Issue 11, 2021

Insufficient evidence for the existence of natural trifluoroacetic acid

Abstract

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is a persistent and mobile pollutant that is present ubiquitously in the environment. As a result of a few studies reporting its presence in pre-industrial samples and a purported unaccounted source, TFA is often claimed to exist naturally. Here, we examine the evidence for natural TFA by: (i) critically evaluating measurements of TFA in pre-industrial samples; (ii) examining the likelihood of TFA formation by hypothesized mechanisms; (iii) exploring other potential TFA sources to the deep ocean; and (iv) examining global budgets of TFA. We conclude that the presence of TFA in the deep ocean and lack of closed TFA budget is not sufficient evidence that TFA occurs naturally, especially without a reasonable mechanism of formation. We argue the paradigm of natural TFA should no longer be carried forward.

Graphical abstract: Insufficient evidence for the existence of natural trifluoroacetic acid

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
22 jul 2021
Accepted
01 out 2021
First published
04 out 2021

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2021,23, 1641-1649

Insufficient evidence for the existence of natural trifluoroacetic acid

S. Joudan, A. O. De Silva and C. J. Young, Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2021, 23, 1641 DOI: 10.1039/D1EM00306B

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