Perfluorinated organic compounds (PFOS) are a large group of organic pollutants of anthropogenic origin, which are used as additives in various products industry: polishes and water repellent mixture, covering clothing and textiles, foam to extinguish the fire.

PFOS are persistent substances that can accumulate in the tissues of animals and humans. Global production of PFOS is gradually decreasing due to reveal in recent times the toxicity of these compounds and a possible Association with increased risk of cancer. Some PFOS are included in the list of the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPS), and since 27.07.2008 restrictions on the manufacture of PFOS and their use in new products non-food sector in the EU.

The experts involved in the definition of these pollutants, used several methods of extraction and purification of PFOS-containing extracts for the subsequent determination of the concentration of PFOS in animal tissues. Scientific staff VGNKI has created a new technique, which in some respects is fundamentally different from existing today. In the study, experts have compared traditional and new methods for cleaning up extracts containing PFOS from fish tissues. Optimal was named the method comprising a stage of application of aluminum oxide. This method is sufficiently accurate and reliable for the extraction of PFOS from fish tissues.