Luxembourg's Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity and the Water Management Authority have sought to reassure the public following the publication of a report on the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in European water bodies.
On Wednesday 10 July 2024, the Pesticide Action Network (PAN Europe) published a report based on the analysis of drinking water samples in eleven EU countries, including Luxembourg. According to the publication, TFA was found in 34 out of 36 European tap water samples, as well as in twelve of nineteen bottled mineral and spring waters. The full report (in English) can be downloaded here.
In their statement issued the same day, the Environment Ministry and the Water Management Authority assured that tap water in Luxembourg remained safe for consumption.
They explained that TFA is a degradation product of numerous substances, including phytosanitary, technical and refrigerant products. TFA itself does not further degrade in the environment, making it a persistent substance that remains in the environment and accumulates in the ecosystem. TFA is also soluble in water and can spread rapidly via the water cycle, making it very mobile.
The Luxembourg authorities added that studies (notably in Germany) have shown that TFA is widely distributed in the environment. It is found in all types of water, including rainwater, as well as plants and plant foods.
In Luxembourg, the presence of TFA in drinking water has been monitored since 2023. The first results indicate TFA contents which can reach values of 900 nanograms per litre. These preliminary results still need to be consolidated, noted the authorities.
They added that the concentrations measured so far in the environment are, according to current knowledge, harmless to humans. According to the opinion of the Health Directorate, tap water does not present a risk to human health and can be considered safe for consumers. "With more than 6,000 analyses per year, it is the most controlled food product in Luxembourg and in Europe," the statement continued.
The ministry and the Water Management Administration assured they were working closely with drinking water suppliers to consolidate ongoing analyses and expand the network monitoring.
They added that the government is committed to protecting human health and the environment and supports initiatives at European level aimed at restricting the manufacture, marketing and use of PFAS of which TFA is a degradation product. The government is also calling for harmonised limit values at European level for TFA, taking into account the molecular properties of this substance.
The authorities noted that the origin of TFA present in water is currently being analysed. There are multiple sources and routes of input: agriculture, industries, atmospheric emissions from refrigeration and air conditioning installations, as well as combustion engines. These analyses are expected to make it possible to identify targeted measures to limit inputs in accordance with the principle of preventive protection.
