ASTM’s environmental assessment committee is also revising and developing other PFAS-related standards
Jul 16, 2025
ASTM International’s environmental assessment, risk management, and corrective action committee (E50) has recently approved a new standard. The new standard (E3439) will be used to help planning analysis and selecting a laboratory when data is being collected for a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) sampling project.
Once samples have been submitted and data received from a laboratory, the new guide will aid in interpreting the data, especially when the method used for analysis is a modification of one of the US Environmental Protection Agency drinking water methods 537.1 and 533. “When analytical methods are modified, evaluation of the resultant data benefits from clear guidance as is provided by E3439," according to ASTM member and task group co-lead, Stephanie Fiorenza, a remediation technology expert at Jacobs Engineering.
The new guide can be used by any party involved in response actions to PFAS-impacted environmental media, including consultants and contractors, site remediation professionals, data reviewers and users, regulatory agencies, project sponsors, and others.
This effort directly relates to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #6 on clean water and goal #7 on affordable and clean energy.
In addition to developing the new standard, the environmental assessment committee has recently revised its standard on PFAS analytical methods selection (E3302) and is developing a proposed PFAS sampling guide for environmental media (WK94262).
“PFAS continues to be challenging for environmental professionals, industry and regulators for site characterization and regulatory compliance,” says ASTM member Elieen Snyder, regional technical coordinator, Pace Analytical Services-Northeast. “These three guides support environmental professionals, industrial manufacturers, consumers, and laboratories on PFAS challenges.”
ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. Become a member at www.astm.org/JOIN.
September / October 2025
