First
off, we would like to thank all of the people who have put in
countless hours working on the PLAY HALDANE project. We are all in
favor of having nice fields and getting the kids outside more.
However, the artificial turf is of concern to a number of us. The
use of artificial turf has been presented as “the only choice”.
It is not the only choice, it is a choice. The goal of the Safe
Fields group is to educate people so that they will know the
implications of the choice that they make.
The
possible dangers associated with artificial turf include (A) chemical
off-gassing, (B) contamination of ground and surface water, (C)
increase in pathogens, (D) increase in injuries, and (E) heat. Other
considerations include (A) On-going cost (B) Carbon Footprint (C)
Care/Protection, (D) Allergies and (E) Level of Increased Use.
I. POSSIBLE
DANGERS:
(A) Chemical
Off-Gassing
With
respect to chemical off-gassing, the 2009 New York study (“An
Assessment of Chemical Leaching, Releases to Air and Temperature at
Crumb-Rubber Infilled Synthetic Turf Fields”, New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Department
of Health, May 2009; hereafter, “NY2009”) concluded that it is
not a problem. However, it does acknowledge that “Other factors
such as compression and degradation of the crumb rubber during field
use and changes attributable to solar radiation may affect the
release of chemicals in the ambient environment.”
Connecticut
studied the issue of chemical off-gassing of crumb rubber samples
collected from actual fields (of different ages) and from air during
field use. (“Artificial Turf Field Investigation in Connecticut,
Final Report”, University of Connecticut Health Center, July 27,
2010; hereafter “CT2010A”) When analyzing the crumb rubber, they
found more than ten VOCs in samples from the newer fields.
For
their field-use study, they took measurements during simulated
playing conditions and found four VOCs that appear to be
turf-related: Acetone, Acrolein, Hexane, and Toluene, all of which
appeared at greater than twice the ambient rate. Also, the SVOC
Benzothiazole was found at significantly increased levels. For an
outdoor field, it is arguable whether these would cause significant
harm to players. However, significance of harm is a mathematical
probability. No one will argue that exposure to higher levels of
these VOCs and SVOC is good for you.
Furthermore,
we don't even know all of the possible neurotoxins and carcinogens
that are in the tires. In NY2009, they noted the presence of a
number of unidentified substances. What if some of these turn out to
be even more harmful? What is good for tires is not good for
children.
Although
we might be tempted to ignore the dramatically higher readings for
toxins from indoor fields (since our field is outdoor), it is
important to realize that the toxins had to go somewhere. If we
bring 200 tons of used tires into our community, there will be an
impact.
(B) Contamination
of Ground and Surface Water
NY2009
determined that surface water contamination is only an issue when the
crumb-rubber mixture was made solely of truck tires, but not when it
was made from mixed sources. This is interesting and deserves
further investigation. However, the NY2009 laboratory tests were
done on samples directly from the factory during a single month,
rather than from actual fields. It is uncertain how the combination
of factors present on a playing field impact release of toxic
components. In contrast, the Connecticut study (“Artificial Turf
Study: Leachate and Stormwater Characteristics, Final Report”,
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, July 2010;
hereafter “CT2010L”) tested actual run-off from fields, and found
at least one sample from each field tested that exceeded the acute
aquatic toxicity criteria for zinc. CT2010L further concluded that
“there is a potential risk to surface waters and aquatic organisms
associated with whole effluent and zinc toxicity of stormwater runoff
from artificial turf fields. Zinc concentrations in the stormwater
may cause exceedences of the acute aquatic toxicity criteria for
receiving surface waters, especially smaller watercourses.” The
Norwegian Pollution Control Authority classifies artificial turf
runoff as Environmental Quality Class V (very strongly polluted
water) (as cited in CT2010L).
Furthermore,
CT2010L found thirteen “unidentified chromatograph peaks” in the
stormwater. What this means is that the tests showed there was stuff
in there, but they don't know what it is. Those materials might
prove to be harmless, but it is mere conjecture at this point.
CT2010L
further recommends use of stormwater treatment measures to reduce
concentrations of zinc from runoff from artificial turf. If a
decision is made to install artificial turf, we recommend that
non-porous drainage pipes are selected, and the pipes drain to a
single location, where runoff can be treated appropriately. Such a
set-up could also be used to minimize spread of cleaning and
disinfection agents used on the field.
(C) Increase
in Pathogens
The
question of whether infections such as MRSA (drug-resistant staph)
are more common on artificial turf “has not been studied
systematically, and no definitive statements can be made about
differences in risk between the two surfaces”.
(“Fact Sheet: Crumb-Rubber Infilled Synthetic Turf Athletic
Fields”, New York State Department of Health, July 2008; hereafter
“Fact Sheet”)
However, lack of beneficial bacteria (present in grass) may reduce
natural break-down of pathogens. Cleaning and disinfection of
artificial turf may reduce pathogens, but they are expensive and
raise environmental concerns. There is no requirement that MRSA
cases be reported to the CDC, so it is hard to compare rates of
infection. However, when the St. Louis Rams football team had a
major outbreak of MRSA (9% of the players each had at least one MRSA
infection), they invited the CDC to examine the problem. The CDC
determined that all of the infections developed at turf-burn sites.
All. (“A Clone of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aurens
among Professional Football Players”, The New England Journal of
Medicine, Feb. 3, 2005) So, regardless of whether the turf itself
contained the pathogen, the skin lesions cause by the turf (Fact
Sheet) could mean the difference between having no cases of MRSA and
having a major MRSA problem.
(D) Increase
in Injuries
Studies
addressing the question of whether there are more injuries on
artificial turf or on grass have very mixed results. However, some
of the reports showing more injuries on grass were funded by
artificial turf interests. (Specifically referencing research by
Montana State professor Michael Meyers that was published in The
American Journal of Sports Medicine. This research was allegedly
funded by FieldTurf.) An NFL panel found that certain serious knee
and ankle injuries happen more often in games played on FieldTurf
(the most popular brand of artificial turf). Examining the 2002
through 2008 NFL seasons, comparing games played on grass to those on
FieldTurf, it found that the rate of ACL (anterior cruciate ligament)
injuries was 88% higher in FieldTurf games. (Too few games were
played on brands other than FieldTurf to be included in the study.)
Ankle sprains were 32% higher on FieldTurf than on grass. Medial
collateral ligament injuries and a less serious type of ankle sprain
also happened more frequently, but the difference wasn't
statistically significant. (“NFL panel finds some knee, ankle
injuries more common on turf”, AP, 3/12/2012.)
(E) Heat
Stress
“At
the present time, NYSDOH is unaware of any studies that have examined
the role of synthetic turf in contributing to heat stress...”
(Fact Sheet) Lack of studies does not indicate a lack of
problem. Nobody denies that artificial turf gets really hot. NY2009
compared surface temperatures of artificial turf, grass, and sand and
found median temperatures of 132 on artificial turf, 87 on grass, and
86 degrees on sand. BYU found an average surface temperature of
artificial turf to be 117 degrees, while the average temperature of
grass was 78 degrees and the average temperature of asphalt was 110
degrees. (Fact Sheet) A maximum temperature of 200 degrees F. has
been measured on the BYU synthetic turf field. (as cited in NY2009) Artificial
turf gets hotter than asphalt.
A
University of Missouri turfgrass specialist took measurements on a
sunny 98 degree day and found artificial turf surface temperature to
be 178 degrees and “head-level” air temperature to be 138
degrees. (as cited in NY2009) A Penn State University study
measured surface temperatures on nine different plots on artificial
turf, on three different occasions. Test 1 had an air temperature of
79 degrees and a surface temperature of 120 degrees (plus 41
degrees); test 2 had an air temperature of 78 degrees and a surface
temperature of 130 degrees (plus 52 degrees); test 3 had an air
temperature of 85 degrees and a surface temperature of 146 degrees
(plus 61 degrees). (as cited in NY2009) (Air temperature
measurements appear to be off the artificial turf; apparently, this
study did not take “head-level” air temperatures.)
NY2009
found increased surface temperature of artificial turf, but did not
find increased head-level temperatures. This is an interesting
finding, but it is conterintuitive and is inconsistent with other
studies. Further studies are needed before accepting this
conclusion. The Fact Sheet does state that “The potential for and
frequency of high surface temperatures warrant consideration when
making decisions about installing and using a synthetic turf field.”
Satellite
images of the earth can detect areas of greater temperature. On
these images, artificial turf fields and black roofs show up with
similar heat intensities. (Google Images)
Artificial
turf fact sheets acknowledge the heat problem and recommend that
games and practices be re-scheduled if it is too hot. BYU has set a
playability limit of 120 degrees.
Water
can be used to reduce the surface temperature, but temperature rises
again very quickly. A BYU study “found that watering synthetic
turf lowered the surface temperature from 174 degrees to 85 degrees,
but the temperature rose to 120 degrees in five minutes and to 164
degrees in twenty minutes.” (as cited in Fact Sheet)
The
heat-intensifying nature of artificial turf if bad for both our kids
and our community.
OTHER
CONSIDERATIONS:
(A) On-Going
Cost
In
8-12 years, the artificial turf would need to be replaced, at a cost
of approximately $350,000-$400,000. (PlayHaldane.com) Amortizing
$350,000 over ten years, the field is costing $35,000 a year. In
addition, it costs $1,400,000 to install it. The base of the field
will probably last for about two infills (www.redhenturf.com), so we
can amortize the base over 20 years, giving another $70,000 a year.
We're up to $95,000 a year, and we haven't yet budgeted for
maintenance (cleaning, disinfection, vacuuming) and repair. Funds
obtained for field use are earmarked for maintenance.
(PlayHaldane.com) It would be interesting to see an estimate of
predicted receipts and expenditures.
A
comparative estimate of annual costs (including maintenance and
amortization of installation and replacement costs) comes up with
$109,000 for a Synthetic Turf Field, $90,000 for a Professional
Stadium Sand-Based Natural Field (an NFL field), and $36,000 for a
Top-Quality Sand-Capped Natural Field (considered to be a top quality
high school or NCAA field). (These estimates include annual
maintenance of $10,000 for the artificial turf field, $50,000 for the
NFL field and $15,000 for the NCAA field--this estimate for the NCAA
field is for a very extensive maintenance program; more than most
schools probably spend on maintenance for a single field.)
(www.redhenturf.com)
Do we
really want to commit ourselves to paying almost three times as much for
artificial turf as for a top-quality high school field? Also, if
the district is short on money, we could skimp on maintenance of a
grass field for a few years without completely destroying the field;
the same cannot be said about artificial turf. Any failure to do
routine maintenance and repair on artificial turf could void the
warranty.
How
much is Haldane currently spending in labor and materials for the
maintenance of the field? Does the current field have proper
drainage installed and a special root-zone soil mixture? How many
times per year do we core aerify the field? (Should be two to five
times a year and make two to threee passes per time.) Has sports
turf training been provided to the groundskeepers? If we are not
doing these things, we are not giving grass a fair shot.
The
useful life for a grass field is expected to be 5 years (Fact Sheet).
Our current field is 9 years old, so 80 percent beyond its expected
life. What if we don't have the $350,000, $400,000, of however much
replacement will cost in 8-12 years? What does an 18 year old
artificial turf field look like? (18 years is 80 percent beyond the
expected 10-year useful life of artificial turf.) What sort of
liability issues would the district face for an older artificial turf
field that is hard and unsafe? If we decide installing artificial
turf was a mistake, how much will it cost to revert to a grass field?
Grass fields do need to be replaced, but it is easier to coax a few
more years out of a grass field than out of a artificial turf field.
(www.redhenturf.com)
Does
the cost of replacement include the cost of disposal of the
artificial turf field? At disposal cost estimates as high as $2.25
per square foot, a 90,000 square foot field could cost $200,000 to
dispose, even at today's rates. Currently, many land fills prohibit
the disposal of car tires, but permit the disposal of crumb-rubber
infill. (www.redhenturf.com)
If landfills changed their policy on this, we might face even higher
disposal costs.
How
does Haldane plan to pay for the carpet replacement in 8-12 years?
Do we really want to commit to spending $100,000 per year (amortized)
for an artificial turf field? For much less than that we could
replace a natural turf field every year (cost estimate: $35,000) AND
do sod replacement every year for heaviest wear areas (cost estimate:
$9,000 for between hash marks on football field).
(www.redhenturf.com)
(B) Carbon
Footprint
In
2006 the Athena Institute did a study to determine what a school
would need to do to off-set the carbon footprint of an artificial
turf field. The study estimated the greenhouse gases emitted during
the life cycle of an artificial turf field as opposed to a natural
grass surface. The study calculated the number of trees to be
planted to achieve a 10-year carbon-neutral synthetic turf installation. The result: Approximately 1,861 coniferous trees
would need to be planted and maintained. (“Estimating the Required
Global Warming Offsets to Achieve a Carbon Neutral Synthetic Field
Turf System Installation”, Athena Institute, 2006)
(C) Care/Protection
Please
provide clarification on how the field will be available to the
community. (PlayHaldane.com refers to the practice track as a
community resource.) We are concerned about situations we have heard
of where artificial turf fields are fenced and locked, but we are
also concerned about the possibility of vandalism. (Unfortunately,
recent damage to the new waterfront fences show that Cold Spring is
not immune from vandalism.) A vandal with a razor blade or a can of
paint could do an awful lot of damage.
Liquid
spills such as Gatorade are also a problem. Mold can be problematic
on artificial turf fields, and sugary drinks will increase mold
growth. Chewing gum must be manually removed with solvents. Vomit
and animal droppings require cleaning. (How many deer wander through
the field?) Oil or fluids from a vehicle can stain the fibers.
(www.redhenturf.com). What is an annoyance on grass could be an
expensive problem for artificial turf.
Furthermore,
anything that pokes into artificial turf (i.e., high-heeled shoes or
folding chairs) push the fibers down into the carpet, requiring
repair and voiding the warranty. (www.redhenturf.com)
(D) Allergies
Crumb-rubber
contains latex, which is a known allergen. Approximately 6 percent
of the population is allergic to latex (Fact Sheet), meaning there
are probably 50-some students at Haldane who are allergic to
latex. It is unknown whether crumb rubber can cause an allergic
response in people. (Fact Sheet) Do we want to use our students as
test subjects to find out? There have been cases of contact
dermatitis from artificial turf fields, and it is unclear how many of
our students will be sensitive to the latex or to other components of
the field.
(E) Level
of Increased Use
The
reason often given why artificial turf is the only choice is because
we only have one field and we don't have the luxury of letting it
rest. What percentage increased use can we expect from artificial
turf? The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation estimates
that on an annual basis, permitted use (in hours per year) for
synthetic turf fields is just 28% percent higher than for natural
grass fields. (Fact Sheet) We would have expected more. Is this
whole discussion about a 28 percent increase in field availability?
CONCLUSION:
Installing
artificial turf is not prohibited by law. As a community, we can
choose to do it. However, just because others are installing it
doesn't make it the right choice for us. We are told that it is
safe, but there are lots of very hazardous things in our world that
were once considered safe. (Smoking cigarettes, DDT, lead in
gasoline, and asbestos insulation, to name a few.) There is evidence
that harm to wildlife occurs as levels lower than EPA guidelines.
Even when a study concludes that something is “safe”, that
doesn't mean there aren't risks associated with it. It means that
whoever is making the call doesn't think the risks are high enough
for you to worry about. Look at the data. Make your own decision.
We all
want better fields. But there is a choice.
Many
of us have kids at Haldane and it breaks our hearts to have to vote
against a project that has been developed with so much effort and
caring by our friends and neighbors. (The following percentages were
calculated from the “How Will We Finance It?” section of the
PlayHaldane.com website.) We want auditorium improvements (5% of
project). We want a new locker room (9% of the project). We want
new bleachers and foundation (6% of project) and fencing and gates
(4% of project). But the installation of an artificial turf field
and track, at a cost of $1,400,000 (73% of project), when there are
so many valid concerns about artificial turf, is something we cannot
support.
Prepared by Bonny Carmicino
