Addressing Matrix Complexity in PFAS Analysis: Chromatographic Strategies for Soil, Serum, and Food

The persistence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has raised serious concerns, because they accumulate in the environment, in animals, and ultimately the human body, posing significant health risks. Consequently, intensive research focuses on their detection and quantification. However, PFAS analysis remains challenging due to their presence at trace-level concentrations and the complexity of sample matrices, requiring highly sensitive and accurate analytical methods. This article addresses these challenges by presenting three analytical approaches for the precise and reliable determination of PFAS by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC–MS) in complex matrices such as soil, human serum, and food.