The PFAS issue remains in the spotlight. These substances, now widespread in the environment and in the food chain, fuel growing concerns for public health. In recent months, Greenpeace had already documented the contamination in Italian drinking water with the first national map: the snapshot showed a widespread presence and high concentrations in various regions of the country.
The organization then extended the analysis to bottled water: 16 samples were purchased in a supermarket in Rome, representing the 8 best-selling brands in Italy. The analyzes were carried out in two independent laboratories, one in Germany and one in Italy, to ensure robustness of the results.
The waters tested are as follows:
What are PFAS
PFAS (poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances) are used in numerous consumer products due to their water- and oil-repellent properties. This effectiveness of use coexists with a big problem: PFAS do not degrade easily and accumulate in the environment. Studies and health authorities correlate exposure to these compounds with serious effects on the body, including liver damage, endocrine and thyroid alterations, weakened immune system, kidney and testicular tumors, infertility and increased risk of diabetes.
Method and result of the survey on bottled water
The tests conducted revealed results that deserve attention: only two brands, Ferrarelle and San Benedetto Naturale, were found to be free of detectable PFAS, with concentrations below the threshold of 50 ng/L.
In the other six brands, the tests highlighted the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), the most widespread PFAS globally, known for its great persistence and mobility in the environment.
The highest concentrations of TFA were recorded in:
Positive values also appeared in Rocchetta, San Pellegrino and Uliveto, all with levels indicating contamination.
What is TFA and why is it a concern
TFA belongs to the PFAS family and is characterized by high persistence and wide environmental mobility: it does not decompose easily and can accumulate in living organisms. German authorities consider it toxic for reproduction; for this reason Germany has asked the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to recognize it as a “relevant metabolite” of plant protection products. TFA has been detected in soil, surface and deep waters, organisms and even human blood, which explains its reappearance in mineral waters as well.
The reaction of brands and Greenpeace communications
Greenpeace reports that, after the publication of the results, the affected brands were contacted to obtain clarifications: no comments were received from the companies involved. This silence increases the sense of alert around the issue and raises questions about transparency in the production and bottling supply chains.
Regulatory framework and steps taken in Italy and Europe
In March 2025, the Italian Council of Ministers approved a decree that lowers the limits of PFAS in drinking water and introduces specific restrictions on TFA, a provision that awaits conversion into law. At the European level, Directive 2020/2184 provides limits for PFAS in drinking water and will be fully applicable from 2026. Several experts remain critical of those limits, judging them to be less stringent than the standards already adopted in countries such as Germany, Denmark and the United States.
Because the question does not end with limits
Reducing the threshold limits represents a necessary, but not sufficient step: as long as the production and use of PFAS continues on a large scale, the environmental impact will persist and the compounds will enter the food chain. This is why Greenpeace is calling for a rule that completely prohibits the production and use of PFAS, promoting safer alternatives.
How to contribute
Greenpeace has activated a petition to support the request for a “zero-PFAS” law. Anyone wishing to support this initiative can find it here.
