“We need consistent, preventive regulations.”

In addition to PFAS, there is another chemical to watch out for.

What’s going on?

Recently, The Guardian reported on rising levels of a persistent and potentially permanently harmful chemical called TFA, or trifluoroacetic acid, which is increasingly found in drinking water, rainwater and human blood around the world.

TFAs, which the Guardian described as a type of PFAS, are a class of man-made chemicals widely used in pharmaceuticals, pesticides and some dyes. These substances do not actually decompose — at least not for thousands of years — and like other PFAS, TFAs raise serious health concerns among experts, although the specific risks and their severity are still being assessed.

“Everywhere you look, it is increasing. There is no study in which TFA concentrations did not increase,” David Behringer, an environmental consultant, told the Guardian.

Why is this TFA trend concerning?

Remember the hole in the ozone layer? This was due to toxic chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) typically used in refrigeration, as well as other ozone-depleting substances. They were eventually banned and ozone levels improved significantly. However, according to the Guardian, “photogases” used to replace CFCs are a significant source of TFAs that may pose a potentially serious risk to human health.

As reported by the website, chemical industry groups question scientific certainty about risk levels and point to the value of CFC alternatives. They cite previous studies that have shown low risk or natural sources of TFA. However, even one of these studies, conducted in 2016, concluded that TFAs derived from degrading chemicals “deserve continued attention, in part because of their very long environmental lifetimes.”

TFA has been linked to fertility problems. The Guardian report mentioned that German regulators recently submitted an application to classify TFA as a reproductive toxicant, meaning it may harm human reproductive function, fertility and fetal development.

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Removing TFA from water is also difficult, and finding large-scale solutions will be expensive. “The logical solution is to keep the input,” Behringer said.

Stopping data entry is extremely important. Urban communities typically face a disproportionate burden of polluted water. Studies have shown that exposure to some persistent chemicals can affect children’s behavior, development and learning abilities.

What is being done about TFA?

The Guardian reported that in response to growing concerns, Denmark and Germany have set limits on TFA content in drinking water, although countries such as the UK are yet to follow suit.

The German Environment Agency recommends the use of natural refrigerants as an alternative. “To limit the release of TFA into the environment, we need consistent, preventive regulations,” Dirk Messner, the agency’s president, told the Guardian.

Although TFA is difficult to decompose, as with other PFAS, scientific breakthroughs have occurred. Scientists recently found that adding hydrogen to water significantly improves the effectiveness of ultraviolet light in preventing the breakdown of PFAS.

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