A new report by PAN Europe reveals how major chemical companies have systematically cast doubt on the toxicity of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), delaying urgently needed protective measures against one of Europe’s most widespread and persistent pollutants.
TFA is an ultra-short PFAS - a “forever chemical”. It is the breakdown product of numerous PFAS chemicals, particularly PFAS pesticides [1]. Exceptionally persistent and highly mobile, TFA is now contaminating groundwater, drinking water, and food across Europe, making it the most common PFAS in our environment [2]. Recent scientific evidence raises serious concerns about TFA’s long-term impacts on human health, including developmental and reproductive toxicity.
The report, Manufacturing Doubt: How Industry Downplays TFA’s Toxicity, is an analysis of the industry studies submitted to the relevant EU Agencies and the European Commission in the course of TFA’s assessment [3], obtained by PAN Europe through access-to-document requests. These studies reveal compelling evidence of harm, including eye and skeletal malformations, thyroid hormone disruption, liver damage, effects on the immune system and reduced sperm quality.
The European law requires that pesticides emitting toxic residues such as TFA be banned from the market. Yet, as the analysis reveals, companies, including BASF, Bayer, Corteva, and Syngenta, (forming a ‘TFA Task Force’), not only delayed in providing required toxicity studies, but systematically downplayed adverse effects, overloading the authorities with misleading claims and speculative arguments.
The obtained papers also show how the ‘TFA Task Force’ is lobbying for a drinking water limit of 294 µg/L, more than 100 times weaker than the most protective national standards, disregarding vulnerable groups, including babies and children.
“This report shows a clear pattern: while TFA quietly accumulates in our environment at alarming levels, chemical companies have sought to downplay its toxicity and shape the science in their favor,” said Angeliki Lysimachou, Head of Science and Policy at PAN Europe.
These industry tactics follow a familiar playbook used before with asbestos and tobacco, to influence regulators and delay regulatory action. Recently, Honeywell, another TFA-producing company, sought to dismiss observed eye malformations in rabbit fetuses as unrelated to TFA, illustrating the still-ongoing industry efforts to minimise evidence of harm [4].
“For many years, European regulators have swallowed the industry’s manipulations. Now our water all over Europe is polluted with TFA, and every spray of PFAS pesticides makes it worse. This must end today,” says Salomé Roynel, Policy Officer at PAN Europe.
The assessment of TFA now lies with ECHA and EFSA, responsible for its hazard classification and health reference values, respectively.
“European regulators must conduct an objective and independent assessment, fully aware of industry’s deception tactics ensuring that any decision making is shielded from corporate influence," adds Angeliki Lysimachou, Head of Science and Policy at PAN Europe.
"The science is clear. Urgent measures are needed to stop PFAS pesticides at the source and protect public health and the environment before it’s too late,” she concludes.
Full Report: Manufacturing Doubt: How Industry Downplays TFA’s Toxicity
Contact:
- Angeliki Lysimachou, Head of Science and Policy, +32 496 39 29 30, angeliki [at] pan-europe.info
- Salomé Roynel, Policy Officer, +32 451 02 31 33, salome [at] pan-europe.info
- PAN Europe Communication: Tjerk Dalhuisen, +31 6 14699126, tjerk [at] pan-europe.info
Notes
[1] UBA, Trifluoroacetate (TFA): Laying the foundations for effective mitigation. Spatial analysis of the input pathways into the water cycle. December 2023
Joerss H, et al. Pesticides can be a substantial source of trifluoroacetate (TFA) to water resources
[2] Arp HPH, et al. The Global Threat from the Irreversible Accumulation of Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA)
[3] The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is currently assessing proposals for the harmonised classification of TFA, including its classification as toxic for reproduction (category 1B). In parallel, the European Commission has tasked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) with reviewing consumer health-based guidance values for TFA.
[4] Honeywell International, P27-16 Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA): fetal retinal folding and potential artifact. September 2025.
