A dossier on the harmonized hazard classification of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) was submitted to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) by the German Federal Agency for Chemicals (BfC) in cooperation with the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR).
TFA belongs to the group of per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS) and is classified as toxic to reproduction and as very persistent and very mobile due to its properties. Specifically, Germany proposes classification as 'toxic for reproduction, category 1B' with the hazard statement H360Df ("May cause harm to the unborn child, suspected of damaging fertility") and as a vPvM substance with the statement EUH451 ("May cause very long-lasting and diffuse pollution of water resources").
Substances with vPvM properties are difficult to break down in the environment and hardly bind to sediments or activated carbon filters. Drinking water treatment can only remove such substances at great technical expense. TFA has been increasingly detected in German waters for years and is produced as a degradation product of pesticides and fluorinated refrigerants such as R1234yf. Despite the classification, according to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, there is currently no acute health risk for the population, as the environmental concentrations are well below the harmful levels in animal tests. However, the new risk assessment serves as a basis for further measures to reduce environmental pollution in the long term - for example through stricter approvals for TFA-forming substances.
The published dossier can be commented on within a period of six weeks. ECHA's Scientific Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) will then discuss the German authorities' dossier and the comments received. Within 18 months, the RAC's opinion will then be submitted to the EU Commission, which will prepare a corresponding draft regulation to adapt the CLP Regulation (Adaptation to Technical Progress Regulation, ATP).
https://echa.europa.eu/harmonised-classification-and-labelling-consultation
