MAS Now Offers Screening for PFAS Forever Chemicals
The Role of PFAS in Our Modern World
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of thousands of chemicals that have been used in a wide variety of products since the 1950s. Generally, they are found in nonstick coatings on packaging and cookware, stain-resistant clothes and carpets, paints and coatings, firefighting foam, wire jackets, cosmetics and hygiene products, and many other products used daily. PFAS are long-lasting, known as “forever chemicals,” breaking down very slowly and persisting in food products, the environment, and human bodies. Unfortunately, exposures to PFAS may be linked to health problems in humans and animals.
Due to the harmful effects of PFAS, in 2024 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a ban on PFAS-containing materials in food packaging, with further voluntary phase-outs of certain PFAS chemicals. Additionally, The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed test methods for detecting and measuring various PFAS in water, chemical substances, and the air. In 2024, the EPA designated some PFAS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.
Paints, coatings, and sealants can be screened by MAS for PFAS content.
How MAS Can Help You Screen for PFAS in Your Products
Materials Analytical Services (MAS) has new capabilities to screen for targeted PFAS compounds based on EPA Method 537.1, which allows for initial screening, compliance support, and preliminary investigations. MAS offers extremely sensitive detection of PFAS, with reporting limits in the 1-2 parts per billion (ppb) range, depending on the particular chemical matrix. These tests are ideal for:
· Identifying PFAS in paints, coatings, and sealants
· Screening cosmetics and personal care products
· Evaluating food-contact materials and packaging
· Assessing textiles and treated consumer goods
Want to Know More about PFAS Testing at MAS?
For more information on analyte lists, sample requirements, or turnaround times, you can contact Rae Carthon at MAS directly at rcarthon@mastest.com or info@mastest.com, or you can inquire via our website’s Contact Us page: https://www.mastest.com/contact.
Resources
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of thousands of "forever chemicals" that have been used in a wide variety of products since the 1950s. Generally, they are found in nonstick coatings on packaging and cookware, stain-resistant clothes and carpets, paints and coatings, firefighting foam, wire jackets, cosmetics and hygiene products, and many other products used daily.
If you manufacture and sell children's furniture or furnishings on Amazon, compliance is not optional. Amazon requires children's products intended for use by children up to 12 years of age to comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations. But beyond meeting baseline legal requirements, today's parents and retail buyers want proof that the products their children use every day are genuinely safe.
Materials Analytical Services, LLC (MAS) and the MAS Certified Green ® Low VOC Materials Certification Program are excited to announce a professional services agreement with Sustainable Stewardship Private Limited of New Delhi, India. Under the agreement, Sustainable Partnership P.L. agrees to refer all of its clients seeking VOC emissions testing and certification to MAS for testing and to the MAS Certified Green ® Program for certification.
A recent Fox 4 News report highlighted a recall of countertop ovens due to a burn hazard, after consumers reported incidents involving hot contents and unexpected breakage or failure of components. Although the specific product and brand may change from recall to recall, the underlying message is consistent: product safety issues tied to materials, coatings or construction can quickly become public, expensive and damaging to a brand.
Sustainability has moved from a niche talking point to a central expectation in the furniture industry. Designers, manufacturers, retailers, and buyers are all rethinking what “good furniture” means – not just in terms of style and comfort, but in terms of materials, emissions, durability, and end‑of‑life impact.
MAS’s VOC testing program has been assisting manufacturers of building/construction products and furniture for over 20 years in meeting LEED requirements as a way to increase their sales to the green building market.
NEED A CUSTOM ANALYSIS?
We welcome you to take full advantage of our highly specialized lab and expertise.
Resources
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of thousands of "forever chemicals" that have been used in a wide variety of products since the 1950s. Generally, they are found in nonstick coatings on packaging and cookware, stain-resistant clothes and carpets, paints and coatings, firefighting foam, wire jackets, cosmetics and hygiene products, and many other products used daily.
If you manufacture and sell children's furniture or furnishings on Amazon, compliance is not optional. Amazon requires children's products intended for use by children up to 12 years of age to comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations. But beyond meeting baseline legal requirements, today's parents and retail buyers want proof that the products their children use every day are genuinely safe.