Avoiding Pitfalls in PFAS Research: A Guide for New Researchers

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have gained significant attention in recent years due to their ubiquitous presence in the environment, in humans, and in consumer products, driving increased interest in their detection and remediation. While standard protocols have been developed, the rapidly evolving PFAS research landscape presents challenges for researchers, particularly those new to the field. Awareness of common pitfalls in sample preparation, storage, analysis, and data interpretation is crucial to avoid misinterpretation and inaccurate conclusions. This perspective highlights these challenges and emphasizes the importance of careful PFAS selection and closing the fluorine mass balance to enhance the reliability and robustness of PFAS research, before closing with a list of best practices for researchers new to PFAS.