Alarming increase in the perennial chemical TFA in wine
This is around 100 times higher than the average, already high pollution levels found in surface waters and in drinking water have been measured. "Our results are worrying. Such a high TFA concentration in wine indicates that TFA apparently accumulates massively in plants. We are probably ingesting much more TFA through our food than previously assumed," says Helmut Burtscher-Schaden, initiator of the study "Flaschenpost - Der steile Anstieg der TFA-Belastung im europäischen Wein", expressing his concern. The environmental chemist from GLOBAL 2000 is calling on the government to take immediate action.
High values in wine in German study too
Michael Müller, Professor of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Freiburg, agrees: "In our own studies, we also found a wide range of TFA concentrations from 20 to over 300 µg/l in young wines harvested after 2020. We found the lowest values in organically produced wines from areas that have been free of chemical inputs for decades. This indicates that PFAS pesticides make a direct or indirect contribution that could explain the high TFA levels in the grapes." Müller sees a need for action: "Our results make it clear how urgently immediate measures are needed to prevent further TFA emissions".
Vintage wines provide information about exponential TFA increase
In addition to the wines currently available on the market, Burtscher-Schaden also had ten Austrian vintage wines from 1974 to 2015 tested for TFA. "TFA can only be detected in these wines from 1988 onwards, and the concentration increases massively from 2010 onwards. This shows that the eternal chemical is man-made and is now present in our environment in alarmingly high concentrations. There is an urgent need for action to prevent further TFA emissions into the environment," demands the environmental chemist.
TFA value doubled since last EU study
In a study by the EU Commission in 2017, the average value for wine was 50 µg/l. In the current GLOBAL 2000 study, this is more than twice as high at 120 µg/l. "The results are a clear wake-up call for the EU. Substances that release TFA into the environment must be taken off the market immediately. This requires an immediate ban on both F-gases and PFAS pesticides," demands Salomé Roynel, Policy Officer at PAN Europe. The EU member states are expected to vote in mid-May on a proposal from the EU Commission to ban the PFAS pesticide flutolanil, as it has been proven to release TFA into the environment.
Wine samples also tested for pesticide residues
All 39 wines were also tested for pesticides. Residues of up to 8 pesticides and pesticide metabolites were found in 94% of the conventionally produced wines. A total of 18 pesticides were detectable, including two PFAS fungicides, fluopyram and fluopicolide. Four out of five organic wines tested contained no detectable pesticide residues, but all contained TFA. However, the wines in the upper half of the TFA concentration range (mean value: 176 µg/l) had on average twice as high a pesticide load as the wines in the lower half (mean value: 58 µg/l).
