Assessment of trifluoroacetic acid in tap water from Besançon (France) and bottled water from France, Italy, and Romania

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), often referred to as the simplest “Forever Chemical,” is a highly persistent environmental contaminant. Despite increasing concern about its potential toxicity, analytical data on its occurrence in drinking water remain limited. In this study, TFA was quantified in 63 household tap water samples from Besançon (France) and 71 bottled water samples purchased in France, Italy, and Romania. The 26 participating French households were recruited on a voluntary basis, and samples were collected randomly over a six-month period. TFA was detected in 100% of the tap water samples, with concentrations ranging from 540 to 3800 ng/L (mean: 1164 ± 594 ng/L; median: 1000 ng/L). In bottled water, TFA was also detected in all French samples, though at lower levels (mean: 297 ± 268 ng/L; median: 280 ng/L). Concentrations in Italian and Romanian bottled water ranged from below the detection limit to a maximum of 400 ng/L. These findings highlight the widespread presence of TFA in drinking water, with higher concentrations in tap water compared to bottled water, except for one outlier brand. The results support the need for further monitoring and assessment of TFA as an emerging contaminant in European water systems.