As the Port Washington Board of Education considers how to move forward with the district’s plan to construct two new synthetic turf athletic fields on the grounds of Schreiber High School, it is worth knowing about the current controversy surrounding these fields.
As the executive director of Grassroots Environmental Education, a locally-based but nationally recognized environmental health non-profit organization, I would like to share the following information, based on the emerging science.
Synthetic turf fields have been around since the introduction of “Astro Turf” at the Houston Astrodome in 1965.
Since then, almost 12,000 turf fields have been installed in communities around the country, most utilizing recycled crumb rubber made from used tires as a cushioning material. One of them is on Campus Drive.
The benefits of synthetic turf, as touted by manufacturers, include 24/7 use, all-weather play, a safer surface resulting in fewer injuries, and a maintenance-free field with no need for mowing, pesticides, fertilizers, etc.
This pitch makes the allure totally understandable.
But the emerging science presents a more sobering reality.
A typical football field can utilize crumb rubber from as many as 40,000 recycled tires. Tires are made from some very toxic chemicals, including the known carcinogens arsenic, benzene, carbon black (which makes up to 40 percent of a tire), 1,3 butadiene, TCE and cadmium, as well as neurotoxins lead and mercury.
Crumb rubber dust and small pieces are easily inhaled or swallowed as they become disturbed during game play.
The green plastic field “carpet” and “grass blades” of synthetic turf are frequently impregnated or treated topically with antimicrobial chemicals to address body fluid contamination and antibiotic-resistant staph infections like MRSA.
Flame retardant chemicals (to address the high flammability of rubber and increasing acts of arson vandalism) and anti-static chemicals are also now regularly added to the fields. These chemicals are known to be endocrine disruptors and possible carcinogens.
Infill materials, such as crumb rubber and sand, provide an opportunity for harmful bacteria to multiply to potentially dangerous levels. Naturally maintained grass fields require no chemical use and beneficial soil microbes deal effectively with body fluids.
Statistics show that injuries are actually more common on synthetic turf surfaces, especially those that are not constantly maintained for resiliency. Injuries cited include joint trauma (especially ankles and knees), “turf toe,” unusually large skin abrasions which are more prone to infection and concussions. This is the major reason that professional athletes prefer natural grass.
Then there are the heat issues.
Studies at Brigham Young University showed that synthetic turf averaged 37 degrees hotter than asphalt and 86.5 degrees hotter that natural grass. On a hot, sunny day, synthetic fields can reach a temperature of 180-200 degrees. Serious heat-related illnesses and actual burns occurring on the soles of the feet of athletes have spurred turf manufacturers to sell water cannons for cooling the fields, even though the water only reduces the temperature for about 20 minutes, at which time the process has to be repeated.
Heat also increases the outgassing of chemicals, which anyone who plays on turf can confirm.
There are a growing number of reports of higher than usual cases of lymphoma and leukemia among athletes playing on synthetic turf, especially soccer goalies, who regularly dive onto the turf. While to date no studies have been conducted to confirm a link, common sense tells us that chemicals in tires that are linked to serious health problems should be avoided.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Consumer Product Safe Commission have removed safety assurances from their websites.
Both houses of Congress have called for further studies and on February 12, 2016 the EPA, the CSPC and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry launched a multi-agency action plan to study key environmental human health questions regarding synthetic turf.
At Grassroots, we embrace the Precautionary Principle, which states “When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.” In other words, when evidence gives us good reason to believe that an activity, technology or substance may be harmful, we should act to prevent harm.
I applaud the deliberate and careful consideration our superintendent, school administrators and school board are taking with regard to this critical issue and I strongly urge them to continue to prioritize the health of our children when weighing benefits versus risks.
Patti Wood
Executive Director
Grassroots Environmental Education
