Mary Wilson
Well-known member
What do mineral waters and a ‘forever chemical’ with a difficult-to-pronounce name
like trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) have in common? Nothing, at least in an ideal world.
Unfortunately, reality paints a different picture.
TFA is a very small and highly mobile, water-soluble chemical that does not degrade in nature. Its
extreme mobility enables it l to penetrate and accumulate even in deep groundwater reserves. TFA
is a so-called ‘forever chemical’ from the group of PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances)
and is a common stable degradation product from a large number of other PFAS, above all PFAS
pesticides from agriculture and F-gases from refrigeration technologies. Over the last three decades,
the spread of this forever chemical in the environment has dramatically increased. Today, TFA is
found everywhere: in rainwater, rivers, soil, plants, food, tap water and even human blood. The
measured concentrations are orders of magnitude higher than those we know from other PFAS,
pesticides or their degradation products. According to leading scientists, TFA is a planetary boundary
threat “because of increasing planetary-scale exposure, where potential irreversible disruptive
impacts on vital earth system processes could occur.”1
Mineral Water, on the other hand, is defined by law as "originally pure". This means that it must
originate from underground sources of water, which are assumed to be protected from all risks of
pollution. This purity is not only a key quality feature but also a legal requirement. For consumers,
mineral water symbolises pristine, natural purity. Mineral water should not be the subject of
treatment. While springs should be protected against risks of pollution, mineral water companies
may sometimes have limited influence on ensuring the protection of their water sources themselves.
Moreover, they are reliant on the responsible authorities to consistently implement the water
protection measures enshrined in EU water and pesticide legislation.
Our analysis shows with alarming clarity that the TFA contamination extends beyond surface and
tap waters to groundwater and deep aquifers that supply mineral water and are trusted to be
protected from human-made pollutants. In 7 out of 19 cases, the TFA contamination exceeds the
drinking water limit value for relevant pesticide metabolites, which is 0.1 µg/l (100 ng/l). In one case,
the upper limit for total PFAS ("total PFAS") of 0.5 µg/l (500 ng/l) proposed in the EU Drinking Water
Directive is also exceeded. This limit is due to come into force in 2026, although it will not be
implemented by all Member States.2 ...
https://www.pan-europe.info/sites/p...ever Chemical’ in European Mineral Waters.pdf
like trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) have in common? Nothing, at least in an ideal world.
Unfortunately, reality paints a different picture.
TFA is a very small and highly mobile, water-soluble chemical that does not degrade in nature. Its
extreme mobility enables it l to penetrate and accumulate even in deep groundwater reserves. TFA
is a so-called ‘forever chemical’ from the group of PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances)
and is a common stable degradation product from a large number of other PFAS, above all PFAS
pesticides from agriculture and F-gases from refrigeration technologies. Over the last three decades,
the spread of this forever chemical in the environment has dramatically increased. Today, TFA is
found everywhere: in rainwater, rivers, soil, plants, food, tap water and even human blood. The
measured concentrations are orders of magnitude higher than those we know from other PFAS,
pesticides or their degradation products. According to leading scientists, TFA is a planetary boundary
threat “because of increasing planetary-scale exposure, where potential irreversible disruptive
impacts on vital earth system processes could occur.”1
Mineral Water, on the other hand, is defined by law as "originally pure". This means that it must
originate from underground sources of water, which are assumed to be protected from all risks of
pollution. This purity is not only a key quality feature but also a legal requirement. For consumers,
mineral water symbolises pristine, natural purity. Mineral water should not be the subject of
treatment. While springs should be protected against risks of pollution, mineral water companies
may sometimes have limited influence on ensuring the protection of their water sources themselves.
Moreover, they are reliant on the responsible authorities to consistently implement the water
protection measures enshrined in EU water and pesticide legislation.
Our analysis shows with alarming clarity that the TFA contamination extends beyond surface and
tap waters to groundwater and deep aquifers that supply mineral water and are trusted to be
protected from human-made pollutants. In 7 out of 19 cases, the TFA contamination exceeds the
drinking water limit value for relevant pesticide metabolites, which is 0.1 µg/l (100 ng/l). In one case,
the upper limit for total PFAS ("total PFAS") of 0.5 µg/l (500 ng/l) proposed in the EU Drinking Water
Directive is also exceeded. This limit is due to come into force in 2026, although it will not be
implemented by all Member States.2 ...
https://www.pan-europe.info/sites/p...ever Chemical’ in European Mineral Waters.pdf