The European Union’s food safety agency has lowered the recommended safe daily intake level for trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a chemical widely detected in the environment and drinking water.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said the acceptable daily intake for TFA would be reduced from 0.05 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day to 0.014 milligrams.
The revised limit follows new scientific evidence indicating that TFA can affect levels of thyroxine, a hormone produced by the thyroid gland that plays an important role in regulating the body.
TFA belongs to a group of substances known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. These chemicals are often called “forever chemicals” because many of them can persist in the environment for long periods.
PFAS are used in a wide range of products and industries, including kitchenware, medical equipment, defence technology and clean energy systems. Concerns have grown over their potential effects on human health, wildlife and the environment.
The EFSA said TFA can form when certain PFAS substances break down, including some active substances used in pesticides. Once formed, TFA can move into groundwater and soil and may also reach food crops.
The agency’s updated assessment is part of wider European efforts to monitor and control PFAS contamination. EU member states are required to monitor PFAS levels in drinking water, while separate monitoring programmes examine their presence in food.
The EFSA said it was continuing to work with the European Chemicals Agency to better understand how PFAS compounds break down into TFA and how the chemical behaves in soil and water.
The agencies are also examining how TFA moves through the environment and how long it remains present in different ecosystems. The EFSA expects to complete its wider assessment by next summer.
The updated intake level reflects the agency’s assessment of new evidence rather than an immediate ban on TFA or all products containing PFAS-related substances.
PFAS chemicals remain widely used because of their resistance to heat, water and chemical reactions. Their durability, however, is also a major reason for concern because some substances can remain in the environment for years.
The revised guidance is expected to add to continuing discussions across Europe about the use of PFAS in industrial and consumer products, as authorities seek to balance their practical benefits with concerns about long-term environmental contamination and possible health effects.
