Determination of the spread of PFAS in the atmosphere at contaminated sites using adsorptive preconcentration and GC-Orbitrap-MS

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of more than 10,000 synthetic compounds that have been widely used in industrial and consumer products for decades. Due to their water-, oil-, and dirt-repellent properties, they are of particular interest to many manufacturers, especially in industries such as textiles, food packaging, and firefighting foams. However, there is growing concern about their environmental persistence and toxicity. According to the Forever Pollution Project, there are at least 22,934 contamination sites across Europe, with 2,032 of these located in Germany alone. The extensive presence of PFAS underscores the urgent need for effective regulation and remediation efforts to address this growing environmental concern. One of the hotspots for PFAS contamination is Rastatt, Germany. Due to the contaminated agricultural soil, the ambient air in Rastatt was analyzed to determine the spread of PFAS in the air.