A new study has found that mineral water in several European countries is contaminated with TFA, a type of PFAS “forever chemical” known for its reproductive toxicity and environmental persistence. The contamination is believed to be linked to the widespread use of pesticides containing TFA or chemicals that degrade into it.
Pesticide Use Linked to Mineral Water Contamination
The discovery is particularly alarming because mineral water is expected to be pure and free from human-made pollutants. Pesticide Action Network Europe tested 19 samples of mineral water and found TFA contamination in 10 samples, with levels reaching up to 32 times the threshold that should trigger regulatory intervention in the European Union.
“This has largely gone unnoticed, and it’s concerning because we are unknowingly consuming TFA,” said Angeliki Lysimachou, a co-author of the study. She clarified that mineral water producers are not to blame, as the contamination originates from pesticide use.
TFA: A Persistent and Widespread Chemical
TFA is highly mobile and long-lasting in the environment, making it difficult to remove through standard filtration techniques. Originally used as a refrigerant to replace harmful greenhouse gases like CFCs, TFA has now been identified as a significant environmental concern. Between 2019 and 2022, around 60% of all PFAS produced were fluorinated gases that convert to TFA.
Recent studies have found high levels of TFA in Belgian groundwater, with contamination in 93% of over 600 samples tested, particularly in agricultural regions. In Switzerland, TFA was found to be widespread in groundwater, and in the US, rainwater samples from Michigan consistently contained the chemical.
Regulatory Action Urgently Needed
Despite the growing evidence of TFA’s toxicity, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently excluded it from PFAS classification, reducing oversight. Critics argue that this decision was influenced by the economic interests of chemical producers.
In contrast, the European Commission is considering a ban on two widely used pesticides that contain TFA compounds and may soon classify TFA as a reproductive toxicant. The study’s authors stress the urgency of banning PFAS-based pesticides to prevent further contamination.
“The first step is to eliminate the most significant sources of TFA, particularly pesticides containing PFAS,” the report concludes. Stronger regulations are needed to safeguard public health and protect the environment from this persistent chemical threat.