German Study of HFO and TFA Due in Early 2021 By Michael Garry, Jan 13, 2021, 14:17 • 5 minute reading Research project will focus on the refrigeration/air conditioning sector, amid growing industry concerns about the long-term environmental impact of TFA. When it escapes into the atmosphere, the HFO R1234yf – used widely in motor vehicle air conditioning and in food retail applications in blends with HFCs – lasts only up to two weeks. It then breaks down completely into trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a highly durable and mobile substance. TFA descends via rainfall as a form of “acid rain" to the earth; there it accumulates in various bodies of water, including rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands.