Alarming increase in the eternal draft chemical TFA in wine - what now?

Alarming increase in the eternal draft chemical TFA in wine - what now?

Freiburg im Breisgau, Deutschland - On April 23, 2025 at 9 a.m., an online press conference will take place, for which the environmental protection organization Global 2000 and Pan Europe invite. The topic of the event is a new European study on the eternity chemical TFA, which has been demonstrated in wines. The speakers include Helmut Burtscher damage, an environmental chemist from Global 2000, Michael Müller, professor of pharmaceutical and medical chemistry at the University of Freiburg, as well as Salome Roynal, consultant for politics at Pan Europe.

The investigation analyzed wines from different years, specifically ten vintage wines until 1974 and 39 current wines from ten EU countries. The study shows alarming results and indicates an urgent need for action at the political level. The first part of the press conference is kept in English, followed by an Austrian breakout room. Access takes place via a provided zoom link.

alarming increase in TFA concentrations

tfa, or trifluoracetate, belongs to the per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAs) and shows a worrying spread in the environment. According to the University of Freiburg Est in 1960, a slow increase in the TFA concentrations, which has accelerated rapidly since 2000, was observed. This affects not only conventional wines, but also organic wines that can also be contaminated with TFA. The chemical is water-soluble and not very degradable, which means that it accumulates in the environment and occurs in water as well as in rainwater.

Another concern is that there are no defined limit values or monitoring measures for TFA so far. This could mean that the concentrations in the water continue to increase, while the effects on people and the environment are not yet fully understood.

causes and effects of TFA

tfa gets into the environment through various sources. The main causes include pesticides such as fluffenacet, diflufencican and fluazinam, as well as refrigerant and drift gases. Decay products of other PFAs and the chemical production of other substances also contribute to the distribution. The connection between the increase in TFA concentrations and the effects of climate change as well as the prohibition of FCKWS is particularly worrying.

The distance from TFA from water proves to be extremely complex and expensive. Medicines and fertilizers also contribute to environmental pollution. Current research indicates that TFA could be a risk of reproduction, which is why German authorities have requested a classification to be reproduced by the European Chemical Agency (ECHA). The evaluation is in progress, and some waters already show higher TFA concentrations than allowed for reproductive oxic substances. This could possibly have a significant impact on the health of animals and humans. Nevertheless, TFA has not yet been considered acutely to be poisonous, but shows toxic effects in rabbits.

The problem is part of a major discussion about pollution, which not only includes air and water pollution, but also the stress by chemicals in the household and other harmful substances. pollution is a serious threat that requires practical solutions and increased awareness to protect the health of the environment and man.