New research done by Colby College found that PFAS (or forever chemicals) can be found in machine made snow created for ski trails in the state.

According to the Portland Press Herald, associate professor Gail Carlson found that snowmaking machines can carry PFAS from nearby contaminated water sources, which then gets sprayed all over ski trails and mountains.

While most ski areas in Maine haven’t been tested for these chemicals, tests have showed that the same chemicals found in a contaminated stream in Waterville were found at the nearby Quarry Road Trails, a local Nordic skiing area which uses snow created from that water.

“People have this idea that a beautiful snow-covered trail must be pristine, but there is still so much we don’t know about how forever chemicals move through our environment, about human exposure.” Carson told the Press Herald.

PFAS have become a major safety issue across the country, as they can health problems like kidney diseases, birth defects, high cholesterol, and certain cancers.

Fortunately, most ski areas in Maine are located are located in mountainous regions and create snow from the headwaters of rivers and streams, which Dirk Gouwens, executive director of Ski Maine Association, says is “…probably cleaner than most water from the tap”.

To read the original Portland Press Herald article, click here.