In collaboration with the environmental charity Fidora from York University, an astonishing study revealed surprisingly high levels of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a sustainable “eternal chemical” in rivers in the UK.
Chemicals used in everyday household products and industrial processes are found in 98% of 54 sampling sites across the UK, with some measurements ranked as the best recorded globally.
This study provides rigorous insight into the extent of contamination in UK freshwater systems, revealing the growing chemical threats that could have long-term consequences for public health and the environment.
“We’ve seen a lot of experience in the environment,” commented Alistair Boxal, professor of environmental sciences in the Department of Environmental Geography at York University.
“TFA is a very mobile chemical that appears to have not been removed by drinking water treatment systems, so drinking water levels may be similar to those found in parts of the river.”
What are eternal chemicals?
TFA is one of over 10,000 substances known as PFAS (1 and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and is widely referred to as an eternal chemical due to its resistance to environmental decay.
These compounds are highly mobile in water and have been sustained for decades, making them particularly concerns about ecosystems and drinking water supplies.
PFA is increasingly associated with serious health effects. Research links some of the more studied compounds in this class to increased risk of wildlife cancer, liver damage, fertility issues, and bioaccumulation.
North Yorkshire and Scotland are suffering from worst impacts
North Yorkshire has emerged as one of the most polluted regions in the UK. Researchers sampled 12 sites across the Foss, Riverwoos and Derwent Rivers, and detected an average concentration of 990 nanograms per liter.
Even more troublesome is the Kelvin River in Glasgow, where TFA levels have skyrocketed to an incredible average of 23,968 nanograms per liter.
The highest individual concentrations seen during the study were recorded in Glasgow at 78,464.2 nanograms per liter, marking the second highest level of TFA reported in surface waters around the world.
An invisible threat to drinking water
Due to TFA’s mobility and resilience, current water treatment systems have little effect on removing it.
Scientists say this means that drinking water levels can reflect what has been found in rivers in the UK.
There are ways to extract TFA from water, but they are very expensive and unrealistic on a wide range of scales.
As a result, experts are spurring a shift towards preventive strategies that stop such chemicals with sauces.
British rivers in a global context
The average TFA concentration in the UK river in this study was 2,211 nanograms per liter, placing one of the most polluted countries in the world.
These figures exceed levels previously recorded in Germany, Sweden, and other parts of the European Union.
This study adds to increasing evidence that the UK may be behind other countries in managing the risks posed by these hazardous substances.
Request proactive policy changes
Environmental advocates and scientists are currently calling for urgent regulatory reforms to address widespread PFA pollution in UK rivers.
Actors argue that the country must move from a reactive approach to a positive attitude, including closer chemical control and improved surveillance.
The European Union is currently pushing forward with a proposal for a universal ban on all PFAS chemicals, with France and Denmark already implementing major restrictions.
Experts believe that the UK should in line with these efforts and halt the flow of pollution at its source.
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