Assessing PFAS fingerprints and precursor burden in AFFF-impacted waters and sediments: An operational screening
Jeonghoon Park1, Soobin Choi2, Taeyeon Kim2
1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Health & Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
Water Research
|April 14, 2026
Summary
A new framework identified AFFF-PFAS contamination in South Korean waters and sediments. This method helps prioritize sites for investigation and management of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is a major source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination.
- Characterizing PFAS sources and distribution in the environment is crucial for effective remediation.
- Existing methods may not fully capture the complexity of AFFF-derived PFAS mixtures and their precursors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and apply an integrated fingerprinting framework for characterizing AFFF-derived PFAS in surface waters and sediments.
- To identify and quantify target and suspect PFAS, including novel compounds, in impacted sites.
- To estimate the burden of oxidizable PFAS precursors and evaluate the utility of the framework for site investigation prioritization.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of 50 target PFAS using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
- Screening of suspect PFAS using ion mobility-high-resolution mass spectrometry (IM-HRMS) with collision cross-section (CCS) data.
- Application of the total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay to estimate PFCA precursors in surface waters.
Main Results:
- High concentrations of ΣPFAS, PFOS, and PFHxS were detected in surface waters, and sediments were dominated by long-chain sulfonates.
- Suspect screening identified diverse PFAS classes, including ECF-typical sulfonamides and a novel FT betaine, with tentative identification of Class 1 bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimides.
- The TOP assay revealed significant pools of unknown oxidizable precursors, and the fingerprinting framework successfully supported hotspot identification and prioritization.
Conclusions:
- The integrated fingerprinting framework effectively characterizes AFFF-derived PFAS contamination and precursor burdens.
- The study identified key PFAS signatures and prioritized areas for further investigation and management.
- The developed operational indicators serve as a practical screening tool for decision-making at PFAS-impacted sites.
