PFAS in ski wax: Forever chemicals on the ski trail
Dübendorf, 18.11.2025 — When the forever chemicals known as PFAS enter the environment, they remain there for generations and can harm humans and nature. Despite increasing bans, many PFAS are still in circulation – including on Swiss ski slopes and cross-country trails, where the toxins enter the environment through abrasion from ski wax. Empa researchers have detected elevated PFAS concentrations in snow samples from the Engadin region – and are urging cross-country skiers to switch to fluorine-free waxes.
