is part of the U.S. EPA’s Methods Update Rule (MUR) Rule 22. The action will promulgate EPA into 40 CFR Part 136. Also part of this action, PFAS method ASTM D8421 is proposed to be codified.
Maya Murshak, CEO of Merit Laboratories, delivered a technical presentation to the Michigan Manufacturing Association about Perfluorocarbons (PFCs). PFCs are commonly known as Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). The presentation was held on May 8th in Lansing for members of the MMA Environmental Policy Committee and PFAS Workgroup.
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:
Merit Laboratories is Michigan’s environmental laboratory for PFAS analytical testing. Merit offers two analytical options for PFAS: EPA 537 and ASTM D7979. Merit Laboratories performs EPA 537 in drinking water for the list of 14 PFAS substances that are EPA-approved by the method. EPA 537 is a prescriptive Drinking Water Method for 14 PFCs. We also perform ASTM D7979, which is a method for non-drinking water matrices. Merit Laboratories can analyze for the MDEQ PFAS requested list of 24 PFAS substances using ASTM D7979.
The Interstate Regulatory Technology Council (ITRC) just published three new fact sheets on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) along with one updated fact sheet. The four fact sheets address important topics related to PFAS remediation technologies, sample collection, laboratory methods, environmental fate and transport, and more. These four PFAS updates from ITRC are the most current guidance available and will provide environmental professionals with detailed information on PFAS
The presence of PFAS at sites throughout Michigan have prompted the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to require Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) with an Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) to address this emerging contaminant. In a letter to WWTPs dated February 20, 2018, the MDEQ is requiring several actions be taken to ensure that all IPPs are prohibiting discharges of PFOS and PFOA. By June 20, 2018, the MDEQ is requiring WWTPs with an IPP to complete the following:
