The concentration of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in precipitation worldwide has significantly increased, with traces already found in human blood, food, and beverages.
Scientists are observing a significant increase in the concentration of synthetic trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a compound classified as a “forever chemical,” in various forms of precipitation worldwide – from rain and snow to Arctic meltwater.
TFA enters the environment from various sources, including industrial production, leaks from refrigerants used in cooling and air conditioning systems, the breakdown of certain pesticides, and even from the use of anesthetics.
Traces of the Acid Detected in Human Blood and Urine
Over the past decade, TFA concentration in tree leaves in Germany has increased 5-10 fold. Furthermore, its presence is increasingly detected in Arctic ice cores, Danish groundwater, and European rivers.
Because TFA does not degrade naturally, it accumulates in soil, water, and living organisms. Traces have already been found in human blood and urine, as well as in food products and beverages.
Can Trifluoroacetic Acid Harm Humans?
Despite the increasing concentration of TFA in the environment, current animal studies suggest that direct harm to living organisms would require acid concentrations hundreds of thousands of times higher than those currently observed.
However, TFA has been shown to negatively impact reproductive health and ecosystems. In response, European countries are considering classifying TFA as a toxic substance and restricting its use, with some already banning pesticides that produce this byproduct.
According to scientists, the accumulation of trifluoroacetic acid in nature could lead to severe long-term ecological consequences.
Pesticides Prove More Persistent Than Expected
French scientists have discovered that widely used pesticides, particularly those for grape cultivation, persist longer in the atmosphere, travel significant distances, and pollute the environment.
Contrary to previous beliefs about rapid degradation, new data indicates that when pesticides attach to dust particles and aerosols, they become significantly more persistent. The ability of some of these substances to remain in the atmosphere for over a month leads to their accumulation and potential harm to ecosystems.
Furthermore, their degradation results in the formation of new toxic chemical substances that have not yet been fully studied.
