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A new investigation has revealed that mineral water from several European countries contains TFA, a type of PFAS “forever chemical” known for its harmful effects on reproduction. The contamination likely stems from extensive pesticide use, raising concerns over water purity and public health.

Pesticides to Blame for Widespread TFA Pollution

Mineral water, traditionally considered pure and free of pollutants, has now been found contaminated with TFA. Pesticide Action Network Europe analyzed 19 mineral water samples and detected TFA in 10 of them, with levels up to 32 times higher than the threshold that warrants regulatory action in the European Union.

“This issue has largely gone unnoticed, and it’s alarming because we are consuming TFA without realizing it,” said Angeliki Lysimachou, a co-author of the report. She clarified that mineral water producers are not at fault, as the contamination originates from pesticides containing TFA or chemicals that degrade into it.

TFA: A Persistent and Hard-to-Remove Pollutant

TFA is highly mobile, long-lasting, and difficult to remove through conventional water treatment methods. Originally used as a refrigerant to replace harmful CFCs, TFA has become a significant environmental concern. Between 2019 and 2022, around 60% of all PFAS produced were fluorinated gases that convert into TFA.

The issue is not limited to Europe. Recent studies have found TFA contamination in 93% of over 600 Belgian water samples, particularly in agricultural regions. In Switzerland, the chemical is widespread in groundwater, and in the United States, rainwater samples from Michigan also contained TFA.

Urgent Call for Regulatory Action

Despite mounting evidence of TFA’s dangers, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has excluded it from the PFAS classification, subjecting it to less oversight. Critics argue that economic pressure from chemical manufacturers influenced this decision.

Meanwhile, the European Commission is proposing a ban on two commonly used pesticides that contain TFA compounds. TFA may soon be classified as a reproductive toxicant in the EU.

“The first priority is to ban the primary sources of TFA, specifically PFAS-containing pesticides,” the report concludes. Immediate action is necessary to protect water quality, public health, and the environment from this pervasive and long-lasting pollutant.