'Forever' chemical that is toxic to humans found in five Welsh rivers

Wales Online

16-06-2025

'Forever' chemical that is toxic to humans found in five Welsh rivers
Research suggests the chemicals could have an affect on human reproduction
TFA is what's known as a "forever chemical"
(Image: WalesOnline/Gayle Marsh )
A chemical that scientists worry might have an impact on human reproduction has been found in rivers across the UK, including five rivers in Wales.
York University analysed samples from 32 rivers across Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland and found traces of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in all but one of their test locations. TFA is what's known as a "forever chemical" which means that it breaks down extremely slowly in nature, and so accumulates over time.
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As with other "forever chemicals", also known as PFAS, just how much a threat to human health and at what concentrations is still being researched. Though what we do know is that scientists in Germany say having looked at the impact of TFA on animals they want it to be classed as "toxic for reproduction."
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TFA forms when synthetic chemicals from other "forever chemicals" such as those found in pesticides and refrigerants are partially broken down.
"This molecule (TFA) is everywhere," Alistair Boxall, professor of Environmental Science at the University of York who carried out the research, told the BBC.
"We will all be drinking water containing TFA every day - so we'll be exposed throughout our lifetime. It's that long-term, low level exposure that is the big concern."
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The study was funded by environmental charity Fidras and involved sampling in five rivers in Wales, three in Northern Ireland, 14 in Scotland and 10 in the north of England.
The highest concentration of TFA was recorded on the River Kelvin in Glasgow and the River Ness, which flows from Loch Ness to the Moray Firth, was the only river sampled not to show traces of the molecule.
Recent studies in the EU have found TFA to be widespread, including being found in wine and food, human blood and breast milk.
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Citing scientific studies that showed TFA affecting rabbit and rat foetuses, the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has, external applied to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA, external) for TFA to be classified as toxic for reproduction and harmful to the environment.
"Currently, there are no expected adverse health effects from consuming water or food contaminated with TFA," said Andreas Hensel, president of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). "The new classification is an important step in preparing further measures to ensure that this remains the case in the future".
There are not any regulations in place to identify or reduce the concentrations of TFA either in the environment or in drinking water supplies in the UK.
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A spokesperson for Water UK said: "We want to see PFAS, including TFA, banned and the development of a national plan to remove it from the environment which should be paid for by manufacturers."
Aware of concerns, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, which monitors and regulates drinking water quality in England and Wales, has just commissioned its own research.
It will look at how much TFA is already in drinking water and what risk it poses, if any.
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"The information signposted by the University of York suggests that TFA can be formed from the degradation of PFAS-containing pesticides," Ann Bunting, Principal Inspector of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, told the BBC.
"It is important that the fate of pesticides and other chemicals in the environment is understood, in order to protect drinking water sources."