HEAL supports the harmonised classification of trifluoroacetic acid as toxic to reproduction and very persistent, very mobile and toxic

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is an ultra-short-chain PFAS compound, which is highly water-soluble and has been detected ubiquitously in surface water, groundwater and even drinking water [1-3]. The pervasive occurrence of TFA leads to the widespread exposure of humans and wildlife to this PFAS chemical. TFA is a precursor, intermediate and transformation product of several longer chain PFAS and is often presented as having negligible risks for human health and the environment, despite its omnipresence and mounting scientific evidence on chronic effects [4-6].

HEAL welcomes the current classification initiative for TFA in application of the EU regulation on classification labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP Regulation) as a presumed human reproductive toxicant (Repr. 1B) and a very persistent, very mobile and toxic substance (PMT and vPvM).

Read HEAL’s response to Germany’s proposal to classify trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as toxic for reproduction and (very) persistent, (very) mobile and toxic – CLP.

To learn more about PFAS pollution across Europe see: env-health.org/banpfas

References

[1] Janda, J., Nödler, K., Brauch, H. J., Zwiener, C., & Lange, F. T. (2019). Robust trace analysis of polar (C2-C8) perfluorinated carboxylic acids by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: method development and application to surface water, groundwater and drinking water. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(8), 7326-7336.

[2] Liang, S. H., Steimling, J. A., & Chang, M. (2023). Analysis of ultrashort-chain and short-chain (C1 to C4) per-and polyfluorinated substances in potable and non-potable waters. Journal of Chromatography Open, 4, 100098.

[3] Neuwald, I. J., Hübner, D., Wiegand, H. L., Valkov, V., Borchers, U., Nödler, K., Scheurer, M., Hale, S. E., Arp, H. P. H. & Zahn, D. (2022). Ultra-short-chain PFASs in the sources of German drinking water: prevalent, overlooked, difficult to remove, and unregulated. Environmental science & technology, 56(10), 6380-6390.

[4] Arp, H. P. H., Gredelj, A., Glüge, J., Scheringer, M., & Cousins, I. T. (2024). The global threat from the irreversible accumulation of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). Environmental Science & Technology, 58(45), 19925-19935.

[5] Joerss, H., Freeling, F., van Leeuwen, S., Hollender, J., Liu, X., Nödler, K., Wang, Z., Yu, B., Zahn, D., & Sigmund, G. (2024). Pesticides can be a substantial source of trifluoroacetate (TFA) to water resources. Environment International, 193, 109061.

[6] Freeling, F., & Björnsdotter, M. K. (2023). Assessing the environmental occurrence of the anthropogenic contaminant trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 41, 100807.