title: A method for the analysis of perfluorinated compounds in environmental and drinking waters and the determination of their lowest concentration minimal reporting levels.
abstract: A trace analytical method was developed for the determination of seventeen specific perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in environmental and drinking waters. The objectives were to optimize an isotope-dilution method to increase the precision and accuracy of the analysis of the PFCs and to eliminate the need for matrix-matched standards. A 250 mL sample of environmental or drinking water was buffered to a pH of 4, spiked with labeled surrogate standards, extracted through solid phase extraction cartridges, and eluted with ammonium hydroxide in methyl tert-butyl ether: methanol solution. The sample eluents were concentrated to volume and analyzed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The lowest concentration minimal reporting levels (LCMRLs) for the seventeen PFCs were calculated and ranged from 0.034 to 0.600 ng/L for surface water and from 0.033 to 0.640 ng/L for drinking water. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for all compounds were <20% for all concentrations above the LCMRL. The method proved effective and cost efficient and addressed the problems with the recovery of perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and other short chain PFCs. Various surface water and drinking water samples were used during method development to optimize this method. The method was used to evaluate samples from the Mississippi River at New Orleans and drinking water samples from a private residence in that same city. The method was also used to determine PFC contamination in well water samples from a fire training area where perfluorinated foams were used in training to extinguish fires.
authors.affiliation: USEPA Environmental Chemistry Branch, Mail Code 7503 ECB, John C. Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 USA. Electronic address: jscottboone@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: J Scott
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Boone
authors.affiliation: A(2)Research, Building 8100, John C. Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 USA.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: USEPA Environmental Chemistry Branch, Mail Code 7503 ECB, John C. Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 USA.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vigo
authors.affiliation: USEPA Environmental Chemistry Branch, Mail Code 7503 ECB, John C. Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 USA.
authors.forename: Tripp
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boone
authors.affiliation: USEPA Environmental Chemistry Branch, Mail Code 7503 ECB, John C. Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 USA.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: USEPA Environmental Chemistry Branch, Mail Code 7503 ECB, John C. Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferrario
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D017611:Fluorine Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction / Q000379:methods; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D017611:Fluorine Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Drinking water; Drinking water treatment plant (DWTP); Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS); Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)