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It is not uncommon for the authorities or consumer associations to point out the quality of tap water. Often, The French are invited not to consume it temporarily. Generally, this prohibition is the consequence of bad weather which calls into question the quality of the water.
These problems remain temporary. Others, however, are more alarming. On this subject, the UFC-Que Choisir and the NGO future generations want to prevent the French. The association and the NGO hope to move the lines concerning a major problem with tap water. The problem of temporary turbidity is not what interests them. No, They highlight the presence of an eternal pollutant.
An eternal pollutant in tap water
An eternal pollutant, or persistent chemical substance, is an extremely stable environmental contaminant which does not easily decompose in the environment. These substances can then remain in the air, in the water or in the soil for long periods.
Today, a UFC-Que Choisir survey and the NGO future generations announces the presence of an eternal pollutant, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), in tap water. Several municipalities appear in the study. Indeed, out of the 30 cities of the analysis, 24 have traces of this compound.
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In 20 of these municipalities, the TFA alone exceeds the future European standard set at 100 nanograms per liter for the 20 regulated pfas, which will be fully applicable in 2026.
Among the most worrying results, Paris Displays a concentration of 6,200 ng/l. The capital ranks second behind Moussac (Gard) with 13,000 ng/l. Buxerollesin Vienne, occupies third place with 2,600 ng/l. The inhabitants of these cities, drinking tap water, therefore ingest this pollutant.
A substance that the authorities monitor little
At present, the authorities judge that the TFA is less dangerous than the PFOA or the PFOS. These are, as such, prohibited in Europe. However, the impact of this eternal pollutant on health is still mysterious.
Reason behind this ignorance is simple. Indeed, the survey explains to us that regional health agencies, as part of their tap water controls, Little (or not at all) this pollutant are little (or not at all).
-This deficiency is all the more worrying since the TFA comes in particular from the degradation of the flufenacet, a herbicide qualified as an endocrine disruptor by the European authority of sFood team (EFSA) during a recent evaluation.
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The French therefore include quoI The use of pesticides is a public health problem. By using them, agriculture participates in tap water pollution.
An omnipresent threat
TFA therefore belongs to the family of eternal pollutants, a group bringing together more 4,700 quasi-indestructible chemical compounds. The first studies point to alarming health risks. These pollutants would actually be fertility disorders and increased risk of certain cancers.
The French could then say to consume tap water. It is not as if, unfortunately, Water bottles were a better option. The latter actually contain large amounts of microplastics.
The only solution therefore lies in a global action of bodies to protect the health of consumers. They must actually conduct serious studies concerning the quality of tap water. Taking into account the presence of this eternal pollutant is the first essential step for a future with better quality water.
Source: UFC-Que Choisir
