Environmental groups warn that artificial turf may expose players to dangerous PFAS chemicals, raising health concerns for communities.
Christine Swartz and Jim Morelli report for Boston 25 News.
In short:
- A study found PFAS chemicals, known for causing cancers and other health issues, on players' hands after games on synthetic turf.
- Some Massachusetts communities have banned artificial turf due to these health risks.
- The Synthetic Turf Council claims its members aim to avoid using PFAS, but challenges remain in controlling contamination.
Key quote:
"The players who played on artificial turf and the coach, three out of four of them, picked up a lot of PFOS."
— Kyla Bennett, PEER’s director of science policy
Why this matters:
PFAS, or "forever chemicals," are linked to a host of health issues, raising concerns about their impact on public health, particularly for children and athletes regularly exposed to artificial turf.
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