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• PFAS include more than 10,000 synthetic molecules, widely used in industrial processes and products. They are chains of carbon and fluorine atoms.
• They are persistent in the environment and harmful to wildlife and human health.
• PFAS are found in ski waxes. They end up in the environment through ski abrasion.

EXPLANATIONS

However, PFAS are harmful to the environment and human health⁵. PFAS are nicknamed forever pollutants because, given their chemical stability, they persist in the environment. PFAS can enter organisms through various pathways. The main one is oral, notably through water, food, and breast milk for young children. Contamination can also occur through the skin or by inhalation. PFAS have toxic effects⁶ on humans (and also on animals). The list is long, but among the effects we can mention: carcinogenicity, immunotoxicity, reduced birth weight, or endocrine disruption.

However, PFAS are harmful to the environment and human health⁵. PFAS are nicknamed forever pollutants because, given their chemical stability, they persist in the environment. PFAS can enter organisms through various pathways. The main one is oral, notably via water, food and breast milk for young children. Contamination can also occur through the skin or by inhalation. PFAS have toxic effects⁶ on humans (and also on animals). The list is long, but among the effects one can cite: carcinogenic, immunotoxicity, reduced birth weight in babies, or endocrine disruptors.

Le ski est donc une source de pollution au PFAS. Lors du fartage, 80 % du produit⁷ est perdu, ce qui peut être problématique s’il n’est pas correctement éliminé et peut être source de contamination au PFAS par inhalation. Les 20 % restants peuvent se retrouver dans l’environnement lors de vos journées de glisse, par l’abrasion des skis. Des études ont montré une présence plus importante de PFAS dans les zones skiables⁸ que dans les zones non skiables. Un rapport⁹ produit par l’EPFL, en collaboration avec Summit Foundation, a mis en évidence la présence de PFAS dans les stations de ski suisses.

PFAS are harmful to nature and our health; let’s act together to ban them from our environment.

PFAS are harmful to nature and our health; ; let us act collectively to banish them from our environment.

TAKE A LOOK AT OUR STUDY

OUR STUDY

WHICH WAXES TO USE?

If you are looking for a fluorine free and PFAS free ski wax, the range available today is quite varied. However, stay alert: some manufacturers replace fluorine with other potentially harmful substances, without always clearly indicating their composition.

That is why the Foundation recommends the Isantin wax, developed by former ETH Zurich chemist Peter Bützer. Its formula, fully public and based on indigo, a plant derived dye, makes it a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative.

Other brands also offer interesting options, including mountainFLOW (United States) and NZERO (Spain), which sell waxes made exclusively from plant based ingredients.

THE SWISHH BUBBLE IN ACTION

SOURCES

  1. Gaillard, Lucas, Kévin Bernal, Xavier Coumoul, Karine Andréau, and Etienne B. Blanc. «Forever Pollutants and Human Contamination: Current Status and Issues Concerning Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).» Cahiers de Nutrition et de Diététique 59, no. 6 (2024): 349- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnd.2024.10.003 .
  2. Gaillard, Lucas, Kévin Bernal, Xavier Coumoul, Karine Andréau, and Etienne B. Blanc. «Forever Pollutants and Human Contamination: Current Status and Issues Concerning Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).» Cahiers de Nutrition et de Diététique 59, no. 6 (2024): 349- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnd.2024.10.003 .
  3. OFEV, Federal Office for the Environment. «PFAS, What Are They?» Accessed September 18, 2025. https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/fr/home/themen/thema-chemikalien/chemikalien--dossiers/pfas-per-und-polyfluorierte-alkylverbindungen.html .
  4. Bouchex-Bellomie, Harold, and Andreas Buser. Use of Fluorinated Ski Waxes in Switzerland. 2025. https://www.bafu.admin.ch/dam/bafu/fr/dokumente/chemikalien/fachinfo-daten/Bericht%20Skiwachs.pdf.download.pdf/Rapport_farts_de_ski.pdf .
  5. OFEV, Federal Office for the Environment. «PFAS, What Are They?» Accessed September 18, 2025. https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/fr/home/themen/thema-chemikalien/chemikalien--dossiers/pfas-per-und-polyfluorierte-alkylverbindungen.html .
  6. Gaillard, Lucas, Kévin Bernal, Xavier Coumoul, Karine Andréau, and Etienne B. Blanc. «Forever Pollutants and Human Contamination: Current Status and Issues Concerning Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).» Cahiers de Nutrition et de Diététique 59, no. 6 (2024): 349-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnd.2024.10.003 .
  7. Bouchex-Bellomie, Harold, and Andreas Buser. Use of Fluorinated Ski Waxes in Switzerland. n.d. https://www.bafu.admin.ch/dam/bafu/fr/dokumente/chemikalien/fachinfo-daten/Bericht%20Skiwachs.pdf.download.pdf/Rapport_farts_de_ski.pdf .
  8. Müller, Viktoria, Larissa Cristine Andrade Costa, Filipe Soares Rondan, et al. «Per and Polyfluoroalkylated Substances (PFAS) Target and EOF Analyses in Ski Wax, Snowmelts, and Soil from Skiing Areas.» Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts 25, no. 12 (2023): 1926- https://doi.org/10.1039/D3EM00375B .
  9. Bossi, Beatrice, and Manon Bernard. https://www.epfl.ch/schools/enac/education/environmental-sciences-and-engineering/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Poster-DP-25.pdf
  10. Bouchex-Bellomie, Harold, and Andreas Buser. Use of Fluorinated Ski Waxes in Switzerland. 2025. https://www.bafu.admin.ch/dam/bafu/fr/dokumente/chemikalien/fachinfo-daten/Bericht%20Skiwachs.pdf.download.pdf/Rapport_farts_de_ski.pdf .