Paragon Lab" PFAS, Hype or Reality?

BY JOHN PARMENTIER, OWNER AND PRESIDENT, PARAGON LABORATORIES

PFAS are an emerging contaminant with high visibility in Michigan and throughout the world. These Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl man-made chemicals do not break down in the environment and are found in a number of sources, including food, food packaging materials, commercial household products (stain and waterrepellent fabrics, non-stick and cleaning products, paints and polishes), firefighting foams, workplace settings, drinking water, wastewater and groundwater. Such widespread use begs the question, are these chemicals as harmful as the level of visibility suggests or is the reaction overblown?

Paragon Laboratories, Inc. is a privatelyheld provider of chemical, physical, and biological testing laboratory services – their most recent offering is sampling and analysis of PFAS. The company is committed to bringing the highest quality PFAS consulting, sampling, and testing services to the environmental market.

PFAS chemicals have been manufactured and used since the 1940s in the United States. Like many chemicals, PFAS were widely adopted due to their unique chemical properties – resistant to heat, water and oil – before the risks they posed were understood. Only recently have their potential health effects been studied, and due to the sheer number of compounds, estimated in the thousands, that research is limited. However, there is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse health conditions in humans, including increased cholesterol, low infant birth weights, immune system effects, and certain types of cancer and thyroid disease.

Further, due to their persistence, the chemicals bio-accumulate in the body over time increasing the likelihood of health-related issues.

But what level is safe?

While no one really knows for certain, many states, led by Michigan, are now starting to set acceptable limits for PFAS in drinking water. The EPA has set a lifetime health advisory (LTHA) level for two PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), in drinking water. An LTHA is the level, or amount, below which no harm is expected from the chemical listed in the advisory. The combined LTHA level for PFOA and PFOS is 70 parts per trillion (ppt). There are other PFAS compounds that do not yet have LTHA levels. Some states have been even more conservative than the EPA, including Michigan which has some advisory limits below 10ppt on certain PFAS chemicals. For those levels to be attained and the health risks to be fully researched, a trusted laboratory testing partner is essential.

At Paragon Laboratories, Inc., their commitment and focus is on providing customers, and Michigan communities, with best-in-class service for their PFAS initiatives. Currently, Paragon Laboratories is able to achieve detection of many PFAS compounds below 5ppt, with a standard reporting limit for PFOA and PFOS of 2ppt. As the regulations for PFAS continue to evolve, Paragon is committed to being there to help meet the needs for both sampling and analysis by staying current with best practices and technology, including the newly promulgated first EPA methods for PFAS analysis. For more information please visit: https:// www.paragonlaboratories.com/pfas.

While the most recent testing services added at Paragon relate to PFAS chemicals, the company is capable of performing over 225 unique analytical testing procedures. Their testing services support three primary categories: Fuels & Lubricants, Chemicals, and Waters & Environment.

In business since 1996, Paragon is committed to providing high quality results and outstanding service to all customers. Their clients trust that their testing complies with the most current regulations and program requirements. Thus, Paragon Laboratories employs a management system that meets the specifications of the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard.

See the graphic for more information on other categories in which Paragon Laboratories offers testing services.

The majority of the testing services Paragon performs fall into one of these categories:

• Risk Management

• Satisfaction of an External Requirement or a Regulation

• Satisfaction of Data Verification

• Satisfaction of Internal Process Control

• Satisfaction of Data Verification

• Protection of Human Health

• Protection of the Environment

While the reality of the PFAS threat to human health is yet to be fully understood, Paragon is on the leading edge of PFAS testing and fully committed to answering the question: PFAS chemicals: hype or reality?

PARAGONLABORATORIES.COM