A recent study has revealed contamination of mineral water in several European countries with TFA, a type of PFAS “forever chemical” known for its reproductive toxicity and environmental persistence. This discovery raises serious concerns as mineral water is expected to be free from human-made pollutants.
Pesticides Blamed for Widespread Contamination
The contamination is believed to result from the extensive use of pesticides containing TFA or chemicals that degrade into TFA in the environment. Pesticide Action Network Europe tested 19 mineral waters and found TFA in 10 samples, with levels up to 32 times higher than the threshold that should trigger regulatory action within the European Union.
“This issue has gone under the radar, and it’s alarming because we are unknowingly drinking TFA,” said Angeliki Lysimachou, a co-author of the study. She emphasized that mineral water producers are not at fault, as the contamination originates from pesticide use.
TFA: A Persistent and Mobile Pollutant
TFA is a particularly problematic chemical due to its ability to persist and move through the environment easily. It is widely used as a refrigerant and as a stabilizer in pesticides. About 60% of all PFAS produced between 2019 and 2022 were fluorinated gases that convert to TFA. Unlike other PFAS, TFA is difficult to filter out of water on an industrial scale.
Researchers have found TFA levels significantly higher than other PFAS types. In Belgium, a recent study detected TFA in 93% of 600 water samples, with especially high concentrations in agricultural areas. Swiss authorities also reported widespread contamination of groundwater, while tests in Michigan, USA, found TFA in all rainwater samples.
Calls for Regulation Amid Industry Pushback
Despite mounting evidence of TFA’s toxicity, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently excluded it from PFAS classification, reducing regulatory scrutiny. Critics argue that the EPA faces industry pressure due to TFA’s economic significance for chemical producers.
In contrast, the European Commission is proposing a ban on two common pesticides containing TFA compounds and may classify TFA as a reproductive toxicant. The study’s authors from Pesticide Action Network Europe urge immediate action to ban the most widespread sources of TFA, particularly PFAS-based pesticides.
“The first step is to ban the most widespread sources of TFA,” the paper concludes, highlighting the urgent need for stronger regulations to protect public health and the environment from this persistent pollutant.
