Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council launches PFAS testing services at the Central Testing Laboratory

The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) has launched testing and analysis services for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at its Central Testing Laboratory in Abu Dhabi, enabling the detection of ultra-trace concentrations of PFAS in water, materials and consumer products. The laboratory’s new capability can identify PFAS compounds at extremely low levels, down to parts per trillion, and is intended to bolster regulatory oversight, environmental protection and product safety across the emirate.

“The introduction of PFAS testing services enhances the Central Testing Laboratory’s ability to address emerging environmental challenges faced by many countries around the world,” said H.E. Eng. Abdullah Hassan Al Muaini, Executive Director of the Central Testing Laboratory Sector. “Through these advanced analytical capabilities, we can support regulatory and industrial entities with reliable scientific data that contributes to informed decision-making and enhances environmental and public health safety levels in the emirate.”

Service details and technical capability

PFAS are a broad group of synthetic compounds noted for their exceptional resistance to environmental degradation, allowing them to persist in water, soil, air and within the human body. Used for decades across a wide array of industrial and consumer applications—such as coatings and insulation materials, water- and grease-resistant goods, various industrial and plastic products and everyday consumer items—PFAS have attracted growing global attention because of potential long-term environmental and health risks.

The Central Testing Laboratory’s new service uses sophisticated laboratory techniques to detect PFAS at ultra-trace concentrations, providing accurate scientific data to support regulatory authorities and decision-makers. According to the QCC announcement, the analytical methods enable identification of these compounds down to parts per trillion, a sensitivity level that is increasingly required as international bodies and national regulators tighten monitoring and limits for PFAS contamination.

Sectors supported

• Water and environmental sectors
• Industrial and energy sectors
• Entities concerned with public health and product safety

H.E. Eng. Fahad Ghareeb Al Shamsi, Acting Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council, affirmed that the launch of the PFAS testing service reflects the Council’s commitment to strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a global platform for advancing international standards and quality. He said the development of such services is part of the Council’s ongoing efforts to enhance the emirate’s quality infrastructure and support Abu Dhabi’s direction toward a “sustainable, knowledge- and innovation-driven economy.”

Outlook

The launch comes amid rising global efforts to monitor and mitigate PFAS, with many countries and international organisations developing regulatory frameworks and oversight programmes for these substances because of their potential impacts on ecosystems and public health. The QCC and Central Testing Laboratory present the new capability as an important step in enhancing Abu Dhabi’s environmental monitoring and analysis of emerging contaminants, positioning the laboratory as a regional hub for specialised testing that supports the emirate’s environmental sustainability and natural resource protection objectives.