PFAS in drinking water

Organic Chemistry offers analytical tests for surveillance of a wide range of perfluorinated carboxylic acids, perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids, fluorotelomer sulfonic acids, perfluorooctane sulphonamides, perfluorooctane sulphonamidoacetic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonamide ethanols, per- and polyfluoroether carboxylic acids, ether sulfonic acids and fluorotelomer carboxylic acids in surface, ground, and drinking water.

Our expert team provides outstanding service delivery in providing leading-edge analysis using state of the art instrumentation by LCMSMS and LC-HRMS.

Our method is based on EPA method 1633. We also have PFAS methods to analyse for other matrices like soil, biota including seafood and vegetation, blood, compost and biosolids.

Our method can achieve limits of reporting below the lowest of any global PFAS regulatory guidelines.

Our staff have expertise in the interpretation of analytical tests and can provide method research and development.

Why monitor PFAS in drinking water?

Monitoring PFAS in water is critical due to their potential health and environmental hazards. They are called forever chemicals because they don’t break down in the environment and can bioaccumulate over time. They are synthetic chemicals used in consumer products for their water- and grease-resistant properties.

Current scientific research suggests that exposure to certain PFAS may lead to adverse health outcomes. Internationally, research is being undertaken to determine how different levels of exposure might lead to a variety of health effects.

Current Australian guidelines are set by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in the Australia Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG 2011).

Sampling requirements

To ensure accuracy of results, it is recommended that you use sample containers and preservatives provided by our laboratory.

Contact us for sample container and preservative request forms.

To send samples for testing to the Public Health Laboratory you will need a completed sample submission form (XLSX 74 kB).

Test codeVolumeContainerPreservativeStorageHolding
KEPFW 3 x 250mL HDPE Trizma buffer (1.25g per 250mL of sample) <6 C (fridge) 28 days

Samples should be shipped with sufficient ice to maintain temperature—avoid blue ice.

Note: The following are known sources of contamination. Avoid the following:

  • New clothing (stain resistant, waterproof)
  • Tyvek clothing
  • Fast food wrappers and containers
  • Pre-wrapped food and snacks
  • Teflon or coated equipment (e.g. PTFE septa)
  • Teflon lined lids
  • Aluminium foil (coated with perfluorinated compounds)
  • Self-sticking notes.

PFAS testing suite

AnalyteAcidAbbreviation Reporting limit ng/L CAS number
Perfluorobutanoic acid Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids/anions PFBA 5 375-22-4
Perfluoropentanoic acid Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids/anions PFPeA 2 2706-90-3
Perfluorohexanoic acid Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids/anions PFHxA 1 307-24-4
Perfluoroheptanoic acid Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids/anions PFHpA 1 375-85-9
Perfluorooctanoic acid Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids/anions PFOA 2 335-67-1
Perfluorononanoic acid Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids/anions PFNA 2 375-95-1
Perfluorodecanoic acid Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids/anions PFDA 2 335-76-2
Perfluoroundecanoic acid Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids/anions PFUDA 2 2058-94-8
Perfluorododecanoic acid Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids/anions PFDoA 1 307-55-1
Perfluorotridecanoic acid Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids/anions PFTrDA 1 72629-94-8
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids/anions PFTeDA 2 376-06-7
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid Perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids - Acid form PFBS 1 375-73-5
Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid Perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids - Acid form PFPeS 1 2706-91-4
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid Perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids - Acid form PFHxS 1 355-46-4
Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid Perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids - Acid form PFHpS 1 375-92-8
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid Perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids - Acid form PFOS 2 1763-23-1
Perfluorononanesulfonic acid Perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids - Acid form PFNS 1 68259-12-1
Perfluorodecanesulfonic acid Perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids - Acid form PFDS 1 335-77-3
Perfluorododecanesulfonic acid Perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids - Acid form PFDoS 1 79780-39-5
Perfluoro-4-ethylcyclohexanesulfonic acid Perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids - Acid form PFECHS 5 335-24-0
8-Chloroperfluoro-1-octanesulfonic acid Perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids - Acid form 8CI-PFOS 5 1763-23-1
1H,1H, 2H, 2H-Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid Fluorotelomer sulfonic acids 4:2FTS 5 757124-72-4
1H,1H, 2H, 2H-Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid Fluorotelomer sulfonic acids 6:2FTS 5 27619-97-2
1H,1H, 2H, 2H-Perfluorodecane sulfonic acid Fluorotelomer sulfonic acids 8:2FTS 5 39108-34-4
1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorododecane sulfonic acid Fluorotelomer sulfonic acids 10:2FTS 5 120226-60-0
Perfluorooctanesulfonamide Perfluorooctane sulfonamides PFOSA 1 754-91-6
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamide Perfluorooctane sulfonamides NMeFOSA 2 31506-32-8
N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamide Perfluorooctane sulfonamides NEtFOSA 1 4151-50-2
Perfluoro-1-butanesulfonamide Perfluorooctane sulfonamides FBSA 2 30334-69-1
Perfluoro-1-hexanesulfonamide Perfluorooctane sulfonamides FHxSA 2 113507-82-7
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid Perfluorooctane sulfonamidoacetic acids NMeFOSAA 1 2355-31-9
N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid Perfluorooctane sulfonamidoacetic acids NEtOFSAA 1 2991-50-6
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoethanol Perfluorooctane sulfonamide ethanols NMeFOSE 10 24448-09-7
N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoethanol Perfluorooctane sulfonamide ethanols NEtFOSE 10 1691-99-2
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid Per- and Polyfluoroether carboxylic acids HFPO-DA 5 13252-13-6
4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid Per- and Polyfluoroether carboxylic acids ADONA 5 919005-14-4
Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid Per- and Polyfluoroether carboxylic acids PFMPA 2 377-73-1
Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid Per- and Polyfluoroether carboxylic acids PFMBA 2 863090-89-5
Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid Per- and Polyfluoroether carboxylic acids NFDHA 5 151772-58-6
9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonic acid Ether sulfonic acids 9CI-PF3ONS 5 756426-58-1
11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid Ether sulfonic acids 11CI-PF3OUdS 5 763051-92-9
Perfluoro(2-ethoxyethane)sulfonic acid Ether sulfonic acids PFEESA 2 113507-82-7
3-Perfluoropropyl propanoic acid Fluorotelomer carboxylic acids 3:3FTCA 10 356-02-5
2H,2H,3H,3H-Perfluorooctanoic acid Fluorotelomer carboxylic acids 5:3FTCA 25 914637-49-3
3-Perfluoroheptyl propanoic acid Fluorotelomer carboxylic acids 7:3FTCA 25 812-70-4
Bis[2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl] phosphate Polyfluoroalkyl phophate di-esters 8:2-DiPAP 5 678-41-1

Need more information?

To discuss your needs or to request a quote, Contact Public and Environmental Health, Organic Chemistry:

Extraction and sample preparation
Scott Turner
Phone: (07) 3096 2853
Email: Scott.Turner2@health.qld.gov.au 

Soony Mackay
Phone: (07) 3096 2848
Email: Soon-chee.Chan@health.qld.gov.au

Instrument analysis
Martie du Plessis
Phone: (07) 3096 2846
Email: Martha.duplessis@health.qld.gov.au 

Steve Carter
Phone: (07) 3096 2846
Email: Steve.Carter@health.qld.gov.au

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Last updated: 20 January 2025