Forever chemicals” above the limit in the water of European countries
The Pesticide Action Network Europe identified “eternal chemical” in 10 out of 19 mineral waters, and in fact at levels up to 32 times above the European Union’s alarm threshold.
🚱 Contamination with TFA in supposedly “virgin” waters
Mineral water from various European countries has been found for the first time to be contaminated with TFA, a type of PFAS “forever chemical” that is a toxic agent for reproduction and accumulates at alarming levels worldwide.
❗ Why the finding is concerning
The finding is striking because the mineral water should be pristine and free from any kind of anthropogenic chemicals. The contamination is believed to stem from the widespread use of pesticides containing TFA, or compounds that convert to it in the environment, which are used worldwide. The Pesticide Action Network Europe detected TFA in 10 out of 19 mineral waters, and indeed at levels up to 32 times above the threshold that should trigger regulatory action in the European Union. The findings underscore the need for “urgent action,” the authors of the paper wrote, and come as authorities there propose new limits for certain TFA pesticide products.
🗣️ Special statement
This has gone completely unnoticed and is concerning because we are drinking TFA,” said Angeliki Lysimachou, author at Pesticide Action Network Europe. “It is much more widespread than we thought.” She added that researchers do not blame bottled water producers because the issue is not their fault. The finding comes as researchers are trying to get a handle on TFA pollution globally. While they have long established that PFAS pollution is ubiquitous, they have found TFA levels that are orders of magnitude higher than other forever chemicals.
🌍 Uses of TFA and issues
In addition to its use in pesticides, TFA is a common refrigerant intended to be a safe replacement for older greenhouse gases, such as CFCs, and is often used in the production of clean energy. However, recent research has also established it as a potent greenhouse gas that can remain in the atmosphere for 1,000 years. About 60% of all PFAS manufactured from 2019 to 2022 were fluorinated gases that convert to TFA. It is a particularly challenging chemical due to its high mobility and longevity in the environment. Meanwhile, filtration technology that is effective in removing other PFAS from water cannot address TFA on an industrial scale.
🏭 The industry’s reaction
Nevertheless, the industry is increasing the use of TFA or the chemical substances that are converted into them when they are found in the environment, claiming that they are a safe, natural, and non-toxic replacement for older PFAS and refrigerants. Growing evidence from independent researchers has contradicted these claims.
🧬 Use in pesticides and new findings
In pesticides, TFA is likely used as a stabilizer or to otherwise enhance effectiveness – about 40% of all active ingredients added to pesticides in the U.S. are PFAS. The new paper follows research that found TFA in 93% of more than 600 Belgian water samples, with particularly high levels in agricultural areas.
🇨🇭 Examples from Europe and the USA
Meanwhile, Swiss authorities found it to be ubiquitous in the country’s groundwater. In the U.S., all rainwater samples tested in Michigan contained the chemical. Nevertheless, the Environmental Protection Agency recently excluded TFA from classification as PFAS, subjecting it to less scrutiny. Public health groups stated that the EPA is under pressure because TFA is a significant profitable product for chemical manufacturers.
🇪🇺 Initiatives from the European Union
Meanwhile, the EU Commission is proposing a ban on two common pesticides that contain TFA compounds, which may soon be classified as a toxic substance for reproduction.
🚫 What the Pesticide Action Network Europe recommends
The first step is the ban on the most common sources of TFA, PFAS pesticides,” is stated in the document from Pesticide Action Network Europe.
With information from Guardian (Lifo)
