Mineral water from multiple European nations has been found to contain TFA, a type of PFAS “forever chemical” known for its reproductive toxicity and persistence in the environment.

This discovery is alarming because mineral water, often sourced from deep aquifers, is expected to be free from human-made contaminants.

The contamination likely originates from the widespread use of pesticides containing TFA or chemicals that degrade into it in the environment. Pesticide Action Network Europe detected TFA in 10 out of 19 mineral water samples tested, with levels reaching up to 32 times the threshold that should prompt regulatory action in the EU.

The study’s authors have called for “urgent action” as EU authorities consider imposing stricter limits on certain TFA-containing pesticides.

“This has gone completely under the radar and it’s concerning because we’re drinking TFA,” said Angeliki Lysimachou, a co-author with Pesticide Action Network Europe. “It’s much more widespread than we thought.” She added that researchers do not blame mineral water producers because the issue is not their fault.

TFA pollution has been a growing concern worldwide. While PFAS chemicals are known to be ubiquitous, TFA levels have been found to be significantly higher than those of other “forever chemicals.”

TFA is used in pesticides and as a refrigerant, originally introduced as a safer alternative to older greenhouse gases like CFCs. However, it is now recognized as a potent greenhouse gas itself, capable of persisting in the atmosphere for up to 1,000 years. Between 2019 and 2022, about 60% of all PFAS production involved fluorinated gases that degrade into TFA.

TFA’s environmental persistence and mobility make it particularly challenging to address. Unlike other PFAS, TFA cannot be effectively removed from water using current filtration technologies at an industrial scale. Despite this, industries continue to expand TFA use, often marketing it as a safe and naturally occurring alternative to older PFAS compounds.

Independent research increasingly refutes these claims, highlighting TFA’s toxicological and environmental impacts.

In pesticides, TFA is thought to act as a stabiliser or performance enhancer. In the U.S., around 40% of active pesticide ingredients are PFAS-related.

Globally, studies have documented widespread TFA contamination. Research in Belgium found TFA in 93% of over 600 water samples, with the highest concentrations in agricultural regions. Swiss authorities similarly identified TFA as pervasive in the nation’s groundwater, and in the U.S., TFA was detected in all rainwater samples tested in Michigan.

Despite these findings, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently excluded TFA from classification as a PFAS, reducing regulatory oversight. Critics argue this decision reflects industry pressure, as TFA remains a lucrative product for chemical manufacturers.

Meanwhile, the EU is proposing a ban on two pesticides containing TFA and may soon classify it as a reproductive toxicant, signalling a potential shift toward stricter regulation.

“The first step is to ban the most widespread sources of TFA, the PFAS pesticides,” Pesticide Action Network Europe’s paper states.