Like other European countries, Luxembourg recently discovered that its drinking water contains a persistent chemical. Traces of trifluoroacetic acid, commonly referred to as the forever chemical TFA, were uncovered in an alarming report on tap water contamination, which shows how TFA forms through the breakdown of various substances and remains notoriously persistent in the environment.
In response to the report, the government has issued an official statement, noting that with 6,000 annual analyses, drinking water is “the most controlled food product in Luxembourg and in Europe”. TFA tends to accumulate without breaking down and is “highly soluble in water; it can spread rapidly through the water cycle, making it highly mobile”, the statement further highlights.
According to the report released in May, TFA concentrations in the Alzette River exceed 1,000 nanograms per litre (ng/l), with groundwater levels reaching 900ng/l. However, the Environment Ministry and the Water Management Authority emphasised that these “preliminary results have yet to be consolidated”.
Authorities have been monitoring TFA levels in Luxembourg’s drinking water since 2023, according to a press release. Current measurements indicate that TFA concentrations in the environment are, according to recent knowledge, “harmless to human health”. The Health Directorate also reassured the public, stating that tap water remains “safe for consumption”.
Luxembourg is advocating for harmonsied European limit values for TFA, taking into account the unique molecular properties of this substance.
