Toxic Ski and snowboard wax polluting groundwater???

Has anyone ever thought about this, It does not seem like there would
be a lot, but I suppose any amount might matter? Read this press
release, it kind of makes you think.

http://www.enviromountain.com/Press_Release.htm

On Dec 10, 8:45 pm, RightEagle wrote:
Has anyone ever thought about this, It does not seem like there would
be a lot, but I suppose any amount might matter? Read this press
release, it kind of makes you think.

http://www.enviromountain.com/Press_Release.htm

I've always wondered about both waxes and the run-off of that add-in
chemical they use in artificial snowmaking operations...It can't be
good for groundwater.

Yabahoobs wrote:
On Dec 10, 8:45 pm, RightEagle wrote:
Has anyone ever thought about this, It does not seem like there would
be a lot, but I suppose any amount might matter? Read this press
release, it kind of makes you think.

http://www.enviromountain.com/Press_Release.htm

I've always wondered about both waxes and the run-off of that add-in
chemical they use in artificial snowmaking operations...It can't be
good for groundwater.

The wax issue is food for thought.

As for snowmaking, here in VT, I have in the past seen a little
alcohol added in REALLY COLD weather. That was quite a few
years ago. I haven't seen (or smelled) anything within the
last few years and I assume that since VT is so well (over)
regulated about things that go onto or into the ground, that
nothing is currently being added. I know some of the snow-
makers at K and will ask when the opportunity presents itself.

Further, the cost of energy, especially for compressing air,
is so high, that another cost would be well accounted for
and I haven't seen anything here either.

On Dec 10, 10:45 pm, RightEagle wrote:
Has anyone ever thought about this, It does not seem like there would
be a lot, but I suppose any amount might matter? Read this press
release, it kind of makes you think.

http://www.enviromountain.com/Press_Release.htm

The press release should be treated with extreme skepticism, since its
real purpose is to help sell the issuing company's own, purportedly
environmentally friendly wax: "Enviro Mountain Sports, Inc. is now
actively promoting the use of environmentally friendly ski & snowboard
waxes. Barker explains, that they have developed an all natural
alternative to the toxic chemical waxes." Also note that the company
repeatedly points out that most waxes are imported from -- horrors --
foreign countries. The whole thing is a sales pitch.

Joe Ramirez

On Dec 11, 6:12 am, VtSkier wrote:
Yabahoobs wrote:
On Dec 10, 8:45 pm, RightEagle wrote:
Has anyone ever thought about this, It does not seem like there would
be a lot, but I suppose any amount might matter? Read this press
release, it kind of makes you think.

http://www.enviromountain.com/Press_Release.htm

I've always wondered about both waxes and the run-off of that add-in
chemical they use in artificial snowmaking operations...It can't be
good for groundwater.

The wax issue is food for thought.

As for snowmaking, here in VT, I have in the past seen a little
alcohol added in REALLY COLD weather. That was quite a few
years ago. I haven't seen (or smelled) anything within the
last few years and I assume that since VT is so well (over)
regulated about things that go onto or into the ground, that
nothing is currently being added. I know some of the snow-
makers at K and will ask when the opportunity presents itself.

Further, the cost of energy, especially for compressing air,
is so high, that another cost would be well accounted for
and I haven't seen anything here either.

Granted it was a long time ago, and I wasn't all eduh-muh-cated in the
sciences yet...but I remember hearing that numerous New England
resorts added stuff like polyethylene glycol and stuff into the lines
to make water freeze at higher temperatures.

The idea being to create a less polar environment for the
crystallization of water. That's why salt water freezes at LOWER
temps (higher polarity). Ethanol is added to DNA solutions to get the
same result (less polarity) when you want to extract and purify the
DNA...so maybe you're right...Could be good ol' booze that's doing the
trick.

"Yabahoobs" wrote in message
...

Granted it was a long time ago, and I wasn't all eduh-muh-cated in the
sciences yet...but I remember hearing that numerous New England
resorts added stuff like polyethylene glycol and stuff into the lines
to make water freeze at higher temperatures.

The idea being to create a less polar environment for the
crystallization of water. That's why salt water freezes at LOWER
temps (higher polarity). Ethanol is added to DNA solutions to get the
same result (less polarity) when you want to extract and purify the
DNA...so maybe you're right...Could be good ol' booze that's doing the
trick.

The idea is freezing point elevation, but I didn't think that applied at all
to
snowmaking.

Some places use what I've heard called 'snowmax' (maybe I have that
wrong) which the rumor mill describes as a bacteria. Other places are
rumored to just use super-pulverized oak leaves. In both cases, the
additives allegedly assist in the snow forming in the air around the
particles,
giving better yields. But then, I have no idea about the facts of this,
just rumblings I've heard.