Concerns grow around the 'forever chemical' trifluoroacetic acid which could be in your morning brew
It's a long name. But that's not the problem.
Trifluoroacetic acid - let's just call it TFA for short - also has a long life. And that's the problem.
It's commonly classed as a "forever chemical", meaning that it breaks down extremely slowly in nature allowing it to build up over time once it's out there.
And according to the results of a new study by the University of York, it's out there in a big way.
In fact, out of 32 rivers sampled in the UK, 31 were found to have levels of TFA in them.
Professor Alistair Boxall, from the University of York, says what is measured in Yorkshire's rivers will probably be seen in its tap water
Some of the highest levels were found right on the university's doorstep, with the Rivers Foss, Ouse and Derwent returning results that put the region among the highest in the study for levels of TFA contamination.
So it's out there and it's not going to just break down quickly and disappear like the leftovers from last night's summer salad, but how much should we care?
Well, according to the researchers behind the study and the charity which commissioned it, you should care a lot.
Firstly, because just promising yourself not to go wild swimming or gulp large gobfulls of river water anytime soon isn't enough to avoid it, apparently.
Professor Alistair Boxall, who led the study, says it doesn't seem to be removed by drinking water treatment systems, meaning you've probably already had some with your morning coffee.
And secondly, perhaps more worryingly, are the growing concerns around what TFAs might be doing to us; especially where having children is concerned.
Environmental charity Fidra admits we're only starting to learn more about potential risks associated with the chemical but says it's known to be harmful to aquatic life, causes potential reproductive and liver issues in mammals and scientists in Germany are already so concerned about it they're calling for it to be classed as toxic for reproduction.
These are fears that have led to calls from environmentalists, and the figures behind the University of York study, for more action to be taken to stem the flow of it into the environment at source; it's currently used in a variety of household goods including air conditioning systems, aerosols, heat pumps and some pesticides.
So I'll say it one more time.
Trifluoroacetic acid.
Maybe a long name worth remembering after all.
As we could be hearing a lot more about it for a long time.
What was the study and what does it show?
The University of York study into the presence of 'forever chemicals' found some of the highest levels ever recorded.
The study found Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a chemical used in numerous household items, was found in in 98% of 54 sites tested nationwide.
The research was conducted with the environmental charity Fidra and found some of the concentrations recorded are amongst the highest ever reported globally.
Rivers in North Yorkshire are among the worst offenders in the UK, according to the findings.
Sampling was done across 12 locations in North Yorkshire - on the River Foss, River Ouse and River Derwent - with an average of 990 nanograms per litre being found in the region.
This made it the region with the higher levels of TFA contamination in England.
Meanwhile, the River Kelvin in Scotland was the most polluted river in the study overall, with TFA mean average concentration levels recorded at 23,968 nanograms per litre.
TFA is just one of more than 10,000 PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) now internationally recognised for their adverse health and environmental impacts.
These so-called 'forever chemicals' are highly persistent, mobile and can build up along food chains to potentially harmful concentration levels.
Some well studied PFAS have been linked to increased risk of various cancers, liver damage, fertility issues, as well as toxicity amongst wildlife, the University of York said.
There is currently no practical or economically viable way to remove TFA from the environment, leading to growing scientific concern over the impact that continually rising concentrations may have on human health and environmental processes.
A Defra spokesperson said: 'This government is committed protecting human health and the environment from the risks posed by PFAS.
'That's why we are working at pace together with regulators and devolved administrations, to assess levels of PFAS occurring in the environment, their sources and potential risks to inform policy and regulatory approaches.'
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