Air and rain samples in Detroit show high levels of TFA ‘forever chemical’

By Tom Perkins | The Guardian | August 16, 2024

Read the full article by Tom Perkins (The Guardian)

"Rain and air samples collected in metro Detroit that researchers checked for toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” showed the highest levels of TFA, an alarming finding because the compound is a potent greenhouse gas and more toxic than previously thought, but not well-studied.

While PFAS are a chemical class known to be ubiquitous in the environment, the new research is part of growing evidence around the globe that points to TFA, commonly used in refrigeration, air conditioning and clean energy technology, accumulating at much higher levels than other well-studied compounds.

Industry is scaling up its use of TFA, or chemicals that turn into it once in the environment, claiming that it is a safe and nontoxic replacement to older greenhouse gases used in refrigeration, but TFA’s climate impacts to some degree negate the benefits of clean energy technology."

Topics:

• ChemicalsPFAS
• Environment
• Wildlife
• Health