Europe is facing an unexpected environmental challenge: mineral watersymbol of purity, was found contaminated with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a compound dangerous for the human reproductive system and classified among the so-called “eternal chemical substances” (such as alkyl perfluorinated and polyfluorinated substances, i.e. PFAS) due to its resistance to degradation. The discovery of TFA in several brands of mineral water from various European nations raises significant concerns about the safety of such a critical resource.
The origin of the contamination
The presence of TFA in mineral waters has been traced back to the extensive use of pesticides that contain this substance or that degrade to form TFA in the environment. This contamination is of particular concern because mineral water should be isolated from artificial chemical influences. The investigation conducted by Pesticide Action Network Europe he revealed TFA levels up to 32 times higher than the European limit in 10 of the 19 mineral waters analyzed in 7 countries (Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Hungary and Luxembourg).
View this post on Instagram
Public health implications
TFA is known for its environmental longevity and mobilitymaking it difficult to remove from water and the environment in general. This substance not only persists in the environment, but it also accumulates in living organismsincluding humans, increasing its concentration over time. Despite attempts to develop effective technologies, there are currently no industrial methods capable of efficiently removing TFA from water.
Responsibilities and regulatory measures
Although mineral water producers are not directly responsible for the contamination, the problem requires urgent action from the authorities. Faced with this emergency, The European Commission is considering bans on two common pesticides containing TFA compoundsand there is a growing consensus emerging on the urgent need to review regulations relating to these chemicals. The proposal would also include the classification of these pesticides as reproductive toxicants, following growing awareness of their negative impact on health.
TFA Global Impact Study
A recent study titled “The Global Threat from Irreversible Accumulation of Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA)” conducted by Hans Peter H. Arp, Andrea Gredelj, Giuliana Glüge, Martin Scheringer, and Ian T. Cugini highlighted the severity of TFA accumulation in different environments, including rain, soils, human serum, plants and plant-based foods. TFA concentrations were significantly higher than other perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), confirming its extreme persistence in the environment.
TFA is a transformation product of many PFAS, including some fluorinated gases (F-gases), pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals. TFA’s high persistence and continuous emissions are leading to an irreversible increase in its environmental concentrations. The toxic effects of TFA, as evidenced by mammalian toxicity studies, include reproductive toxicity and hepatotoxicity. Data on ecotoxicity are still scarce, especially regarding the effects on terrestrial plants, where TFA tends to bioaccumulate more easily.
These findings suggest that TFA may be considered a planetary boundary threat to new chemical entities, given its increasing exposure on a global scale and the potential for irreversible impacts on vital Earth system processes. The response recommended by scholars is the adoption of binding measures to reduce emissions of TFA and its numerous precursors, and thus mitigate this growing global environmental and health threat.
