Recent findings have revealed a troubling presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in Paris drinking water, a chemical classified under the notorious "forever chemicals" family (PFAS).
11 European Contries
According to Ziare this revelation, reported by Pesticides Action Network (PAN) Europe and highlighted by Le Monde, comes just as Paris prepares to host millions of tourists for the 2024 Summer Olympics from July 26 to August 11.
The analysis, conducted in May and June, encompassed 55 drinking water samples from 11 European countries, including France, Germany, Austria, Spain, and Belgium. Of these, 36 were tap water samples and 19 were bottled water or spring water samples. The Water Technology Center in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, known for its PFAS detection expertise, carried out the tests.
An Invisible Threat
The results are alarming: TFA was found in 94% of tap water samples and 63% of bottled water samples. In Paris, the concentration of TFA in tap water reached 2,100 nanograms per liter (ng/l), quadruple the levels found in Salzburg, Austria, and Potsdam, Germany.
Salomé Roynel, the coordinator for PAN Europe, attributes the TFA contamination primarily to the degradation of PFAS pesticides and fluorinated gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Industrial discharges and wastewater treatment plants also significantly contribute to this contamination.
This discovery raises significant concerns about the safety of drinking water, especially with the upcoming Olympics.
Both authorities and the public are increasingly worried about the potential health impacts on residents and visitors. PAN Europe has issued warnings about this "invisible threat," emphasizing the urgent need for measures to control and reduce drinking water contamination.
