Tracking Trifluoroacetate (TFA) through Time: A 78-Year Record from Archived Wines

Trifluoroacetate
(TFA) is increasingly recognized as
a persistent
and globally distributed contaminant. Despite its widespread occurrence
and formation from diverse precursors, long-term data on TFA contamination
trends are scarce. We present the first long-term retrospective analysis
of TFA concentrations in archived wines, drawing on a unique and nearly
uninterrupted 78-year sample series (1946–2024) from a single
winery in Baden, Germany. Complementary samples included organically
produced wines from the same region, wines from 20 countries across
five continents, and a variety of fruit juices and nectars. Our results
reveal a marked and statistically significant rise in TFA concentrations,
with no detectable levels prior to 1970, and a pronounced increase
from 2010 onward, peaking at 260 μg/L in archived wines from
Baden. This pattern aligns with trends relating to certain TFA precursor
emissions in Germany, specifically TFA-forming refrigerants and propellants
as well as C–CF3-containing pesticides. Recent international
wines showed variable but generally high levels of TFA, reaching up
to 620 μg/L. This highlights the increasing global environmental
presence of TFA and the necessity of evaluating its potential long-term
effects on ecosystems and human health.