Concentration‐dependent response of soil parameters and functions to trifluoroacetic acid

Despite growing environmental concerns about perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) worldwide, the ultra‐short‐chain PFAS, for example, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), have been largely neglected in the context of soil pollution. Given the persistence and increasing occurrence of TFA in the soil environment, accumulated TFA could impact soil properties and functions. Therefore, we investigated the effects of a wide range of concentrations of TFA (0.001–100 μg g−1) on chemical, physical and biological indicators of soil health, using a six‐week microcosm experiment. Our results showed that TFA treatments decreased soil pH, sulphate content, soil respiration, litter decomposition and bacterial abundance, and increased phosphate content (p