Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that anyone can say definitively that artificial turf of any type is safe. It's very hard to prove safety, particularly on a relatively new product. There are no standards that I know of. "Organic" in this context does not mean much (unlike in food, for which the term is regulated). Crude oil is "organic."

Nobody can say definitively that ANYTHING is safe.

But you know what they can do? They can measure the HEAT generated by a grass field and compare it to a PLASTIC field.

It's called science.

And based on the known data, the artificial turf fields run up to 150+ degrees on a warm day.

BCC HS field - August 6th:

Air temp ~90 degrees
Grass temp ~ 92 degrees
Artificial turf temp ~135+ degrees

August 20th:
Artificial turf temp ~ 151 degrees
[/img]https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157488956873926&set=pb.594928925.-2207520000.1567773163.&type=3&theater[img]

The EU has over 17,000 synthetic fields, including in Spain, Portugal and Italy which are significantly hotter than here. FIFA only plays on artificial turf. MCPS may be using the wrong material, I have no clue, but there are materials that are acceptable.

Time to catch up.

Time to catch up.

FIFA will only allow natural grass fields at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

The stipulation is contained in requirements sent to bidding nations and follows controversy over the use of artificial turf at the 2015 tournament in Canada.

I am caught up. In the EU FIFA plays on turf fields and has specifications.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that anyone can say definitively that artificial turf of any type is safe. It's very hard to prove safety, particularly on a relatively new product. There are no standards that I know of. "Organic" in this context does not mean much (unlike in food, for which the term is regulated). Crude oil is "organic."

Nobody can say definitively that ANYTHING is safe.

But you know what they can do? They can measure the HEAT generated by a grass field and compare it to a PLASTIC field.

It's called science.

And based on the known data, the artificial turf fields run up to 150+ degrees on a warm day.

BCC HS field - August 6th:

Air temp ~90 degrees
Grass temp ~ 92 degrees
Artificial turf temp ~135+ degrees

August 20th:
Artificial turf temp ~ 151 degrees
[/img]https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157488956873926&set=pb.594928925.-2207520000.1567773163.&type=3&theater[img]

The EU has over 17,000 synthetic fields, including in Spain, Portugal and Italy which are significantly hotter than here. FIFA only plays on artificial turf. MCPS may be using the wrong material, I have no clue, but there are materials that are acceptable.

Time to catch up.

Time to catch up.

FIFA will only allow natural grass fields at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

The stipulation is contained in requirements sent to bidding nations and follows controversy over the use of artificial turf at the 2015 tournament in Canada.

Anonymous wrote:It's no different than all these 1950s houses with asbestos getting tear down, sending the dust over the neighborhood and playground.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi everyone. So I was following this post because I had just signed my son up for soccer at a turf field and had no idea about these studies etc. I went today and it has small black pieces under the fake green grass and it smelled like tar there. Its ground up rubber. Should I be switching him to another league that uses regular grass fields? Im so annoyed by this and in no way am going to prioritize soccer over health. Ugh!

Personally, I'm not a fan. It's just not worth it, IMO. There are definitely options if you want your kid to play on grass fields! Especially at a young age.

My DS is 12 and loves soccer. Sometimes he does have games on turf, but for the most part, the fields (especially if you're located farther north in the County, where there is a little more space) have been grass. I actually won't let him play soccer in the winter, so that we avoid the turf. Plus, I like kids to vary up the sports anyway, so it's not just one sport every season.

Baseball is a decent option. Older DS plays baseball, and that is never artificial turf in MoCo!

Anonymous wrote:Anyone? What would you do?? DS is 6. Its a training program two days per week this Fall season. Do I pull him and have him go elsewhere??

Anonymous wrote:Hi everyone. So I was following this post because I had just signed my son up for soccer at a turf field and had no idea about these studies etc. I went today and it has small black pieces under the fake green grass and it smelled like tar there. Its ground up rubber. Should I be switching him to another league that uses regular grass fields? Im so annoyed by this and in no way am going to prioritize soccer over health. Ugh!

Anonymous wrote:I think the key here is to make sure your kid is not a soccer goalie just to be on the safe side. I have to say I do like that games go on as scheduled despite massive rain.