The Coalition for PFAS-Free Cooling & Heating has announced that the next session in its online series on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) will examine the impact of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a persistent pollutant increasingly found in nature, on the environment and human health.
Titled TFA: a planetary boundary threat, the session will take place Thursday, April 24, at 2 pm CET, and will feature Dr. Hans Peter Arp, Professor of Environmental Chemistry at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The event will be moderated by Marc Chasserot, Co-Founder and CEO of ATMOsphere, publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com.
“As the discussion around PFAS intensifies, it’s vital that industry stakeholders and policymakers have access to the latest scientific insights, particularly concerning persistent substances like TFA,” said Cinzia Verzeletti, a spokesperson for the Coalition for PFAS Free Cooling & Heating. “We urge everyone involved to engage with this expert perspective.”
It is the second installment of the Coalition’s three-part series exploring PFAS in the HVAC&R industry. The series’ first event, featuring Professor Michael Kauffeld, was held February 14 and provided an overview of the connection between PFAS and the heating and cooling sectors.
“As the discussion around PFAS intensifies, it’s vital that industry stakeholders and policymakers have access to the latest scientific insights, particularly concerning persistent substances like TFA.”
Cinzia Verzeletti, a spokesperson for the Coalition for PFAS Free Cooling & Heating
A planetary boundary threat
TFA is a highly persistent and mobile byproduct of several PFAS, including many synthetic refrigerants used in HVAC&R systems, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and industrial processes. It is found in increasing concentrations in soil, plants, drinking water and humans.
The session will look at TFA’s possible toxicity to humans, based on studies in animals, and how it builds up in the environment, especially in plants. Evidence suggests TFA could qualify as a planetary boundary threat, meaning its growing global presence could cause lasting harm to key Earth systems.
Arp, who has published several studies to date looking at the dangers of TFA, will discuss what crossing this tipping point might mean and why urgent action is needed.
“Due to TFA’s extreme persistence and ongoing emissions, concentrations are increasing irreversibly,” he said in a 2024 paper published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Another recent study, which drew on cost estimates established by Arp, found that removing PFAS – including TFA – from Europe’s environment could cost up to €100 billion ($114 billion) per year.
Advocating for sustainable alternatives
Founded in October 2024, the Coalition for PFAS-Free Cooling & Heating promotes natural refrigerants as sustainable alternatives to harmful PFAS in the HVAC&R industry. The Coalition is also pushing for ambitious European PFAS regulations to protect environmental and human health.
“We recognize the urgent need to address the environmental and health impacts of fluorinated gases,” Verzeletti told NaturalRefrigerants.com.
The coalition includes several industry stakeholders such as ATMOsphere, Dorin, Fenagy, Güntner, Konvekta, Refra, Secon, Teko, Vahterus and Zudek, all committed to enhancing the sustainability of the HVAC&R sector.
“Moving towards a PFAS-free future with natural refrigerants and other innovative EU-developed technologies benefits businesses, consumers and the planet, while boosting European competitiveness and green job creation,” she added.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is currently discussing proposed restrictions of PFAS in f-gas applications. The Coalition for PFAS-Free Cooling & Heating has published a petition urging the ECHA to “swiftly enact strict and comprehensive restrictions” on PFAS in Europe’s HVAC&R sector.
