We can detect per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their related precursors in water, soil and biota. Our methods can achieve low limits of reporting with rapid turnaround times.
Today the nonprofit watchdog Center for Environmental Health (CEH) sent legal notices to Home Depot and Lowe’s for selling artificial turf found to contain high levels of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). PFOS is one of the most studied toxic PFAS chemicals, also known as “forever chemicals.” Exposure to PFOS can cause adverse health effects, including cancer and reproductive harm. Home Depot and Lowe’s failed to warn its customers of potential exposure to PFOS in its Lifeproof, Traffic Master, and SYNlush artificial turf products, as required under California’s consumer health protection law, Proposition 65.
The grass may be greener if it’s made of synthetic turf, but some communities are raising concerns about “forever chemicals” that may be found in many of the faux fields.
The method is for determination of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in soil/sediment/biosolid samples by high performance liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS). All results are corrected for labelled surrogate recoveries and reported as received on a wet weight basis.
On the request of the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer, the Environmental Plastics Innovation Cluster (EPIC) at the University of Newcastle has identified research priorities to fully understand the potential risks associated with microplastics and chemical exposure from synthetic turf, including insitu and ex-situ experiments in parallel:
NSW Chief Scientists Report, Appendix 19 – Environmental Plastics
Testing for Total Organofluorines (TOF) has recently generated substantial interest as a simple way to account for the total mass of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in environmental or commercial product samples.
Recent Research – February 2024
Insight Exposure and Risk Sciences Group, USA
A Sky News Investigation has lifted the lid on synthetic sports fields and the cocktail of chemicals children are often playing on.
This submission uses a specific case study to analyse the adequacies of the current planning system to assess, review and revoke developments in order to ensure both people and the environment are protected from climate change impacts. It then examines the need for reform of NSW planning system to ensure communities are able to mitigate and adapt to changed conditions.
The manufacturer should be asked to supply to the purchaser an assurance that the sports surface together with its supporting layers, does not contain in its finished state any substance which is known to be toxic, mutagenic, teratogenic or carcinogenic when in contact with the skin. Furthermore that no such substances will be released as a vapour or dust during normal use. (page 27)