Determination of Perfluorinated Alkyl Acid concentrations in Human Serum and Milk Standard Reference Materials

Published

October 28, 2009

Author(s)

Jennifer M. Lynch, Antonia M. Calafat, Kayoko Kato, Mark E. Ellefson, William K. Reagen, Mark Strynar, Steven G. O'Connell, Craig M. Butt, Scott Mabury, Jeff Small, D.C.G. Muir, Stefan D. Leigh, Michele M. Schantz

Abstract

Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) are homogeneous, well-characterized materials that are used to validate measurement methods and are critical in improving data quality. Disagreements in perfluorinated alkyl acid (PFAA) concentrations measured in environmental matrices during past inter-laboratory comparisons emphasized the need for SRMs certified for PFAAs. We performed a new inter-laboratory comparison among six laboratories and provided, for the first time, value assignment of PFAAs in SRMs. Concentrations for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and other PFAAs in two human serum and two human milk SRMs are reported. Good data comparability was observed for serum SRM 1957 using different analytical methods in six laboratories and for milk SRM 1954 in three laboratories. The inter-laboratory RSD for PFOS in SRM 1957 was 7%, which is an improvement over past inter-laboratory studies. Matrix interferences are discussed, as well as temporal trends and the percentage of branched vs. linear isomers. The concentrations in these SRMs are similar to the present-day average concentrations measured in human serum and milk, resulting in representative and useful control materials for PFAA human monitoring studies.

Citation

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

Volume

397

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-009-3222-x

Keywords

PFCs, PFAAs, SRMs, CRMs, blood, perfluorooctane sulfonate, PFOS

Citation

Lynch, J. , Calafat, A. , Kato, K. , Ellefson, M. , Reagen, W. , Strynar, M. , O'Connell, S. , Butt, C. , Mabury, S. , Small, J. , Muir, D. , Leigh, S. and Schantz, M. (2009), Determination of Perfluorinated Alkyl Acid concentrations in Human Serum and Milk Standard Reference Materials, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, [online], https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-009-3222-x (Accessed October 13, 2025)