Source: https://www.nrinow.news/2024/09/18/the-other-side-experts-discuss-research-on-turf-fields-at-protect-burrillville-meeting/
The other side: Experts discuss research on turf fields at ‘Protect Burrillville’ meeting
The meeting was organized, at least in part, in response to a Burrillville Town Council meeting held on Thursday, Sept. 5, where town officials presented the results of testing and data used in the decision to move forward with a current project that includes installation of an artificial field at Burrillville High School.
A town-run page dedicated to information on the project has focused on testing results that showed only trace levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – or PFAS – in turf field materials, as well as reports from experts hired by the town.
Noting that opinions expressing concern with the project, including a joint letter from the Rhode Island Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Management and a recent communication from the Conservation Law Foundation, have not been published by the town, opponents have launched the Protect Burrillville website to share resources.
Schatz noted that the six speakers who participated on Tuesday were not paid for their time.
“They are getting nothing out of this other than sharing information,” Schatz said. “You don’t find transparency in consultants that are paid to go from town to town to sell this product.”
Proponents of the town’s artificial turf project have pointed to the ubiquitous nature of PFAS, which are also found in many common household products. The town’s presentation earlier this month pointed to what officials deemed to be greater local risks to health and the environment, noting the the amount of PFAS in the entire field is the equivalent weight of one drop of water
Tuesday’s forum participants, however, pointed to the complexity of the problem, stating that PFAS – the primary focus of the Burrillville project to date – are just one part of the problem.
“What you’re going to hear this evening is a lot of different issues and concerns – environmental and health issues,” said Tracy Stewart, an advocate against synthetic turf from Medway, Mass., who served as the event moderator. “PFAS is one of the number one issues. But it’s also the injuries. It’s the the environmental impact. Tire crumb is still a major concern and issue on these fields.”
Presenters discussed research on a vast variety of chemicals present in layers of the turf, noting that, “PFAS,” refers to a class of some 15,000 – only six of which are regulated in Rhode Island. The fields, they noted, shed micro plastics, and chemicals wash off the surface over time, causing environmental hazards.
“Half of the chemicals, we actually don’t know what they do when we’re exposed to them, and we do not know how to test for them in the body,” said Sarah Evans, an environmental health scientist at Mount Sinai.
“From an environmental perspective, there is many more things besides PFAS,” said Susan Chapnick, president and principal scientist of NEH, Inc., pointing to the cumulative affects of other toxic chemicals such as zinc and 6PPD-quinone, and noting that testing ordered by the town of Burrillville didn’t analyze infill.
Evans discussed studies on the effects of exposure to turf on children.
“We’re very concerned about children’s exposure to heat on artificial turf,” she said, noting that the surface reaches more than 100 degrees on 80 degree day, with spikes of up to 150 degrees. The fields, she said, get hot enough to cause heat illness, second degree burns and skin blistering.
Evans noted that in December of 2023 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said that, “PFAS poses a significant risks to human health, including cancer, even at very low levels.”
“They have declared this class of chemicals to be an urgent public health threat,” Evans said.
Chapnick, who also serves as acting as the quality assurance officer at several USEPA Superfund sites, discussed effects of the fields on the environment.
“Chemical hazards escape from artificial turf fields because many of the components are soluble in water,” said Chapnick.
Chapnick noted that PFAS are found in the grass blades, infills and backing of the fields.
“They shed plastic blades as well as the tire crumb rubber,” she said, noting that the fields are not recyclable, and contribute to pollution, climate change and loss of habitat.
“There is a practical alternative, which is an organic or sustainably managed natural grass field,” Chapnik said.
Research Director for the Ecology Center Jeff Gearhart discussed results of a recent study of the effects of hazardous chemicals on the endocrine system, and noted that individual chemicals can be hard to study and access.
“There’s some complex chemistry going on here,” said Gearhart. “It’s a lot to take in even for those of us who have been studying this for awhile. A lot of our science work is trying to nail down what’s going on. It’s very challenging science.”
Gearhart noted that his Michigan community was impacted by a plating company that contaminated area fisheries. He noted that his wife was a college soccer player, and that his own biomonitoring results showed PFAS levels above the 50th percentile, putting him at greater health risk.
“It’s not a turf that’s favorable for players,” he said.
This is a very real issue for me,” Gearhart said. “This issue is kind of very personal for us.”
“The tire industry and the turf industry have marketed these products as being safe,” he said. “What we’ve had is an uncontrolled experiment happening on our ecosystems and on our health as a result.”
Additional speakers at the two hour plus meeting included Zhenyu Tian, an assistant professor in environmental chemistry at Northeastern University; Rachel Massey, a senior science and policy advisor for the Collaborative for Health and Environment; and Diana Carpinone, co-executive director of Non Toxic Communities and founder of Non Toxic Dover NH.
Schatz noted that the Burrillville group has filed a lawsuit against the town that aims to stop installation of the turf and said that those who wish to help can donate funds for the legal battle through the Burrillville Land Trust, and can also sign an ongoing petition.
Resident Norman Desjarlais has published video of the full forum, which can be found here.
