# name
Analysis of neutral per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in menstrual products

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Treballs Finals de Grau de Química, Facultat de Química, Universitat de Barcelona, Any: 2026, Tutores: Estela Giménez López, Lara Cioni

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
Menstruation is an endocrine reproductive process present in all women, characterized by a monthly bleeding of around five days, from menarche to menopause. Throughout the fertile years, it involves the use of approximately 11,000 single-use menstrual products. Vulvar tissues exhibit a high absorption capacity, facilitating the transfer of chemicals contained in these products into the bloodstream. This constant exposure between the vulvar area and such products highlights the necessity to study their composition to assess the potential health risks they may present.
Recent studies have demonstrated a significant presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in menstrual products. PFAS are compounds constituted by fully or partially fluorinated carbon chains attached to a functional group. Both the nature of the functional group and the length of the chain determine properties that influence their adsorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. PFAS can act as endocrine disruptors or immunotoxins capable of bioaccumulating in the human body, potentially leading to severe health problems after prolonged exposure, such as fertility disorders or certain types of cancer.
Until now, most research has focused on the analysis of ionic PFAS, as neutral PFAS present high analytical complexity due to their volatility. For this reason, the objective of the present study was to develop and analytical method to analyse the presence of specific neutral PFAS, particularly FTOHs, FTACs, and FTMACs, and to compare the concentrations obtained with previous studies and with current regulations.
A total of 23 samples of menstrual products were prepared, including reusable products (reusable pads and menstrual underwear) and single-use products (pantyliners and single-use pads). Additionally, a recovery study was carried out to determine the most suitable clean-up method, comparing the use of envicarb dispersive (ED) and envicarb cartridge (EC), due to the complexity of matrix effects present in the samples.
Sample preparation consisted of an initial extraction of components using two solvent mixtures (hexane/isopropanol and acetonitrile/methanol), followed by clean-up with ED, established as the most efficient method. Finally, the samples were analysed using GC coupled to Orbitrap-HRMS. The method was validated in terms of reproducibility, and detection limits were established for all analytes under study.
Due to a malfunction of the GC-Orbitrap-HRMS instrument, it was not possible to carry out the determination of PFAS in the menstrual products samples extracted for this TFG. Faced with this limitation, a review of previously reported analysis of volatile PFAS in menstrual products was carried. As of today, only one study in menstrual products from the United States was found. In this study, reusable products showed higher PFAS concentrations than single-use products. In the case of reusable products, menstrual underwear was found to present the highest concentrations. As for single-use products, the greatest presence of PFAS was found in single-use pads. Given that current PFAS regulation in products from the United States is similar to regulation in the EU, similar results are expected for the samples extracted in this TFG.

# metadata.dc.rights[].value
cc-by-nc-nd (c) Inglés Giménez, Laia, 2026

# metadata.dc.title[].value
Analysis of neutral per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in menstrual products

# metadata.dc.title.alternative[].value
Anàlisis de substàncies per – i polifluoroalquilades (PFAS) neutres en productes menstruals