Pulmonary injury after ski wax inhalation exposure.

A wide variety of irritants can lead to respiratory failure after inhalation injuries. We present a case of adult respiratory distress syndrome after exposure to a fluorocarbon resin (PFF 1020) used as ski wax. The patient sustained a mild but prolonged exposure to this substance, which subsequently led to symptoms of severe respiratory failure over the next 24 hours. Except for hypocalcemia, there were no systemic manifestations and recovery was uneventful. Ski wax is considered to be nontoxic and there are no reported side effects of these products. Injury was related to the heated fluorocarbon particles. This case report of a severe lung inhalation injury points out the increasing risk of environmental hazards associated with the use of synthetic substances.