Measurement of PFAS Released from Thermally Stressed Carpet and Upholstery Textiles

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Environment
Poster Presentation

Prepared by B. Stinger
National Institute of Standards and Technology , 100 Bureau Drive, Building 224 A261, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899, United States


Contact Information: [email protected]; 301-975-3166

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in household products to impart water repellency and stain resistance with carpets, carpet padding, and upholstered furniture often incorporating PFAS-based coatings or Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane. While previous studies have quantified PFAS in indoor air and analyzed PFAS accumulation in carpet dust, little is known about the release of PFAS release from these materials when subjected to high temperatures, such as during a fire. Thermal degradation at elevated temperatures could lead to the increased breakdown and volatilization of PFAS, thereby increasing airborne risk exposure. This study investigates PFAS emissions from carpet and upholstery textiles heated between 25°C and 600°C in a controlled tube furnace environment. During each test, airborne emissions were captured using thermal desorption (TD) tubes and soot was collected for further analysis. Additionally, methanol wipes of the quartz tube were taken post-experiment to analyze for residual deposition. All collected samples were analyzed for 55 PFAS targeted, spanning volatile, semivolatile, and nonvolatile PFAS using liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Preliminary findings on PFAS release profiles under varying thermal conditions will be presented.