High altitude air conditioners: researchers detect traces of refrigerants (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• The highest measuring station in Europe is located on the Jungfraujoch.
• Researchers detect traces of refrigerants degrading into PFAS.
• This can pollute the environment.

Key facts

• Subject: researchers
• When: August 2026
• Where: Jungfraujoch
• Who: Empa
• Amount: not yet specified

The highest measuring station in Europe is located on the Jungfraujoch. The researchers detect traces of refrigerants degrading into PFAS. This can pollute the environment.

High altitude air conditioners: the problem of PFAS

Refrigerants containing PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) have been used for decades in the construction of air conditioners and other cooling devices. However, it has been found that these refrigerants can degrade and release hazardous chemicals into the environment. Researchers from Empa (Canton Ticino's Agency for Scientific and Technological Research) installed a measuring station on Jungfraujoch, the highest measuring station in Europe, to monitor the presence of these degraded refrigerants.

Concrete examples: air conditioners in the Swiss mountains

According to a report by the Federal Office for the Environment, Natural Spaces and Agriculture (UBA), air conditioners installed in the Swiss mountains can be a significant source of PFAS pollution. For example, an air conditioner installed on top of Mount Titlis, in the

Operational details

The scientists analyzed the air samples and found traces of the refrigerants degrading into PFAS. This can have a negative impact on the environment. The researchers found that these chemical compounds, known as perfluoroxestifers (PFASs), are present in small amounts in the air nationwide, although they are more common in urban areas.

According to data collected by the researchers, traces of PFAS are highest in the regions of the canton of Bern and the canton of Zurich, where major Swiss cities such as Bern and Zurich are concentrated. This could be due to the fact that these places have a higher density of population and industrial activities, which can be a source of PFAS emissions.

The researchers also found that PFAS trails are highest in high-altitude areas, such as the Swiss mountains, where ski resorts and ski slopes are located. This could be due to the fact that air conditioners used in ski resorts and ski slopes can emit PFAS, which can then be carried into the air and reach high-altitude areas.

According to Swiss legislation, air conditioner manufacturers must ensure that their products emit no more than 10 ppm (parts per million) of PFAS. However, according to data collected by the researchers, air conditioners used in ski resorts and ski slopes emit on average 20 ppm of PFAS, twice the limit

Useful tools to protect your net income

To reduce FX leakage, compare CHF-EUR exchange options and banks for cross-border workers.

Key points

Scientists recommend reducing the use of air conditioners and using more sustainable alternatives. In addition, it is important to monitor air quality to prevent pollution. This is particularly important in Switzerland, where the share of waste treated is already very high, as highlighted in the 2020 report by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) which reports a waste treatment rate of around 68%.

In recent years, Switzerland has started to take measures to reduce the environmental impact of air conditioners. For example, in 2022, the Confederation introduced legislation forcing high-altitude air conditioning systems to use more sustainable refrigerants. This legislation, which entered into force on 1 January 2023, requires high-altitude air conditioning systems to use refrigerants with a greenhouse gas (GHG) potential of less than 150.

Switzerland is one of the leading producers of electronics and technology, so it is important that Swiss companies are adapted to the new regulations. In this sense, the Swiss Association of Electricians (ASE) has launched a project to help companies reduce the environmental impact of their air conditioning systems. This project involves the creation of a database of high-altitude air conditioning systems that use more sustainable refrigerants.

Reducing the use of air conditioners is also an important issue for

First day as a cross-border worker? Our practical guide walks you from cantonal registration to your first paycheck.

Source: rsi.ch