ALT The citation statement reads: Regarding the microbial degradation of TFA, the results in scientific literature are contradictory. A microbial breakdown of TFA in vernal pool soils incubated for three months was not observed (Benesch et al, 2002). Ellis et al (2001) also described TFA to be persistent based on the results obtained from degradation studies in field aquatic microcosms and laboratory sediment-water systems. The findings of Ellis et al reads: Trifluoroacetic acid was extremely persistent and showed no degradation during a one-year field study, though it appeared to undergo transient partitioning within an unknown pond phase as the temperature of the surroundings was reduced Laboratory studies suggest that the biodegradation of trichloro, dichloro, and monochloroacetic acids leads primarily to the formation of chloride and oxalic, glyoxalic, and glycolic acids, respectively