Forever Chemical Byproduct Found in European Mineral Water

A highly persistent chemical byproduct linked to "forever chemicals" has been detected in several mineral water brands across Europe, raising concerns about contamination in products advertised for their purity, The Hill reported.

According to a recent Pesticide Action Network Europe analysis, a newly identified chemical contaminant, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), has been detected in 10 out of 19 European mineral water brands. The discovery has sparked concerns about the purity of mineral water, which is legally required to originate from uncontaminated underground sources.

TFA, a byproduct of the breakdown of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), is not officially classified as a "forever chemical" by U.S. or European regulatory bodies. However, many scientists group it with PFAS due to its extreme persistence and environmental mobility.

PFAS compounds are widely used in household products, firefighting foams, and industrial processes. They are notorious for their inability to degrade and their association with serious health risks, including thyroid disease and certain cancers.

While the specific health impacts of TFA on humans remain unclear, studies suggest it may be toxic to mammalian reproduction and liver function. According to research published in Environmental Science & Technology, its concentrations have increased in rain, soil, human blood, plant-based foods, and drinking water. Scientists attribute this trend to the degradation of PFAS in various sources, including fluorinated gases, pesticides, and industrial chemicals.

The findings have implications for the bottled mineral water industry, which markets its products as pure and protected from pollution.

Under European Union regulations, natural mineral water is distinguished by its purity at the source and consistent mineral content. Treatments that alter its composition are prohibited, except in limited cases, to remove specific undesirable elements.

In seven tested brands, TFA levels exceeded the EU's pesticide limits for drinking water. In one brand, TFA concentrations surpassed the upper limit for total PFAS set to take effect under a revised EU directive in 2026. The European Food Safety Authority has acknowledged TFA's role as a breakdown product of PFAS but has not yet established health guidelines for its presence in drinking water.

Pesticide Action Network Europe recognized that mineral water companies affected by TFA contamination may have limited ability to prevent it from entering their sources. However, they said, consumers have the right to know what is in their water.

The organization has called for urgent bans on PFAS-laden pesticides, fluorinated gases, and other chemicals that generate TFA. The European Commission is reviewing proposals to prohibit two such pesticides, flufenacet and flutolanil, which significantly contribute to TFA contamination in groundwater.

Mineral water purity is a critical legal and marketing standard in the EU and the U.S. Under Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, American mineral water must also come from protected underground sources, with no minerals added during processing.

• Parents' Smoking Could Raise Risk for MS in Kids
• Natural Cold Remedies That Really Work