Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (PFCA) concentrations in serum and air collected from professional wax technicians and the rooms where waxes are applied are among the highest of any occupation investigated to date, including the fluorochemical industry.
Source
Fluorinated or 'fluoro' ski waxes are a significant source of airborne PFAS exposure during the waxing process. PFAS are polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly knowns as 'forever chemicals' because of their ability to persist in the body for years. They are getting more attention as we learn how bad they are for us and the environment. Long-term effects are still under study.
Basically professional nerds realized that people who wax skis both as a job and/or for fun are a good opportunity to study airborne PFAS exposure, as most prior knowledge is known from diet exposure.
Our research indicates that fluorinated wax use has far outpaced utilization of exposure reduction strategies such as ventilation or respiratory personal protective equipment.
It's something to think about if you wax your own skis or do it for work. Even if your shop doesn't use fluoro wax anymore since the FIS bans, there could still very well be residues in the shop itself. Consider wearing PPE like a respirator or at least ventilating with the outdoors if you wax a lot, or waxing outdoors/in a garage if you wax at home. You can also choose not to use fluoro waxes; most cheap waxes are hydrocarbon-based anyways.
