Episode 55: PFAS in Water: Why We’re Missing 96% of the Problem | Dr. Leigh Terry #analyticalchemistry

What if most PFAS contamination isn’t even being measured?In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, we sit down with Dr. Leigh Terry from the University of Alabama to explore one of the biggest challenges in environmental analysis today: understanding—and accurately measuring—PFAS in water systems.While most regulatory methods focus on a small number of compounds like PFOA and PFOS, there may be thousands of PFAS compounds in the environment—and much of that burden goes undetected.--- 🔬 In this episode, we cover:* Why PFAS are called “forever chemicals” (and why that label is evolving)* The limitations of targeted LC-MS/MS methods* What the fluorine mass balance problem reveals about PFAS destruction* How combustion ion chromatography (CIC) helps measure total organofluorine* Why “99.99% removal” doesn’t always mean what you think* Where PFAS actually end up in wastewater treatment systems* The most effective technologies for PFAS removal today* Why drinking water may only account for ~20% of total PFAS exposure--- 💡 Key Insight:Even when analyzing dozens of PFAS compounds, researchers may only be capturing a small fraction of total organic fluorine—raising major questions about how we monitor and regulate these contaminants.--- 👤 About Our Guest:Dr. Leigh Terry leads research focused on water quality, emerging contaminants, and PFAS monitoring and treatment, combining advanced analytical chemistry with real-world environmental applications.--- 🎧 About the Podcast:Concentrating on Chromatography explores the intersection of analytical chemistry, mass spectrometry, and real-world lab applications—featuring researchers solving today’s most important scientific challenges.---👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with leaders in chromatography and analytical science.--- 🔗 Connect & Learn More:* Follow Dr. Leigh Terry’s work* Explore PFAS research and water quality topics* Subscribe for future episodes  --- #Tags#PFAS #WaterQuality #Chromatography #MassSpectrometry #LCMS #EnvironmentalScience #AnalyticalChemistry #ForeverChemicals