New research suggests that children playing on artificial turf may be exposed to harmful PFAS chemicals, raising health concerns and prompting calls for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency action.
Chris Daniels, TK Johnson, and Andrea Nejman report for The National Desk.
In short:
- A study by PEER found increased levels of PFAS on children’s skin after playing on artificial turf, but not on grass.
- PFAS, linked to cancer and developmental risks, are used in turf manufacturing despite growing health concerns.
- States like Colorado and Maine have started banning PFAS in turf, but the EPA has yet to study its presence in artificial fields.
Key quote:
“These children are getting this on their hands. They're developing everything, their brain, their organs, their bodies, and they're much lower to the ground. To allow children to play on known carcinogens is really shortsighted.”
— Kyla Bennett, former EPA scientist.
Why this matters:
PFAS exposure is linked to serious health risks, yet kids across the U.S. play on fields containing these chemicals. Regulatory action could mitigate widespread exposure.
