EU blood tests find 100% contamination by ultra-short PFAS chemical TFA across nine countries

Study results across nine European countries

Blood testing conducted on 110 volunteers across nine European countries detected trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in 100% of analyzed samples. The testing campaign was commissioned by the Greens/EFA political group in the European Parliament and published on 1 October 2026. The testing cohort targeted individuals with distinct exposure profiles, including industrial workers, pregnant women, and residents living in vicinity to known pollution zones. In Belgium, participants included climate activists Adélaïde Charlier and Chloé Mikolajczak, alongside Princess Esmeralda. In France, the volunteer group included Julien Thomas, a 43-year-old production operator at the Kem One PVC chemical facility located in Saint-Fons near Lyon.

Blood concentrations and health benchmarks

Laboratory analysis revealed a median TFA concentration of 21.2 ng/mL across all tested individuals. In contrast, the median concentration for the combined sum of the four legacy PFAS compounds routinely measured stood at 4.6 ng/mL. In addition to universal TFA presence, 25% of the tested volunteers had legacy PFAS levels exceeding the European health safety threshold. Lawmakers stated that these TFA readings represent some of the highest concentrations documented in human scientific literature. While lawmakers noted the sample size cannot isolate the exact share attributable to workplace exposure, it provides baseline data for human chemical loads.

Environmental pathways and chemical persistence

TFA is an ultra-short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance that forms when fluorinated refrigerants, agricultural pesticides, and pharmaceuticals degrade. The molecule possesses high water solubility and extreme mobility, allowing it to spread widely through aquatic environments and agricultural soils. Standard municipal water filtration plants cannot eliminate TFA using conventional drinking water treatment techniques. In June, the European Chemicals Agency recommended classifying the compound as a reproductive toxicant. Marie Toussaint noted that the universal contamination rate exceeded initial expectations.

100% contamination remains a surprise, because it is extremely serious. We expected slightly less.

European policy proposals and worker protections

Greens/EFA lawmakers presented seven concrete proposals to European Union regulators following the release of the blood testing results. The group urged the European Union to implement comprehensive restrictions on all PFAS compounds and develop health reference values for TFA blood levels. The recommendations also include establishing mandatory occupational exposure limit values and classifying PFAS-induced health conditions as recognised occupational illnesses. Saskia Bricmont called for immediate legislative intervention against industrial lobbying to eliminate production at the source.

The only realistic solution is to act at the source. If politicians do not ban them, it is solely to secure the profits of an industry whose lobbying works. There is no question of our bodies and our environment serving as receptacles for chemical pollution caused to secure the profits of a few!