TFA in Water: Dirty PFAS Legacy Under the Radar
A joint research by the European Pesticide Action Network (PAN Europe) and its members revealed a sharp increase in the contamination of European fruit and vegetables with pesticides from the problematic chemical group of PFAS, also known as ‘forever chemicals’. We now focus on their terminal degradation product, the highly persistent chemical trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). We analysed 23 surface water and six groundwater samples from ten EU countries for TFA residues and other PFAS. The extent of the contamination is alarming and calls for decisive action. The key findings are:
A) All water samples analysed contained
PFAS. More than 98 per cent of the total PFAS detected were TFA, a
known degradation product of PFAS pesticides and other PFAS.B) 79% of the samples had TFA levels
exceeding the proposed1 EU Drinking Water Directive limit of 500 ng/l
(nanograms per litre) for total ‘PFAS’.C) None of the other 23 PFAS analysed in this study exceed their respective limits proposed2 in the EU Drinking Water Directive.D) The detected TFA levels ranged from
370 ng/l to 3,300 ng/l with an average of 1,180 ng/l. The average level
of the sum of all other 23 PFAS together was 17.5 ng/l.E) The TFA levels found in surface and
groundwater represent the largest known area-wide water contamination by
a manmade chemical. F) PFAS pesticides appear to be the main cause of
water contamination with TFA in rural areas, followed by refrigerants,
sewage treatment and industrial pollution.G) The regrettable categorisation of
TFA as a ‘non-relevant’ metabolite under the EU Pesticide Regulation has
hindered effective groundwater protection in the EU.H) The EU Water Framework Directive’s
‘prohibition of deterioration’ should have prevented decades of
escalating TFA pollution, yet it has failed to do so.I) The narrative that short-chain PFAS
(like TFA) are harmless originates from the PFAS manufacturing industry
but is increasingly challenged by current scientific evidence.J) Growing resistance from the largest political group in the European Parliament is threatening the proposed group ban on PFAS.The extent of this contamination is shocking. It
is a result of political failure at many levels. What is needed now is
swift and decisive action, including: (i) a rapid ban on PFAS pesticides
by considering persistence of a synthetic active substance or that of
its metabolites as an unacceptable effect on the environment, (ii) the
implementation of the new Persistent, Mobile and Toxic (PMT) and very
Persistent and very Mobile (vPvM) hazard classes under the EU Pesticide
Regulation, (iii) the implementation of the general PFAS restriction
under the REACH Chemicals Regulation, (iv) the categorisation of TFA as a
‘priority substance’ under the Water Framework Directive, and (v)
monitoring obligations and limit values for TFA.