“Eternal chemical” occurs in groundwater across the board
Published: Wednesday, Dec 4th 2024, 09:40
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Trifluoroacetic acid is found in groundwater throughout Switzerland. According to a pilot study, the Central Plateau, which is characterized by arable farming, is particularly affected by this pollution.
This is shown by a map of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in groundwater recently published by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). The data originates from the years 2022 and 2023 and is based on a pilot study of the National Groundwater Monitoring, as the FOEN wrote. Several media outlets have reported on this in recent days.
TFA is one of the per- and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds (Pfas). According to the FOEN, Pfas are virtually non-degradable in the environment and are therefore also referred to as "perpetual chemicals". According to current knowledge, TFA is by far the most widespread artificial chemical in groundwater.
Central Plateau more affected than mountain regions
The concentration of TFA differs significantly depending on the location. A high concentration has been detected in areas with a lot of arable land in particular. The substance enters the groundwater through the use of pesticides.
The map shows a high TFA concentration on the Central Plateau. The regions with the lowest values are located at over 1000 meters in the Alps, Pre-Alps and on the southern side of the Alps.
The second main source of TFA in groundwater is gaseous refrigerants and blowing agents. These are first released into the atmosphere and from there into the soil and groundwater with the precipitation.
The FOEN article does not provide any information on the possible consequences of consuming tap water. To obtain detailed information on drinking water quality in the individual municipalities, the Federal Office recommends contacting the local water suppliers directly.
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