Scientists have discovered that ozone-friendly refrigerants and medical anesthetics are spreading a durable "forever chemical" known as trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) around the world. A new study estimates that these substances caused roughly 335,500 tonnes of TFA to settle on the Earth's surface between 2000 and 2022. Experts believe annual production could reach its highest point at some time between 2025 and 2100.

The study warns that this pollution is nowhere near its peak. Many of the gases that create TFA stay in the atmosphere for decades, and the chemical is now building up in rain, drinking water, and ice. Researchers concluded that the chemicals used to replace ozone-depleting CFCs are likely the main source of TFA in our air. The substance has been found across the globe, reaching even the most remote parts of the Arctic. Scientists are now calling for closer monitoring and more research to understand how TFA affects the environment.