TFA is a very persistent, very mobile member of the PFAS group of chemicals. Due to its numerous emissions pathways, TFA is now ubiquitous in the water cycle and hard to remove by conventional water treatments. The EU should recognise the urgent necessity to stop TFA emissions to the environment as a first step towards addressing this pollution.

Because TFA is an atypical PFAS, the catch-all “PFAS Total” parameter is inadequate for TFA. A specific TFA limit value in drinking water should be set based on health-derived criteria. Where this value would require additional drinking water treatment, these costs should be borne by the polluters.

You can read our position paper on why TFA should be phased out here.