TFA load in drinking water: EU Commission plans decisive bans!

TFA load in drinking water: EU Commission plans decisive bans!

Without warning, the news is circulating: The dreaded eternity chemical TFA (trifluoracetate), which has already been proven in water in the past few months, has also been discovered in mineral water! According to reports from Global 2000 and Pan Europe, half of the tested mineral waters, which come from protected and untouched groundwater bodies, can be detected. At the EU Food Committee meeting (SCOPAFF) on December 4 and 5, 2024, the EU Commission will present suggestions for refusing to admit for the pesticides for fluffenacet and floodanil, which are considered the main cause of the TFA contamination. The alarm raises many scientists: inside that warn that an irreversible enrichment of TFA represents a global threat, as was determined in an article.

rapid increase in TFA contamination

The challenges that arise from TFA should not be underestimated: TFA penetrates all environmental areas in concentrations that exceed other PFAs or pesticides many times over. This chemical is viewed as a toxicologically relevant metabolite and significantly endangers the purity of our drinking water. "The bans proposed by the EU for the Pfas Pesticides are urgently necessary," explains Salomé Roynel from Pan Europe. "We cannot allow space for endangering residues in water or food." Over 50% of the tested mineral waters showed TFA values that were up to 3,200 nanograms per liter (NG/L), which exceeds 32 times the limit.

But time is urgent: the pressure on water suppliers and mineral water fillers grows because they are obliged to ensure the standards for purity. TFA already penetrates in groundwater layers that were previously considered safe. "These stresses already cross the limits that we must not exceed," warned Helmut Burtscher damage, environmental chemist at Global 2000.

In addition, Flufenacet, a widespread herbicide, is under fire. It demonstrably shows hormone -changing activities and has neurotoxic effects that lead to a high risk of contamination for groundwater. According to Pan Europe, active influence on the approvals is currently being discussed, since all EU member states have approved this dangerous substance in the past. The need to take zero risks for people and the environment is becoming more and more urgent.