Artificial/Synthetic turf and hot weather

[Anonymous]

This hot summer, between 9am and 5pm, whenever I am at either Lewinsville or Linway Terrace Park, I can literally smell the artificial/synthetic turf used for soccer and football. It got worse this past week when there were advisories from Fairfax County that all scheduled activities between noon and 8pm were canceled on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (I think). I was 100 feet away from the field and I could smell "rubber tires" on the field at 11am in the morning.

Is that healthy for young adults who play on those fields?

[Anonymous]

Synthetic turf fields typically have irrigation systems that "water" the fields to bring the temps down.

Yes, the fields can get incredibly hot, so hot they are not playable.

I work in the industry and much prefer natural grass fields.

I don't see how irrigating synthetic plastic fields to bring down the temperature on the field is eco friendly.

[Anonymous]

No, obviously not healthy. Artificial turf is a petroleum product and off-gasses chemicals in high heat - obviously what you’re smelling. Plastic also releases PFAS — forever chemicals — under high heat conditions.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/debate-safety-synthetic-turf-forever-chemicals-raises-concerns/story?id=108274911

The Philadelphia Inquirer did a year-long investigation into artificial turf:

https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/artificial-turf-pfas-phillies-vet-soccer-cancer-20240312.html

[Anonymous]

PFAS are linked to cancer, respiratory issues, and development issues.

[Anonymous]

Very very unhealthy. Look at the reports of cancers in goalies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very very unhealthy. Look at the reports of cancers in goalies.

Unfortunately, those fields are everywhere in Fairfax County Public Park. Because I live in McLean, I see them at Linway Terrace, Lewinsville, Spring Hill Rec Center, McLean HS, and Langley HS. Must be a move by Fairfax County to save money because these fields require very low maintenances, at the risk of getting cancer.

On hot days this past week, you can smell it far away. Unfortunately, there are so many kids and teenagers practicing soccer, football, and field hockey on these fields.

[Anonymous]

McLean Citizens Association tried to raise this as an issue a few years ago and were shut down…

[Anonymous]

Incredibly unhealthy. Surprised schools have not banned them yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Incredibly unhealthy. Surprised schools have not banned them yet.

Williamsburg middle school in Arlington replaced their turf field to a non-chemical/non-cancer causing material. Good for Arlington.

[Anonymous]

More information on the health and environmental consequences of turf:

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2024-08-05/artificial-turf-grass-lawn-plants-gardening-plastic-climate-recycling-environment-water

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Synthetic turf fields typically have irrigation systems that "water" the fields to bring the temps down.

Yes, the fields can get incredibly hot, so hot they are not playable.

I work in the industry and much prefer natural grass fields.

I don't see how irrigating synthetic plastic fields to bring down the temperature on the field is eco friendly.

150:degrees and higher. They can cause burns.

It’s totally not eco friendly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Incredibly unhealthy. Surprised schools have not banned them yet.

Williamsburg middle school in Arlington replaced their turf field to a non-chemical/non-cancer causing material. Good for Arlington.

OP here.

How do you know that Williamsburg MS turf field is non-chemical/non-cancer material? Don't believe what the government said. Have you ever been on that filed last week when the index was around 110?
Anything artificial/synthetic is very questionable.

I saw McLean HS XC team trained on Lewinsville Park turf field at 10:30am this morning. They were laying down on the field doing exercise. I don't think it is very safe because I could smell "rubber tire like" burn and I was not even on the field. This morning wasn't as hot as last week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Incredibly unhealthy. Surprised schools have not banned them yet.

Turf fields are terrible. For our kids and for the environment. Schools love them, and our district (MCPS) has been pushing to convert more and more fields to turf.

[Anonymous]

Maret is insisting on putting a giant one in my neighborhood despite lots of opposition. Bad for the athletes and the environment. And bystanders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maret is insisting on putting a giant one in my neighborhood despite lots of opposition. Bad for the athletes and the environment. And bystanders.

Sorry to hear that. I hope the community can effectively push back a little.

There is a huge push to change over everything to turf. People are even doing it in their own backyards! But it’s only going to get hotter in the DMV, and these turf fields are brutal in the heat. Terrible for the planet and terrible for our athletes.