Invisible harmful substances from the tap... "Forever pollutants" TFA found in 92% of France's water

The Day "Eternal Pollutants" Covered France's Water

——TFA Shock and the Spread of "Water Distrust" on Social Media

"TFA detected in 92% of France's water."
The moment this figure was released, French social media was abuzz.

On December 3, 2025, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) published the results of a PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) survey conducted on tap water, rivers, and groundwater nationwide. The results were shocking. TFA (trifluoroacetic acid), a chemical substance, was detected in over 90% of the water surveyed.Banque des Territoires

TFA is a type of PFAS known as a "forever pollutant (polluant éternel)." It is difficult to break down and is nearly impossible to recover once released into the environment. Previously, PFAS issues were primarily associated with non-stick frying pans, water-repellent clothing, and firefighting foam, but this time, the spotlight is on the smallest PFAS among them.Wikipedia

The Weight of the 92% Figure

In the ANSES survey, over 600 raw water and tap water samples were collected from water sources and facilities across mainland France and overseas departments and territories between 2023 and 2025. As a result, TFA was detected in 92% of both raw and tap water samples.Banque des Territoires

The median concentration in tap water is around 780 to 1,000 nanograms per liter (0.78 to 1 microgram/L), but some locations reported levels reaching tens of thousands of nanograms.Le Monde.fr

"This is the first time it has been detected so widely and at such high concentrations."
ANSES researchers commented, emphasizing that the results support concerns previously raised by NGOs and researchers.Banque des Territoires

What is TFA?

TFA is a very small molecule with two carbon atoms, classified as an "ultra-short chain" PFAS. Its small size makes it highly soluble in water and easily mobile through soil and groundwater. On the other hand, it hardly breaks down in nature. It is indeed "small but eternal," possessing troublesome properties.Wikipedia

Three main sources have been identified.

1. Decomposition products of fluorinated gases used as refrigerants
   New-generation refrigerants used in car air conditioners and refrigeration equipment generate TFA when they decompose in the atmosphere.Banque des Territoires

2. Decomposition products of pesticides (especially flufenacet)
   Some herbicides and pesticides widely used in the EU produce TFA as they decompose in soil or water systems. The European Commission also classifies TFA as a "related metabolite of toxicological concern."Le Monde.fr

3. Direct emissions from chemical factories
   Factories manufacturing fluorochemicals or pesticide precursors may emit TFA itself or its precursors. In France, several factories, including BASF and Solvay, have been criticized by NGOs.TF1 INFO

While TFA has not been definitively proven to be carcinogenic, animal experiments and some epidemiological studies have pointed to effects on the liver, reproductive toxicity, and risks of fetal developmental abnormalities. In the EU, it is being considered for classification as having "reproductive toxicity."TF1 INFO

Why It Became a Regulatory "Blind Spot"

Why has such a substance been left unchecked until it spread so widely?

The EU Drinking Water Directive mandates monitoring 20 types of PFAS by 2026, with a total concentration limit of 100 nanograms/L. However, this list does not include TFA.Banque des Territoires

On the other hand, for substances of toxicological concern that are "related metabolites" from pesticide degradation, a stricter rule already exists, setting the limit at 100 nanograms/L in drinking water. TFA is a degradation product of several pesticides, and the European Commission itself considers it a "related metabolite," but the French government has not yet applied this framework to TFA.Le Monde.fr

What is the result of this?
All the tap water samples measured by ANSES would exceed the existing standard of 100 nanograms/L by more than tenfold on average if TFA were treated as a "related metabolite" from pesticides. This could mean that legally "unfit for drinking" water is spreading across the country.Le Monde.fr

However, at the end of 2024, French health authorities set a "provisional health indicator value" for TFA at 60,000 nanograms/L, considering risks "negligible" if below this level, following Germany's example.Le Monde.fr

In other words,

• EU's standard for pesticide metabolites:100 nanograms/L

• France's current provisional indicator value:60,000 nanograms/L

This gap is becoming the biggest political issue surrounding TFA.

Not Just Water: Wine and Food Too

TFA contamination is not limited to water. In spring 2025, the European NGO network "PAN Europe" reported that after analyzing about 50 bottles of wine from EU countries, almost all vintages since 1988 contained TFA. Particularly in wines produced through conventional agriculture, higher concentrations were found, with some reaching up to 320 micrograms/L, far exceeding drinking water levels.Le Monde.fr

Water, wine, and other foods—TFA, as a "small PFAS circulating in the environment," is quietly entering our bodies.

"I can't trust water anymore"—Anxiety Spreads on Social Media

Even before ANSES's report, TV reports and NGO survey results on PFAS contamination had been repeatedly shared on French social media. Clips from news programs featuring PFAS included captions explaining that "UFC-Que Choisir (a consumer organization) found the 'forever pollutant' TFA in tap water," shared by many users.Le Monde.fr

In a short reel video posted by an environmental influencer,
"Our tap water is becoming contaminated to levels that do not meet standards. The cause is TFA, a 'forever pollutant,'"
was the warning message introduced, and the comments section was filled with voices like:

• "Can we still say 'tap water is safe'?"

• "I don't want my children to drink tap water anymore."

• "In the end, it's the residents and municipalities who pay the price for pollution."

Such reactions are not limited to specific posts but are typical comments that appear repeatedly whenever PFAS reports are released. The anger is directed mainly in three directions.

1. Distrust of the Government
   Criticisms such as "Why set such loose standards when so much is known?" and "Information disclosure is too slow" are frequent.

2. Criticism of Companies
   Against chemical manufacturers identified as pollution sources, there is a strong "polluter pays" argument that "companies that have made huge profits should bear the purification costs."Le Monde.fr

3. Shaking of Lifestyle
   The previously common habit of "drinking tap water directly" is being questioned, and practical concerns like "Should I buy a water purifier?" and "Is bottled water safe?" are filling timelines.

Not Just a Matter for Overseas Departments and Territories

ANSES's survey targets water sources not only in mainland France but also in overseas departments and territories.Banque des Territoires

The Caribbean regions of Guadeloupe and Martinique are known for long-term pollution issues due to the pesticide chlordecone used in banana plantations. The potential addition of another "forever pollutant" has led to reports of a resigned atmosphere among local residents, with sentiments like "Another new pollution?"

In island regions surrounded by the sea, the impact of atmospheric deposition on rainwater and groundwater is more pronounced, and countering pollutants like TFA that fall from the air is challenging. Advanced water treatment requires significant investment, and the financial burden is relatively heavier for smaller municipalities.Le Monde.fr##HTML_TAG_446