Trifluoroacetic acid is a short-chain perfluoroalkyl substance known for its extreme environmental persistence. Often categorized as a “forever chemical,” trifluoroacetic acid resists natural degradation and accumulates in soil, surface water, crops, and biological systems. New peer-reviewed research reports that global environmental deposition of trifluoroacetic acid has increased more than threefold since 2000, driven largely by the atmospheric breakdown of widely used refrigerants.
For laboratory professionals, trifluoroacetic acid is not primarily a reagent concern. Instead, the findings highlight how upstream infrastructure choices, chemical substitutions, and sustainability-driven regulations can introduce indirect risks that affect laboratory environmental compliance, facilities planning, and long-term monitoring responsibilities.
What is driving the increase in trifluoroacetic acid
The study identifies chlorofluorocarbon replacement chemicals as the dominant source of rising trifluoroacetic acid levels. These include hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, and newer hydrofluoroolefins used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and select anesthetic applications.
Using atmospheric modeling, researchers found that global production and deposition of trifluoroacetic acid increased approximately 3.5-fold between 2000 and 2022. While older hydrochlorofluorocarbons accounted for much of production in earlier years, hydrofluorocarbons now account for most ongoing production due to their widespread use and long atmospheric lifetimes.
A growing concern is the breakdown of refrigerants containing hydrofluoroolefins, which are designed to reduce global warming potential. Some of these compounds generate trifluoroacetic acid at significantly higher yields when released into the atmosphere, complicating sustainability trade-offs associated with climate-friendly equipment upgrades.
How researchers tracked global deposition
To quantify global trends, the research team combined long-term atmospheric measurements with a high-resolution chemical transport model. The model accounted for oxidation reactions initiated by hydroxyl radicals, in-cloud hydrolysis processes that form trifluoroacetic acid, and wet- and dry-deposition pathways that determine where the compound ultimately accumulates.
Model results were validated against ice core records from Arctic regions and rainwater measurements at mid-latitudes. The strong agreement between modeled and observed data indicates that long-lived refrigerants are responsible for most observed increases in trifluoroacetic acid deposition, even in remote environments.
Why trifluoroacetic acid matters for laboratories
Although current environmental concentrations remain below established toxicity thresholds, European regulatory agencies classify trifluoroacetic acid as harmful to aquatic life and are evaluating its potential reproductive toxicity. Its persistence means that once introduced, environmental exposure continues for decades.
For lab managers, the implications relate to laboratory environmental compliance rather than direct handling:
- Facilities and infrastructure: Refrigeration and HVAC systems supporting cold storage, environmental chambers, and cleanrooms may rely on refrigerants linked to long-term trifluoroacetic acid formation
- Environmental monitoring: Laboratories conducting water, agricultural, or environmental testing may increasingly detect trifluoroacetic acid in samples, requiring validated analytical methods and reference materials
- Procurement and sustainability: The findings underscore the need to evaluate refrigerant breakdown products when balancing climate goals with chemical persistence and regulatory risk
Looking ahead
The study concludes that expanded monitoring of trifluoroacetic acid is needed to better understand its environmental fate and long-term health implications. For laboratories, the findings reinforce a familiar operational lesson: environmental compliance considerations often extend beyond reagents and protocols to include the infrastructure and materials that support daily laboratory work.
As scrutiny of persistent chemicals continues to evolve, lab managers may benefit from closer coordination with facilities teams, environmental health professionals, and vendors when evaluating refrigeration systems, sustainability initiatives, and long-term compliance strategies tied to refrigerant use.
This article was created with the assistance of Generative AI and has undergone editorial review before publishing.
