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Record TFA Levels Found in European Wines, Raising Health and Regulatory Concerns

A new report reveals exponential increases in the persistent pollutant linked to PFAS pesticides, as EU prepares to vote on proposed bans.

L’usage des pesticides en grande quantité dans les vignes est fortement soupçonné d’être la cause de cette présence du TFA en grande quantité dans les bouteilles.
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Les concentrations de TFA dans le vin ont augmenté doucement jusqu'en 2010 avant de monter en flèche jusqu'à aujourd'hui.

Overview

  • A PAN Europe analysis of 50 wines from 10 EU countries shows TFA concentrations averaging 122 µg/l, far exceeding drinking water limits.
  • TFA, a 'forever chemical,' originates from PFAS-based pesticides widely used since the late 1980s, with contamination rising exponentially since 2015.
  • French wines were among the most contaminated, with some red wines recording TFA levels of 140 µg/l and 220 µg/l, above the study's average.
  • While TFA is linked to reproductive toxicity, broader health impacts remain uncertain, and the chemical is currently unregulated in the EU.
  • EU member states are set to vote in mid-May on banning flutolanil, a PFAS pesticide identified as a significant TFA emitter.