Trifluoroacetic Acid in Australian Human Urine Samples

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a terminal degradation product of numerous industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides, has been shown to be increasing in concentration in environmental media. However, very limited information is available on levels and trends in humans. TFA was analyzed in deidentified pathology urine samples from Australia, which were pooled by collection year, age, and sex using a direct-injection ion-chromatography method. TFA was detected in all samples (n = 70 pools, 6040 individuals), ranging from 3.4 to 300 μg/L, with a median of 24 μg/L. Significantly higher concentrations were found in older (>45–60 and >60 years) compared to younger groups (>5–45 years). Concentrations increased with age in children (from <1 to <5 years). Mean concentrations from >5 to >60 years for 2012/2013, 2014/2015, and 2020/2021 did not differ significantly, suggesting that exposures have not changed over that period. The high detection frequency and relatively high concentrations found in this study indicate high chronic exposure to TFA in Australia, consistent with ubiquitous TFA in food, household dust, and drinking water reported in other countries. Many questions remain regarding trends over longer periods, variations with age, and sources of TFA exposure.