Occupational Exposure to Airborne Perfluorinated Compounds during Professional Ski Waxing

Abstract

The concentration levels of 11 perfluorinated carboxylic (PFCA) and eight sulfonic (PFSA) acids were determined in the serum of 13 professional ski waxers. The same components were also determined in workroom aerosols and in fluoro containing solid ski waxes and ski wax powders. The highest median concentration (50 ng/mL) was detected for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is around 25 times higher than the background level. For the first time perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTeDA) has been found in human serum. Positive statistically significant associations between years exposed as ski waxer and seven different PFCAs were observed. The serum concentrations of the PFCAs with carbon chain lengths from C(8) to C(11) were reduced by around five to 20% on average during the eight month exposure free interval, whereas the reduction was substantially larger when the carbon chain lengths were smaller than C(8) or larger than C(11). This study links for the first time PFCAs in the ski waxers serum to exposure from the work room aerosols. Not only professional ski waxers but also the significant larger group of amateur skiers and waxers are potentially exposed to these compounds.

Characterisation of human exposure pathways to perfluorinated compounds — Comparing exposure estimates with biomarkers of exposure

“…The half-life range for PFOA was later confirmed in studies of general populations from Germany and the US exposed to PFOA through contaminated drinking water (Bartell et al 2009;Hölzer et al 2009;Seals et al 2010). Two recent studies on exposures of professional ski waxing technicians indicated long elimination half-lives for PFNA, PFDA and PFUnDA as well (Freberg et al 2010;Nilsson et al 2010). In contrast the half-life of PFBS in six occupationally exposed workers was found to be around one month (Olsen et al 2009a).…”

“…Increased PFOA concentrations have also been observed in a population living close to a manufacturing site (Emmett et al 2006). Further, two Nordic studies have seen elevated concentrations of PFCAs in serum from professional skiwaxers (Freberg et al 2010;Nilsson et al 2010). No clear regional differences have been observed for general populations.…”

Temporal variations of perfluoroalkyl substances and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in alpine snow

“…The measured PFAS composition compared to the composition of snow from skiing regions subjected to ski waxes (Freberg et al, 2010) suggests that direct contamination from human activities (skiing, sampling campaigns) is negligible for the sampling location. We therefore assume that PFAS contamination has completely resulted from atmospheric wet and dry deposition.…”

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) — main concerns and regulatory developments in Europe from an environmental point of view

“…Time trend studies show that PFOA levels are significantly associated with the time being exposed to PFOA, i.e. during work as a ski waxer [102][103][104]. And recent studies strongly indicate that PFOA levels increase with age [105,106].…”