Per and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) target and EOF analyses in ski wax, snowmelts, and soil from skiing areas

Per and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) are common additives in ski waxes for their water repellent characteristic. Abrasion of ski wax leaves PFAS on the snow surface, however, little is known about the distribution and concentration of PFAS in snow and soil due to skiing. In this study we analysed different ski waxes, snowmelts and soil from family skiing areas from Alpine locations using targeted high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) to understand more about PFAS distribution in the environment. In general, we found a very diverse PFAS pattern in the analysed media. PFAS level was higher in skiing areas compared to the non-skiing ones that were used as control. Sigma target PFAS ranged between <1.7 ng L-1 and 143 ng L-1 in snowmelt, <0.62 ng g(-1) and 5.35 ng g(-1) in soil and <1.89 and 874 +/- 240 ng g(-1) in ski wax samples. Snowmelt was dominated by short-chained PFAS, while soil and wax contained both short and long-chained PFAS. Extractable organic fluorine (EOF) was several orders of magnitude higher for waxes (0.5-2 mg g(-1)) than for soils (up to 0.3 mu g g(-1)), while total fluorine (TF) content of the waxes was even higher, up to 31 210 +/- 420 mu g g(-1). We also showed that the Sigma target PFAS accounts for up to 1.5% in EOF content, showing that targeted LC-MS/MS gives a limited measure of the pollution originated from ski waxes and non-targeted analysis and EOF is necessary for a better overview on PFAS distribution.

Automated summary

This study analyzed ski waxes, snowmelts, and soil samples from family skiing areas in Alpine locations to investigate the distribution of PFAS in the environment. The researchers found a diverse pattern of PFAS in the analyzed media, with higher levels in skiing areas compared to non-skiing areas. Snowmelt was dominated by short-chained PFAS, while soil and wax contained both short and long-chained PFAS. The study highlights the importance of non-targeted analysis and extractable organic fluorine (EOF) for a better understanding of PFAS distribution.