Contaminants: EFSA lowers safe level for exposure to TFA (PFAS)

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published an updated assessment on the safe level for exposure to Trifluoracetic acid (TFA), a by-product of PFAS. 

EFSA’s experts lowered the acceptable daily intake (ADI) to 0.014 milligrams per kilogram of bodyweight per day, down from the previous value of 0.05. The new ADI is about 3.5 times lower than the previous one. They also set a new acute reference dose of 0.07 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. These updated values are based on new evidence, which showed, among other effects, that TFA changes levels of thyroxine – a hormone produced by the thyroid gland that plays an important role in regulating the body.

In cooperation with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), EFSA is currently examining how PFAS pesticides break down into TFA, and its fate and behaviour in soil and water. This assessment is expected to be completed by summer 2027.

All information is available at: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/news/efsa-lowers-safe-level-exposure-tfa

Contact João Pereira at jpereira@frucom.eu.