ECHA’s Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) has concluded that the ultra-short-chain PFAS trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) warrants EU harmonised classification as toxic to reproduction, category 1B, and very persistent, very mobile (vPvM), bolstering calls from NGOs and scientists for stricter regulation.
Partly because TFA is a breakdown product of other PFAS, environmental concentrations of the chemical are orders of magnitude higher than those of other members of the class. Some scientists have therefore identified it as a "planetary boundary threat" due to its potential impacts.
RAC meeting
RAC agreed with Germany’s proposal for TFA, sodium trifluoroacetate and other inorganic salts at its 1-5 June plenary meeting, according to the minutes.
The opinion will be published in the coming months.
In addition to being toxic to reproduction, category 1B, and vPvM, RAC concluded that the chemical should also be classified as persistent, mobile and toxic (PMT).
Chemical Watch News & Insight understands that TFA is the first chemical to be classified as either PMT or vPvM following the creation of these hazard classes in 2023.
PFAS expert Hans Peter Arp at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), who has researched TFA in the environment, said RAC’s conclusion was "a key milestone".
TFA was "considered benign" 30-40 years ago when use of the substance began, but the scientific and regulatory consensus is moving away from this view.
"I believe that in the coming years, additional hazard classifications may be applied to TFA as new data emerges. There is still much we do not know about TFA, including its immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and how it interacts with biomolecules in metabolic processes," Professor Arp said.
"I hope this will be seen by the chemical industry as another clear signal to innovate and develop new products that do not lead to TFA emissions, as there will be increasing market demand for such innovations in the near future."
Environmental accumulation
A Cefic spokesperson said the association would review the rationale for RAC’s opinion when it becomes available, as well as the potential regulatory implications.
Jonatan Kleimark, director of programmes at NGO ChemSec, said TFA is accumulating "at an alarming pace and is now by far the most prevalent PFAS in the environment".
RAC’s conclusion "marks a significant shift in understanding its hazards. Previously considered non-harmful to humans, this reevaluation highlights the need for stringent measures to prevent further environmental and health impacts."
ChemSec added TFA to its SIN List in 2019.
Ninja Reineke, head of science at NGO CHEM Trust, welcomed the RAC conclusion on TFA, which will improve transparency for both businesses, including downstream users, and consumers.
"The EU needs to move rapidly to put these new classifications into law, and regulators and companies in the EU and around the world should be taking action based on them now," she said.
CHEM Trust particularly highlighted the importance of rapid action to phase out all sources of TFA, to protect drinking water sources and minimise exposure."
Oliver Loebel, secretary general of the European water sector trade body EurEau, said that the classifications will not necessarily lead to lower health-derived guidance values, but the RAC conclusion shows that TFA has "more risks than previously thought".
The fast accumulation of TFA in the environment means the EU must quickly phase out all TFA emission sources, he said.
EFSA work
Next, ECHA will submit the RAC opinion to the European Commission, which will decide whether to adopt the classifications under CLP.
Meanwhile, other EU agencies are scrutinising the potential health and environmental risks of TFA.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is reviewing toxicological reference values for TFA and, with support from ECHA, is conducting an evaluation of the fate and behaviour of the chemical in soil and water.