Fluorotelomer Alcohols (FTOH) in Water: New Method, Lower Reporting Limit, and Accreditation

Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) are partially volatile fluorinated compounds widely used as industrial intermediates in the production of surfactants and polymeric materials, including paints, adhesives, coatings, and fabrics. These substances are key precursors to perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), such as PFOA and PFNA, which are common persistent perfluorinated PFAS. FTOH compounds are released into the environment through their presence as by-products or contaminants in various products (e.g., fire-fighting foams and coated textiles), and through the degradation of fluorotelomer-based substances and polymers (e.g., acrylates). They exhibit relatively high volatility, enabling long-range atmospheric transport. FTOHs have been detected in various environmental matrices, including air (both ambient and indoor), soil, water, sediment, and crops, most commonly at trace levels. They may pose significant ecological and health risks, including neurotoxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, and immunotoxicity. Transformation of FTOHs to PFCAs occurs via both abiotic and biotic pathways. Human exposure to FTOHs is possible through air, water, and migration from FTOH-containing products and materials.

The most common FTOHs are 6:2 and 8:2 FTOH. These two compounds are now subject to stricter environmental regulation and are included in the proposed PFAS24 list in the revision of the prioritized substances under the Water Framework Directive (WFD; COM(2022) 540 final). Ahead of the EU-level decision, the PFAS24 list has already been enforced in countries such as Denmark (for surface water) and Sweden (for groundwater). Although the two substances do not have individual Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) limits, they are included in the overall PFAS24 sum of 4.4 ng/l PFOA equivalents, with relative potency factors (RPFs) of 0.02 (6:2 FTOH) and 0.04 (8:2 FTOH) compared to PFOA.

Given current developments, interest in FTOHs in water has increased substantially, prompting the need for lower reporting limits (LOQs) and method accreditation. Eurofins now introduces a new accredited method with low LOQs for this PFAS class in water. The compounds 6:2, 8:2, and 10:2 FTOH and the extension 12:2 FTOH are included, and accreditation covers both clean (e.g., surface, drinking, and groundwater) and unclean waters (e.g., leachate, process, and wastewater). The new market-leading LOQs are for 6:2 FTOH 5 ng/l and for the remaining 2 ng/l, both clean and unclean waters included.

The new analysis, with an updated method reference, will be incorporated into all “standard LOQ” packages such as PFAS24 (PLW8J/K) and PFAS30 (PLW9D/E). No changes to order codes or delivery times (TAT) will be made. However, under these new conditions, the degradation and volatility of FTOHs—confirmed in our own stability assessment—will be increasingly important. We strongly recommend that three 100 ml PFAS bottles be submitted, of which two should be frozen and one chilled.

Questions regarding PFAS can be directed to our analytical advisory service, available via customer support at 010-490 8110 or by email at sh-analys.miljo.se@etn.eurofins.com.