Quantifying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in air emissions: Lab & field experiences from a hazardous waste incinerator
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in our environment and food chains but standardized monitoring methods are still lacking for the air compartment. This work presents methodological developments and validation experiments which led to a new compendium method (LUC) for the qua...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Environment International |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025002922 |
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| author | Jelle Hofman Griet Jacobs Bart Baeyens Aline Reis De Carvalho Wim Aerts Stefan Voorspoels Gill Van den Bergh Masha Van Deun Patrick Berghmans Andres Van Brecht Gert Otten |
| author_facet | Jelle Hofman Griet Jacobs Bart Baeyens Aline Reis De Carvalho Wim Aerts Stefan Voorspoels Gill Van den Bergh Masha Van Deun Patrick Berghmans Andres Van Brecht Gert Otten |
| author_sort | Jelle Hofman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in our environment and food chains but standardized monitoring methods are still lacking for the air compartment. This work presents methodological developments and validation experiments which led to a new compendium method (LUC) for the quantification of PFAS in air emissions. From 2021 onwards, relevant experience with the proposed OTM-45 method (EPA, 2021) was obtained through dedicated laboratory experiments and 15 repeated stack measurements at a hazardous waste-to-energy (WtE) plant. We optimized the sampling, extraction and analytical procedure and performed different lab and field validation exercises, resulting in the first available regulatory method for the detection and quantification of PFAS in air emissions (LUC/VI/003). This method turned into force in Flanders since January 15th, 2024, and is meanwhile applied on various stacks and industries to collect evidence on prevailing concentration levels, compositional fingerprints and impact evaluation from gas abatement technologies. We stress the need for harmonization of both PFAS sampling and analytical procedures in order to guarantee comparability of PFAS emission results. This methodological evidence paves the way for more standardized emission monitoring, more stringent environmental standards and improved public health protection. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4933be60d2a84292b57428bfd2cddedb |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0160-4120 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj-art-4933be60d2a84292b57428bfd2cddedb2025-08-20T02:32:30ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202025-06-0120010954110.1016/j.envint.2025.109541Quantifying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in air emissions: Lab & field experiences from a hazardous waste incineratorJelle Hofman0Griet Jacobs1Bart Baeyens2Aline Reis De Carvalho3Wim Aerts4Stefan Voorspoels5Gill Van den Bergh6Masha Van Deun7Patrick Berghmans8Andres Van Brecht9Gert Otten10VITO, Air Quality Management Systems (AQMS), Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; Corresponding author.VITO GOAL, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, BelgiumVITO, Air Quality Management Systems (AQMS), Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, BelgiumVITO GOAL, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, BelgiumVITO, Air Quality Management Systems (AQMS), Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, BelgiumVITO GOAL, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, BelgiumVITO GOAL, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, BelgiumVITO GOAL, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, BelgiumVITO, Air Quality Management Systems (AQMS), Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, BelgiumIndaver Belgium nv, 2800 Mechelen, BelgiumVITO, Air Quality Management Systems (AQMS), Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, BelgiumPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in our environment and food chains but standardized monitoring methods are still lacking for the air compartment. This work presents methodological developments and validation experiments which led to a new compendium method (LUC) for the quantification of PFAS in air emissions. From 2021 onwards, relevant experience with the proposed OTM-45 method (EPA, 2021) was obtained through dedicated laboratory experiments and 15 repeated stack measurements at a hazardous waste-to-energy (WtE) plant. We optimized the sampling, extraction and analytical procedure and performed different lab and field validation exercises, resulting in the first available regulatory method for the detection and quantification of PFAS in air emissions (LUC/VI/003). This method turned into force in Flanders since January 15th, 2024, and is meanwhile applied on various stacks and industries to collect evidence on prevailing concentration levels, compositional fingerprints and impact evaluation from gas abatement technologies. We stress the need for harmonization of both PFAS sampling and analytical procedures in order to guarantee comparability of PFAS emission results. This methodological evidence paves the way for more standardized emission monitoring, more stringent environmental standards and improved public health protection.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025002922Emerging contaminantsEmissionMonitoringValidationChimneyDestruction |
| spellingShingle | Jelle Hofman Griet Jacobs Bart Baeyens Aline Reis De Carvalho Wim Aerts Stefan Voorspoels Gill Van den Bergh Masha Van Deun Patrick Berghmans Andres Van Brecht Gert Otten Quantifying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in air emissions: Lab & field experiences from a hazardous waste incinerator Environment International Emerging contaminants Emission Monitoring Validation Chimney Destruction |
| title | Quantifying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in air emissions: Lab & field experiences from a hazardous waste incinerator |
| title_full | Quantifying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in air emissions: Lab & field experiences from a hazardous waste incinerator |
| title_fullStr | Quantifying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in air emissions: Lab & field experiences from a hazardous waste incinerator |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantifying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in air emissions: Lab & field experiences from a hazardous waste incinerator |
| title_short | Quantifying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in air emissions: Lab & field experiences from a hazardous waste incinerator |
| title_sort | quantifying per and polyfluoroalkyl substances pfas in air emissions lab amp field experiences from a hazardous waste incinerator |
| topic | Emerging contaminants Emission Monitoring Validation Chimney Destruction |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025002922 |
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