New standard improves PFAS sampling consistency

A new ASTM International standard is aiming to bring greater consistency to the way PFAS are sampled across environmental monitoring programmes.

The approved guideline, E3511, developed by ASTM’s environmental assessment, risk management and corrective action committee (E50), sets out structured best practice for collecting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from a range of environmental media, including water, soil, and biological samples.

Sampling PFAS has long presented difficulties for laboratories and field teams, with variations in collection methods, contamination risks, and complex sample matrices all contributing to uncertainty in downstream analysis. The new standard addresses these challenges by formalising approaches to project planning, sampling design, media-specific collection techniques, field procedures, and quality control measures.

ASTM member Eileen Snyder of Pace Analytical Services noted that the guideline is designed to support a more unified approach to PFAS sampling, helping practitioners apply consistent methods across different environmental settings. This, in turn, is expected to improve the reliability and comparability of analytical data used in environmental assessments.

Alongside its practical laboratory focus, the standard also aligns with wider sustainability goals, including UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.

The committee responsible for E3511 has also pointed to ongoing work in PFAS source differentiation using forensic techniques, signalling further development in how environmental scientists may trace and interpret PFAS contamination in future studies. 

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