A study conducted by PAN Europe, the Pesticide Action Network, has uncovered the presence of a substance named TFA (trifluoroacetic acid) in the water of European countries, which remains undetectable during standard monitoring procedures, according to “Le Monde“.
This research follows PAN Europe’s first measurement campaign in late May, which uncovered widespread contamination of water bodies with TFA throughout the European Union.
The new study involved collecting 55 samples of drinking water—36 from taps and 19 from bottles—across 11 countries, including Spain, France, Germany, Austria, and Belgium. The water technology center in Karlsruhe, Germany, conducted the analyses.
TFA is classified as a “forever chemical,” and extensive human exposure to such substances, according to Harvard, is linked to diseases such as cancer.
TFA was found in 34 of the 36 tap water samples and 12 of the 19 bottled water samples. The French newspaper Le Monde said, “The findings are as alarming as those observed in rivers.”
The highest concentration in Europe was found in the federal state of Upper Austria, with approximately 4,100 nanograms per liter, followed by Paris, with a concentration of 2,100 nanograms per liter.
The presence of TFA in water is primarily due to the breakdown of pesticides from the PFAS family (around 12% of active substances in synthetic pesticides approved in the EU) and fluorinated gases used in cooling systems (refrigerators, air conditioners)
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