Análisis No Dirigido de PFAS y Contaminantes Heredados en Polvo

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are “forever chemicals” that have become ubiquitous in the environment, posing significant risks to human health due to their persistence and toxicity. House dust acts as a major sink for these compounds, as well as for legacy pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), phthalates, and chlorinated pesticides.

Analyzing these pollutants is exceptionally challenging because they exist within a highly complex matrix alongside thousands of other organic constituents. To address this, researchers employ comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) coupled with high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HR-TOFMS). By utilizing a Multi-Mode Source (MMS™) for versatile ionization and powerful software tools like scaled mass defect plots, analysts can filter through chemical noise to confidently identify and characterize both known toxins and emerging contaminants at trace levels, providing a clearer picture of indoor environmental safety.