New test method for determination of extractable per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products by solvent extraction followed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in consumer products, raising health and environmental concerns due to their potential for toxicity and bioaccumulation. Although methods for PFAS extraction and analysis exist, few are tailored for consumer products, and most rely on time-consuming and costly solid-phase extraction (SPE). This study introduces a new SPE-free method for extracting and analyzing PFAS in six consumer product categories: paper, plastics, fabrics, cosmetics, metals, and "other". The method applies co-solvation extraction, large-volume injection, and co-injection of 0.1% acetic acid, significantly enhancing detection limits and PFAS peak shapes. Recoveries of surrogate standards in plastics and metals met quality control criteria (50-150%). However, paper, fabric, cosmetic, and "other" matrices adversely affected the recoveries of fluorotelomer sulfonic acids and electrochemical fluorination-derived PFAS surrogates. Recoveries of native PFAS spikes in polymer containers and aluminum foil ranged from 82 to 140%, except for 3:3 FTCA and 8:2 diPAP. Meanwhile, more complex matrices including, cosmetic pressed powder, food packaging, athletic tape, and dress shirt, substantially impacted the recoveries of multiple spiked PFAS. Among the extraction methods evaluated, Soxhlet extraction yielded the highest PFAS concentrations but was prone to matrix interference and potential PFAS artifacts, limiting its suitability for PFAS analysis. In contrast, cryo-milling enhanced PFAS extraction when incorporated into the co-solvation protocol. Overall, the co-solvation method provides a complementary approach for PFAS analysis in selected consumer products, although further optimization is needed to improve the recovery of challenging analytes and minimize matrix interferences in complex matrices.