European volunteers reveal record-high TFA levels in blood across multiple countries

In June, the Greens/Alliance libre européenne group of the European Parliament coordinated a blood-sampling effort involving dozens of volunteers aged 12-78 from nine countries. The cohort comprised factory operators, firefighters, residents near polluted sites and individuals from areas considered low-risk. Samples were examined by the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Hamburg and interpreted by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Results demonstrate that PFAS are detectable in every participant’s blood, with the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance TFA reaching unprecedented concentrations. The study underscores the pervasive exposure to these persistent pollutants across diverse European populations. Researchers intend to publish the full report shortly.