Advancing Airborne PFAS Characterization Near Industrial Sources Through Integrated Targeted and Non-targeted Offline Mass Spectrometry Analysis

YOONSUB KIM, Yufan Hu, Michael Davern, Sahir Gagan, Margot Francini, Miska Olin, Xiangxinyue Meng, Sining Niu, Alana Dodero, Sarah D. Brooks, Yue Zhang, Jason Surratt, Barbara Turpin, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

     Abstract Number: 117
     Working Group: Remote and Regional Atmospheric Aerosol

Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants associated with potential human health risks. Although elevated PFAS concentrations in air have been observed near fluoropolymer manufacturing facilities, prior monitoring efforts have largely focused on targeted analyses, limiting the detection of emerging or unknown compounds. This study was conducted as part of the 2025 Real-time Air Measurements of PFAS (RAMP) campaign in Fayetteville, NC, USA to address these limitations. Two types of low-volume samplers, quartz fiber filters (QFFs) and polyurethane foam (PUF)-XAD2-PUF cartridges, were deployed for four weeks at two stationary sites <2 km from a fluoropolymer manufacturing facility and on a mobile laboratory. The filters and cartridges sampled continuously without replacement during the sampling period. In each location, PM_2.5 samples were collected using a stack of six QFFs to capture total (gas- and particle-phase) ionic PFAS, considering that ionic PFAS can be substantially adsorbed onto QFFs. In contrast, PUF-XAD2-PUF cartridges collected gas-phase neutral PFAS. Additionally, high-volume air samplers collected six-day PM₁₀ samples on QFFs over an eight-week period, resulting in nine samples for each stationary site. Samples will be analyzed using targeted reverse-phase liquid chromatography interfaced to electrospray ionization coupled to high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (RPLC/ESI-HR-QToF-MS), and by gas chromatography interfaced to electron ionization coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to quantify 25 ionic and 9 neutral PFAS, respectively, using authentic standards. Non-targeted analysis will be explored using ion mobility spectrometry coupled to a high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (IMS-HR-QToF-MS). This integrated analytical approach enables both the quantification of established PFAS and the identification of previously unmonitored PFAS in ambient air. This study could contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the local atmospheric PFAS burden and support efforts to protect environmental and public health through enhanced monitoring strategies and future PFAS exposure assessments.