Hanon Systems Estimates TFA Levels Generated by Automotive F-Gas Emissions

Hanon Systems, a major South Korean provider of automotive thermal management systems, has released a report estimating the amount of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) generated in Europe by emissions of refrigerants HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf from car cooling and heating systems. The report also describes the opportunity to limit TFA creation via the use of CO2 (R744) and […]

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Democrats Propose PFAS Legislation in U.S. Congress That Would Include F-Gases and TFA

Two Democrats have proposed legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate to address the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the domestic supply chain, using a definition of PFAS that would include many refrigerants and the atmospheric byproduct of some refrigerants called trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). The bill, the Forever Chemical Regulation and […]

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ECHA Launches Consultation on SEAC’s Draft Opinion on PFAS

The European Chemicals Agency has invited stakeholders to comment until May 25 on the draft opinion of its SEAC Committee on the proposed restriction of PFAS, including f-gases.   The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced on March 25 that until May 25 EU stakeholders can provide comments that will help inform the final opinion of the […]

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Monitoring of PFAS, Including TFA, Begins Under EU Drinking Water Directive

As of January 12, member states must measure either total PFAS, including TFA, or the sum of 20 PFAS, with limits of 0.5mcg/L and 0.1mcg/L, respectively. The European Commission announced on January 12 that, under new rules in the EU’s recast Drinking Water Directive, member states must begin monitoring “in a harmonized way” per  and  polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) levels […]

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Pesticides NGO Disputes Chemical Companies’ Interpretation of TFA Toxicity Studies

The Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe, a Brussels-based NGO, has released a report that challenges industry interpretations of animal studies looking at the toxicity of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a byproduct of some f-gases, pesticides and other chemicals. The report, “Manufacturing Doubt: How the Industry Downplays TFA’s Toxicity,” is based on PAN Europe’s analysis of chemical manufacturer-supported studies “to […]

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Canadian Researchers Find More Atmospheric TFA in the Summer and in Urban Areas

Using a novel air sampler, the study revealed trends consistent with the leakage of HFO-1234yf in car air-conditioning. A new study by Canadian researchers has found that the amount of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in the atmosphere, formed by the oxidation of HFO-1234yf and other f-gases, is greatest in the summer and near urban areas, consistent […]

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Illinois and New Mexico Exclude F-Gas Refrigerants from PFAS Laws

A new law enacted by Illinois and a similar law passed in April in New Mexico, which both authorize significant regulations of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), specifically exclude refrigerants that are deemed acceptable by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Both Illinois and New Mexico use the scientifically endorsed definition of PFAS that includes many f-gas […]

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ATMOsphere Report Highlights Rising Threat of HFOs and TFA

ATMOsphere, publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com, has released its second report on the rising threat posed by commonly used HFOs, particularly HFO-1234yf, and their atmospheric byproduct, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), to human health and the environment. The new report, available for free here, also covers the steps being taken in the EU and North America to regulate HFOs and TFA […]

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Germany’s Linkage of TFA to Reproductive Toxicity Officially Submitted to EU

Three German government agencies – the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) – announced on May 26 that their assessment of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and its trifluoroacetate salts as reproductively toxic, very persistent and very mobile was officially submitted to the European […]

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Study Puts Annual Cost of Removing PFAS from the Environment in Europe, Including TFA, at €100 Billion

The cost of removing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) from the environment in Europe, including “emerging” PFAS like f-gas by-product trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), would be €100 billion ($108 billion) per year, or €2 trillion ($2.2 trillion) after 20 years, according to the “Forever Pollution” study published by a group of journalists and scientists.  PFAS, a class of more […]

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