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Poly- and perfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFAS) pose a significant environmental and health risk on a global scale. PFAS have been produced since the 1940s, and due to their halogen content, they are extremely stable and are therefore listed as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in environmental registries. It is well-known, that they are able to bind to proteins in living organisms, which is why they are also enriched in human blood plasma, resulting carcinogenic and immunosuppressive effects. The latest Drinking Water Directive in the EU nr. 2020/2184 establishes a “group limit” value for the total PFAS of 0.5 μg/l or the limit for the ‘sum of 20 PFAS’ of 0.1 μg/l in drinking water. These low limit values ​​require the use of highly sensitive and selective analytical methods with detection and quantification capabilities in the low μg/l range. 

In the past two years, the Department of Food Chemistry and Analytics of the Institute of Food Science and Technology of MATE has developed and validated an analytical protocol covering 18 PFA-compounds, which was used for the quantification of PFAS contamination of the drinking water base of Budapest agglomeration. Continuing the work, an even more extensive modern isotope dilution analytical method covering 40 PFAS has been launched within the framework of the international HU-RIZONT tender entitled “PFAQuatic - Investigation of the environmental effects of certain PFA compounds in surface waters, aquaculture and related agricultural products”. According to our plans, the method will be used to assess the PFAS contamination of Hungary's surface waters and fish, and we will also provide data for the toxicological studies undertaken in the project. 

Dr. Marczika Andrásné Dr. Sörös Csilla 

Research Excellence Programme