---
title: "Trifluoroacetic acid found in blood of all 110 European study volunteers"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/health/trifluoroacetic-acid-found-in-blood-of-all-110-european-study-volunteers"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/trifluoroacetic-acid-found-in-blood-of-all-110-european-study-volunteers"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/health/trifluoroacetic-acid-found-in-blood-of-all-110-european-study-volunteers.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/trifluoroacetic-acid-found-in-blood-of-all-110-european-study-volunteers"
category: "Health"
area: "European Union"
published: "2026-10-02T13:45:54.880Z"
source_reported: "2026-10-02T13:29:00.000Z"
updated: "2026-10-02T13:45:54.880Z"
trust_score: 42
critic_score: 59
hype_score: 41
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-10-02T13:37:46.813Z"
---

# Trifluoroacetic acid found in blood of all 110 European study volunteers

*New research reveals widespread presence of 'eternal pollutant' TFA, prompting calls for stricter regulation.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to a named body (EFSA, European Parliament Greens/EFA group) and supported by one full report and 25 digests.
- Craft 59 of 100, higher is better. The story is clearly written and holds together, with specific figures and dates provided.
- Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines promise alarming findings about 'eternal pollutants' and 'record levels' of TFA.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) was detected in the blood of all 110 volunteers participating in a new study across nine European countries.
- TFA concentrations were found to be four to five times higher than the sum of four long-chain PFAS compounds.
- The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reduced its acceptable daily intake for TFA and classified it as toxic for reproduction.
- Six out of ten Croatian participants showed elevated levels of four long-chain PFAS compounds, with five of seven from Gospić having high values.

A new study has found trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in the blood of all 110 volunteers from nine European countries. The research, initiated by the European Greens/EFA group, analysed blood samples for various per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as 'eternal pollutants'. TFA was detected in 100% of participants, with concentrations reported as four to five times higher than the combined levels of four long-chain PFAS compounds.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recently lowered its acceptable daily intake for TFA to 0.014 mg per kilogram of body weight, down from 0.05 mg/kg. EFSA has also classified TFA as toxic for reproduction. The study involved volunteers from Italy, Belgium, France, Croatia, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Denmark, and Finland. Biological analyses were conducted by the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Hamburg, with toxicological interpretation by the Free University of Amsterdam.

While long-chain PFAS were found in all participants, TFA and PFPrA were the only ultra-short chain PFAS detected, with PFPrA present in 23% of volunteers. In Croatia, six out of ten participants had elevated levels of the four long-chain PFAS compounds. Among the seven participants from Gospić, five showed elevated values for these compounds.

## Disagreement on linking Gospić findings to waste

The Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) stated that the results from a small number of volunteers do not allow for an assessment of PFAS exposure for the entire population of Gospić. According to HZJZ, the findings from the study cannot be linked to waste in the area. This contrasts with reports that have highlighted elevated PFAS levels in residents of Gospić.

## What the coverage left out

None of the left or centre-rated reports mentioned the specific cost estimates for PFAS remediation that were presented by the European Greens/EFA group, which were cited in the full report from Il Fatto Quotidiano.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 67% (4)
- Centre: 33% (2)
- Right: 0% (0)

21 of 27 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-02T13:37:46.813Z.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 4 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-02T14:45:19.738Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Left-rated reports highlighted the widespread presence of TFA, with Il Fatto Quotidiano stating it was found in the blood of all 110 volunteers and describing it as the most widespread and indestructible eternal pollutant. These reports emphasised the European Greens/EFA group's call for a universal restriction on all PFAS, including TFA, and the application of the 'polluter pays' principle for contaminated sites. Il Fatto Quotidiano quoted MEP Cristina Guarda saying, 'No one is safe against PFAS. They must be banned and the phase-out must be planned, supported and completed.' The reports also focused on the classification of TFA as toxic for reproduction and the potential risks for women and fertility, noting that women were underrepresented in previous studies. Le Monde and franceinfo.fr also led on the detection of TFA in all tested Europeans and the warnings from ecologist MEPs.

### Centre

- Centre-rated reports focused on the overall findings of the study, noting that one in four Europeans analysed exceeded the recommended PFAS threshold. Hola News and Prensa Libre reported that levels of four long-chain PFAS were higher than the health reference value derived from EFSA criteria in one in four participants. These reports also mentioned the presence of TFA, another persistent pollutant, in the blood samples. Novi list reported that the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) stated that the findings from Gospić could not be linked to local waste, a point of divergence from other reports.

### Right

No separate framing summary.

**Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- high: 5
- unknown: 21
- veryHigh: 1

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [IndexHR](https://index.hr/vijesti/clanak/licanin-ima-najgore-nalaze-na-vjecne-kemikalije-mozda-sam-precesto-hodao-oko-silosa/2841239.aspx) — A Man From Lika Has the Worst Results for Eternal Chemicals: Maybe I Walked Around the Silos Too Often
- [H-Alter - Udruga za medijsku kulturu…](https://h-alter.org/planet-zemlja/svi-smo-vec-pfasovali) — We've All Already PFASed!
- [notizie.it](https://notizie.it/inquinanti-eterni-guarda-avs-report-dimostra-che-i-pfas-sono-onnipresenti-pericolo-per-salute) — Eternal Pollutants: Guarda (Avs), "Report" Shows that Pfas Are Omnipresent.
- [Rec News | Lontani dal mainstream](https://recnews.it/2026/10/02/inquinanti-eterni-guarda-avs-report-dimostra-che-i-pfas-sono-onnipresenti-pericolo-per-salute) — Eternal Pollutants: Guarda (Avs), "Report" Shows that Pfas Are Omnipresent.
- [Teleskop](https://teleskop.hr/hrvatska/alarmantni-nalazi-u-gospicu-pet-od-sedam-testiranih-ima-povisene-vrijednosti-pfas-a) — Alarming Findings in Gospić: Five Out of Seven Tested Have Elevated PFAS Values
- [total-croatia-news.com](https://total-croatia-news.com/news/croatian-forever-chemicals) — Croatian Subjects Have Been Tested for "Forever Chemicals" - Total Croatia
- [Net.hr](https://net.hr/danas/rtl-direkt/soa-za-otpad-u-gospicu-zna-godinama-hrvatima-pronadeni-pfas-spojevi-u-krvi-18c2a708-bdcd-11f1-936f-9600040c8f8e) — SOA Has Known About Waste in Gospić for Years, PFAS Compounds Found in Croatians' Blood: 'It's Time to Sound the Alarm'
- [dalmacijadanas.hr](https://dalmacijadanas.hr/povisene-razine-pfas-kemikalija-u-krvi-uznemirile-stanovnike-gospica-jos-uvijek-sam-pod-dojmom-svog-nalaza-a-jedna-stvar-posebno-me-zabrinjava) — Elevated Levels of PFAS Chemicals in the Blood Have Alarmed Residents of Gospić: "I'm Still Impressed by My Findings, and One Thing Particularly Worries Me"
- [Novi list](https://novilist.hr/novosti/hrvatska/hzjz-o-pfas-spojevima-u-krvi-ljudi-nalazi-iz-gospica-ne-mogu-se-povezati-s-otpadom) — HZJZ O PFAS Spojevima U Krvi Ljudi: "Nalazi Iz Gospića Ne Mogu Se Povezati S Otpadom"
- [L'INDIPENDENTE](https://lindipendente.online/2026/10/01/pfas-livelli-record-di-tfa-tossico-per-la-riproduzione-nel-sangue-dei-cittadini-europei) — PFAS: Record Levels of TFA, Toxic to Reproduction, in the Blood of European Citizens
- [Il Fatto Quotidiano](https://ilfattoquotidiano.it/2026/10/01/inquinanti-eterni-analisi-su-110-cittadini-europei-il-tfa-il-piu-diffuso-e-indistruttibile-trovato-nel-sangue-di-tutti/8524397) — Eternal Pollutants, Analyses of 110 European Citizens: the Tfa (the Most Widespread and Indestructible) Found in the Blood of All
- [hrvatska-danas.com](https://hrvatska-danas.com/2026/10/01/bosanac-u-krvi-hrvata-pronadene-opasne-kemikalije-sedmero-je-iz-gospica) — Bosnian: Dangerous Chemicals Found in Croats' Blood. Seven Are From Gospić.... - Croatia Today
- [totalinfo.hr](https://totalinfo.hr/europarlamentarac-bosanac-istrazivanje-potvrdilo-u-krvi-gradana-iz-gospica-potvrdeni-pfas-spojevi) — MEP Bosanac: Research Confirms PFAS Compounds in the Blood of Citizens From Gospić
- [Telegraf – Najnovije vesti](https://nauka.telegraf.rs/medicina/4406806-testirana-krv-hrvata-kod-6-od-10-njih-pronadjeno-nesto-opasno-rezultat-je-jasna-stvarnost) — Croats' Blood Tested - Something Dangerous Was Found in 6 Out of 10 of Them: "The Result Is a Clear Reality"
- [Večernji list](https://vecernji.hr/vijesti/u-krvi-svih-testiranih-nadene-reproduktivno-toksicne-tvari-kod-hrvata-i-visoke-razine-pfas-spojeva-2000305) — Toxic Substances Found in the Blood of All Tested, Including High Levels of PFAS Compounds in Croatians
- [glasistre.hr](https://glasistre.hr/svijet/2026/10/01/vjecne-kemikalije-u-krvi-sest-od-deset-testiranih-hrvata-ima-zabrinjavajuce-nalaze-1086492) — "Eternal Chemicals" in the Blood: Six Out of Ten Tested Croatians Have Worrying Results
- [6yka.com](https://6yka.com/bih/hrvate-testirali-na-vjecne-hemikalije-nadjene-kod-svih-kod-vecine-ih-je-previse) — Croatians Tested for "Eternal chemicals." Found in Everyone, but Too Many in Most
- [Dalmatinski portal](https://dalmatinskiportal.hr/testirali-hrvate-na-vjecne-kemikalije-rezultati-iz-gospica-pule-i-knina-privukli-pozornost) — Croatians Tested for 'Eternal Chemicals': Results From Gospić, Pula and Knin Attract Attention
- [jabuka.tv](https://jabuka.tv/vjecne-kemikalije-pronadene-u-krvi-svih-testiranih-hrvata) — "Eternal Chemicals" Found in the Blood of All Tested Croatians
- [PAN Europe](https://pan-europe.info/blog/tfa-detected-every-blood-sample-tested-110-europeans) — TFA detected in every blood sample tested from 110 Europeans
- [efeverde.com](https://efeverde.com/uno-de-cada-cuatro-europeos-analizados-supera-el-umbral-de-pfas-recomendado) — One in Four Europeans Analyzed Exceeds the Recommended PFAS Threshold
- [Hola News](https://holanews.com/uno-de-cada-cuatro-europeos-analizados-supera-el-umbral-de-pfas-recomendado) — One in Four Europeans Analyzed Exceeds the Recommended PFAS Threshold
- [Le Monde](https://lemonde.fr/planete/article/2026/10/01/pfas-des-niveaux-record-de-tfa-mesures-dans-le-sang-de-volontaires-europeens_6786449_3244.html) — PFAS: Record Levels of TFA Measured in the Blood of European Volunteers
- [franceinfo.fr](https://franceinfo.fr/environnement/pollution/pfas/polluants-eternels-100-des-personnes-issues-de-neuf-pays-europeens-testees-positives-au-tfa-alertent-les-eurodeputes-ecologistes_8216995.html) — Eternal Pollutants: 100% of People From Nine European Countries, Tested Positive at the TFA, Warn Ecologist MEPs
- [LVZ - Leipziger Volkszeitung](https://lvz.de/politik/pfas-in-blutproben-aus-ganz-europa-forscher-warnen-vor-belastung-durch-ewigkeitschemikalien-UK2LEQLFV5GMBFVZJ5Z6RGNNZM.html) — PFAS in Blood Samples From All over Europe: Researchers Warn Against Exposure to Eternity Chemotherapy
- [De Tijd](https://tijd.be/r/t/1/id/10687426) — Little-Studied PFAS Variant TFA Is Present in Our Bodies Much More Frequently than Previously Thought: ‘Values Will Continue to Rise’
- [Prensa Libre](https://prensalibre.com/internacional/efe/uno-de-cada-cuatro-europeos-analizados-supera-el-umbral-de-pfas-recomendado) — One in Four Europeans Analyzed Exceeds the Recommended PFAS Threshold

## Questions

**What is trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)?**

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is a type of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), often referred to as 'eternal pollutants'. It is a breakdown product of many fluorinated compounds, including refrigerants, pesticides, and other PFAS. It is considered the most widespread, smallest, and most indestructible of these pollutants.

**What did the new study find about TFA?**

The study found TFA in the blood of all 110 volunteers from nine European countries. The concentrations detected were significantly higher, about four to five times greater, than the sum of four long-chain PFAS compounds also analysed in the research.

**What are the health implications of TFA?**

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has lowered its acceptable daily intake for TFA and classified it as toxic for reproduction. This classification indicates potential harm to fertility and the unborn child, highlighting concerns about its impact on human health, particularly reproductive health.

**Were there specific findings for Croatian participants?**

Yes, six out of ten Croatian participants in the study had elevated levels of four long-chain PFAS compounds. Furthermore, among the seven participants from the town of Gospić, five showed elevated values for these specific compounds, drawing attention to potential local exposure issues.

---

MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/health/trifluoroacetic-acid-found-in-blood-of-all-110-european-study-volunteers. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Trifluoroacetic acid found in blood of all 110 European study volunteers", https://mediabias.news/health/trifluoroacetic-acid-found-in-blood-of-all-110-european-study-volunteers