Scientists warned: concentration of chemicals in precipitation is increasing worldwide

Scientists are detecting increasingly high concentrations of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in precipitation - from rain and snow to meltwater in the Arctic. This is reported by Nature journal.

The article specifies that TFA is a synthetic component that belongs to the group of "forever chemicals." It enters the environment through industrial production, as well as leaks of refrigerants and the breakdown of certain pesticides.

According to the authors of the article, over the past few decades, the content of trifluoroacetic acid in tree leaves in Germany has increased 5-10 times. In addition, this substance is being found in rivers in European countries and groundwater in Denmark.

The publication indicates that TFA does not break down naturally. Instead, it accumulates in water, soil, and living organisms. Therefore, traces of trifluoroacetic acid are found even in human blood.

Currently, the debate about how dangerous this substance is continues. Meanwhile, results from animal experiments indicate that only doses of TFA hundreds of thousands of times higher than those found in water and food products can cause direct harm to the body.

Nevertheless, new studies point to the potential impact of trifluoroacetic acid on the reproductive health of humans and animals, as well as on ecosystems. Against this background, scientists in Europe have begun discussing the possibility of adding TFA to the list of toxic substances. Some countries have already banned the use of pesticides that produce this by-product.