High levels of ultrashort PFAS (TFA and TFMS) in juice and fruit puree
Ultrashort PFAS with 1-3 carbon atoms have received growing attention in the last few years. Recent studies have shown wide distribution in the environment, with significant levels in especially drinking water but also ground- and surface water. TFA (trifluoroacetic acid) is the simplest perfluorinated carboxylic acid. In precipitation this compound has increased substantially since the 90s, due to the breakdown of "modern freons” (e.g. HFC-134a, HFO-1234yf) in the atmosphere. In addition, there are approximately 40 pesticides approved within the EU that can be broken down into TFA. TFMS (trifluoromethane sulphonic acid) is another common ultrashort PFAS, a sulphonic acid, which is used as a “super acid” in organic synthesis and as an additive in lithium ion battery (LIB) electrolytes.
Relatively little is known about these two substances in food, but a growing number of studies show that plants can take up and accumulate TFA. Eurofins Food & Feed AB, PFAS Competence centre has in collaboration with Örebro University (SE) determined TFA and TFMS in juices and drinks (n=37) together with fruit/vegetable puree (n=9) aimed for small children. The results showed high levels of TFA in orange juice and hand-squeezed oranges. Average TFA concentration was 34 000 ng/l (n=13) for samples with detected levels of TFA. The range was between <2 500 to 84 000 ng/l. TFA was also observed in apple juice, but at lower levels (mean 6 200 ng/l; n=9). Significant TFA levels (>25 000 ng/l) was also found in two of the nine purees analysed. TFMS was frequently detected in orange juice as well (mean 16 ng/l; n=20), but less in apple juice. Both conventional and organic products were analysed. Generally, the organic samples displayed lower or non-detectable TFA levels but there were two notable exceptions.
Concentrations of TFA were compared to drinking water guideline values from The Netherlands (NL; 2200 ng/l), Denmark (DK; 9000 ng/l) and Germany (DE; 60 000 ng/l). All samples with measurable TFA concentrations exceeded the NL value, frequently also the DK limit and one sample exceeded the higher DE limit. It was not within the scope of this study to perform any risk assessment but basic intake calculations for children (10kg) using current TDI estimates indicated that especially orange juice and some baby food purees could potentially yield a significant exposure.
This work gives, to our knowledge, the first overview of ultrashort PFAS, TFA and TFMS, in juice, juice-based drinks and fruit purees for children. The finding of TFMS in drinks of this kind is novel and the substance deserves to be assessed in the future alongside TFA. Results are published in our white paper.
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Questions about this report can be answered by Torbjörn Synnerdahl, tel +46 70 31 53 141 or e-mail: torbjorn.synnerdahl@ftn.eurofins.com. For information on our range of PFAS analyses including ultrashort PFAS, please contact your sales representative.