High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) methods for nontarget discovery and characterization of poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in environmental and human samples

• Published in: TrAC, Trends in analytical chemistry (Regular ed.) Trends in analytical chemistry (Regular ed.), 2019-12, Vol.121, p.115420, Article 115420
• Main Authors: Liu, Yanna, D'Agostino, Lisa A., Qu, Guangbo, Jiang, Guibin, Martin, Jonathan W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS); Nontarget discovery; PFAS-Feature identification; Poly-/per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs); Suspect screening
• ISSN: 0165-9936; 1879-3142; 1879-3142
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2019.02.021

Widespread environmental contamination of legacy long-chain poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has triggered chemical regulatory action and a global transitioning to alternative PFASs. More than 5000 PFASs are now recognized on various lists, but few have been monitored despite ample evidence of unidentified organic fluorine in human and environmental samples. Nevertheless, our review of the literature indicates that nontarget analytical methods based on high-resolution mass spectrometry have been used to discover more than 750 PFASs, belonging to more than 130 diverse classes, in strategically selected environmental samples, biofluids or commercial products. Among these reports, we summarize the analytical and data-processing strategies for nontarget PFAS discovery, identify knowledge gaps and propose new areas for method development. Discovery of emerging PFASs before they are global contaminants could mitigate future contamination if strategic techniques can be developed to prioritize some of these substances for synthesis and confirmation, further monitoring, source elucidation and hazard characterization. •Nontarget HRMS is already proven as a powerful tool for discovery of PFASs in strategically selected samples.•Identification of PFAS-features in complex HRMS spectra is a crucial step in the workflow.•Advances in analytical methods and feature identification will likely facilitate further discoveries in background samples.•The many new PFAS discoveries require strategies to prioritize substances for further confirmation, monitoring and research.