Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated compounds are widely used in industry, with over 4,700 molecules valued for their non-stick, waterproof, stain-resistant and heat-resistant properties. They are found in particular in outdoor textiles, food packaging, kitchen utensils (non-stick pans), firefighting foams, waterproofing agents, electrical insulation, waxes, varnishes and more.
Due to their use in many consumer products, PFAS are continuously released into the environment throughout the life cycle of these products. These compounds degrade slowly and are therefore highly persistent in the environment (soil, groundwater, surface water) and in aquatic organisms. They can also be found in drinking water and food. Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated compounds are not broken down in the human body and bioaccumulate, thereby increasing health risks.
Water intended for human consumption
Directive (EU) 2020/2184 on the quality of water intended for human consumption sets a parametric value for:
Total PFAS = 0.50 μg/L (all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).
Sum of PFAS = 0.10 μg/L (sum of 20 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances considered to be of concern, listed in Annex III, Part B, point 3 of the directive).
This directive has been transposed into French law. Since 1 January 2023, limits for the sum of the 20 PFAS have been set at 0.1 µg/L in drinking water. Monitoring of this parameter will become mandatory from 1 January 2026 as part of sanitary control programmes.
Environmental water:
According to the notice on the limits of quantification for the “parameter-matrix” pairs of the approval of laboratories carrying out analyses in the field of water and aquatic environments (version of 15/08/25), an LOQ of 0.0005 μg/L is set for 19 PFAS in freshwater (PFBA, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA, PFDoDA, PFTrDA, PFBS, PFPeS, PFHxS, PFHpS, PFNS, PFDS, PFUnDS, PFDoDS and PFTrDS).
Order of 20 June 2023 on the analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in aqueous discharges from installations classified for environmental protection under the authorisation scheme:
Mandatory analysis for 20 PFAS and optional analysis of 8 PFAS.
Order of 25 June 2026 on the arrangements for setting the water pollution charge for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Analysis of 28 PFAS including TFA.
EXPERTISE
Our expertise in PFAS analysis in water
Phytocontrol offers analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under COFRAC accreditation, tailored to regulatory requirements and environmental monitoring needs.
Our analytical offering covers around thirty PFAS, including regulated PFAS and TFA, in different types of water:
Freshwater, raw water and atypical water – including carbonated or highly mineralised water: analysis by direct injection and LC-MS/MS.
Wastewater: analysis by liquid/liquid extraction and LC-MS/MS, suited to the complexity of these matrices.
Water type
PFAS limit of quantification
TFA limit of quantification
Freshwater
0.001 to 0.1 µg/L
0.1µg/L
Atypical water
0.002 to 0.1 µg/L
1µg/L
Wastewater
0.02 to 0.1 µg/L
0.2 μg/L
Targeted PFAS analysis or global AOF analysis?
PFAS and AOF analyses are complementary: combining them allows a broader characterisation of fluorinated water contamination, by combining a targeted approach with a global approach.
Targeted PFAS analysis
This analysis identifies and individually quantifies regulated PFAS and the most relevant compounds. It is particularly suited to regulatory requirements, compliance control and monitoring of specific contaminants.
AOF (Adsorbable Organic Fluorine) analysis
AOF analysis is a non-targeted approach that measures the total amount of adsorbable organic fluorine present in a sample. It provides a global estimate of the organofluorine compound load, potentially including identified PFAS as well as fluorinated compounds not covered by a targeted analysis.
Phytocontrol is able to determine the amount of adsorbable organic fluorine (AOF) on activated carbon in freshwater and wastewater by combustion – ion chromatography coupling.
