Contamination of Drinking Water and Food by Harmful Chemicals
In recent years, Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA) has emerged as a significant environmental contaminant in Europe, particularly in Austria, Germany, and other countries. This highly mobile and persistent chemical compound has been found in drinking water and food, raising concerns about its potential health effects.
TFA is part of the PFAS family, a group of industrially produced chemicals known for their persistence. Its sources include the degradation of PFAS-containing pesticides, industrial chemicals, and wastewater discharges. Pesticides alone account for about 76% of theoretical TFA release, making them a dominant source.
Researchers have found TFA in many mineral waters, including brands from discounters, at concentrations of up to one microgram per liter. The sudden appearance and dramatic increase of TFA have sparked many questions among scientists.
Health concerns revolve around TFA's suspected toxicity for human reproduction and developmental processes. Germany's Federal Office for Chemicals proposed classifying TFA as a reproductive toxicant under EU law in May 2025, highlighting concerns about impacts on fetal development and fertility. However, definitive evidence is still lacking.
Regulatory agencies in the EU, particularly Germany and Austria, are in the process of establishing hazard classifications and reviewing limits for TFA. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is actively evaluating TFA's hazard classification, with Germany and related federal agencies submitting reports recommending classification as toxic for reproduction and acknowledging its very persistent and highly mobile (vPvM) nature.
There is currently no EU-wide harmonized limit for TFA in drinking water. The Scientific Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) of ECHA will review these reports and public feedback in 2025 to advise the EU Commission on amending regulations. The European Commission has requested EFSA to review toxicological reference values for TFA, in part because of its status as a metabolite of concern in groundwater.
Calls for banning pesticides containing PFAS that degrade into TFA and for refusals of renewal applications for such pesticides due to regulatory non-compliance with pesticide law principles have also been made.
In Austria, a nationwide monitoring program is planned for 2025 to investigate TFA concentrations in drinking water, indicating growing governmental attention to this issue.
Despite the mystery surrounding TFA's origins and effects, its presence in drinking water and food necessitates awareness among all citizens. A comprehensive analysis of 48 grain products found TFA in all samples, and one biscuit contained 420 micrograms per kilogram of TFA, a peak value far surpassing any known drinking water concentration.
Authorities have found contaminated or polluted drinking water in the country. TFA's inconspicuous nature makes it challenging to detect, underscoring the need for regular testing and monitoring.
In summary, TFA contamination is recognized as a widespread environmental problem with potential reproductive toxicity. Regulatory agencies in the EU, particularly Germany and Austria, are in the process of establishing hazard classifications and reviewing limits, while proposing restrictions especially related to PFAS-containing pesticides, the predominant source of environmental TFA. Similar regulatory attention is expected in other countries such as the US in the near future. However, EU-wide harmonized limits and comprehensive regulations are still under development as of mid-2025.
[1] Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, Bau und Reaktorsicherheit (BMUB). (2021). Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in the environment and drinking water. Retrieved from https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/wasser/trifluoroacetic-acid-tfa-in-dem-umwelten-und-trinkwasser
[2] European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). (2021). Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). Retrieved from https://echa.europa.eu/registration-evaluation/registrants/registration-dossier-review/substance-centre/substance-centre-tfa
[3] Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). (2021). Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). Retrieved from https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/414/trifluoroacetic-acid-tfa.pdf
Consumer awareness regarding the presence of Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA) in health-and-wellness products, such as drinking water, food, and certain mineral waters, is crucial as this environmental contaminant, a part of the PFAS family, has been found to potentially harm human reproductive and developmental processes. European regulatory agencies, particularly in Germany and Austria, are taking measures to establish hazard classifications, review limits, and potentially restrict the use of PFAS-containing pesticides, a dominant source of TFA. A comprehensive analysis of various food products revealed TFA in all samples, with one biscuit containing a peak value far surpassing known drinking water concentrations, underscoring the need for regular testing and monitoring in environmental-science and health-and-wellness industries.
