AI Article Synopsis
- Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is a widespread and persistent pollutant found in the environment, with debates about its natural occurrence due to some pre-industrial samples showing its presence.
- Researchers critically assessed pre-industrial TFA measurements, potential formation processes, and other possible sources contributing to TFA in the deep ocean, as well as global budgets of TFA.
- The study concludes that the lack of a clear natural formation mechanism and evidence does not support the idea of TFA occurring naturally, suggesting that this notion should be reconsidered.
Article Abstract
Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is a persistent and mobile pollutant that is present ubiquitously in the environment. As a result of a few studies reporting its presence in pre-industrial samples and a purported unaccounted source, TFA is often claimed to exist naturally. Here, we examine the evidence for natural TFA by: (i) critically evaluating measurements of TFA in pre-industrial samples; (ii) examining the likelihood of TFA formation by hypothesized mechanisms; (iii) exploring other potential TFA sources to the deep ocean; and (iv) examining global budgets of TFA. We conclude that the presence of TFA in the deep ocean and lack of closed TFA budget is not sufficient evidence that TFA occurs naturally, especially without a reasonable mechanism of formation. We argue the paradigm of natural TFA should no longer be carried forward.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d1em00306b | DOI Listing |
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