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Red alert: Perpetual chemicals like TFA threaten our drinking water!
Heilbronn reports on the dangerous chemicals PFAS and TFA, their effects on drinking water and current studies.
Red alert: Perpetual chemicals like TFA threaten our drinking water!
The debate about perpetual chemicals and their impact on drinking water is becoming increasingly important. The focus is particularly on per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) and their degradation products such as trifluoroacetate (TFA). Loud Context weekly newspaper There are almost 10,000 of these chemicals, which are particularly problematic for the environment and health.
Water utilities face the challenge of filtering PFAS from drinking water. A major disadvantage: Short-chain molecules such as TFA cannot be effectively removed with current technologies. Misreporting contributes to the uncertainties; A SWR colleague had incorrectly stated that TFA could be treated with new filter technology. This is done by ECO TEST confirmed, as TFA has been proven to occur in bodies of water such as the Rhine and Lake Constance and is considered problematic for drinking water.
Growing concern about TFA
TFA is not only a breakdown product of PFAS, but is also considered to be very mobile and persistent. This chemical has accumulated significantly in the environment in recent years, particularly in the High Rhine, where levels have increased from 0.1 micrograms to 0.8 to 1 micrograms per liter. Projections indicate that TFA entries will continue to increase over the next two decades. What is also alarming is that TFA is not included among the 20 PFAS already regulated in the European Drinking Water Directive, and there is no limit value for this chemical in surface water.
Current studies show that the TFA concentration in human blood serum is 76 times higher than in drinking water. This and other scientific findings contradict reports that portray TFA as harmless. ECO TEST warns of possible negative effects of TFA on human fertility.
The role of science and journalism
The discussion about eternity chemicals raises critical questions about the role of the media and journalism. Reports are often based on press releases without carrying out sufficient research of our own. A local newspaper even went so far as to reassure the population with the information that a 60 kg person would have to consume unrealistically high amounts of wine to reach health-relevant thresholds, after TFA was also detected in wine.
Critics such as Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) are calling for quick action to contain harmful substances and comprehensive research on PFAS and TFA. In Baden-Württemberg, around two thirds of the drinking water comes from groundwater, the quality of which is currently described as good. Nevertheless, water suppliers warn of rising costs for clean drinking water, which ultimately have to be borne by consumers.
The need to gradually reduce the use of TFA is also emphasized by water experts such as Matthias Maier. While the pressure on the industry is growing, it remains to be seen how quickly and effectively politicians will react.