50 signatures reached
To: The City of Beverly Hills & BHUSD
Flip the Turf. Bring grass back!
- “The major chemical components of recycled rubber are styrene and butadiene. Styrene is neurotoxic and reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. Butadiene is a proven human carcinogen that has been shown to cause leukemia and lymphoma. Shredded and crumb rubber also contain lead, cadmium, and other metals known to damage the developing nervous system. Children may also inhale potentially harmful chemicals that have been detected in the air above rubber turf such as benzathiazole and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), both of which are linked to cancer.” (Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center 2016)
- Studies have found that PFAS forever chemicals are present on skin of players after playing on turf fields (PFAS in Artificial Turf Coats Players Skin by PEER)
- The run off from the fields goes into water supply
- Studies have found more severe and higher rates of non contact injuries on turf fields for knee injuries, foot and ankle injuries as well as concussions (The American Journal of Sports Medicine 2019)
- Higher rates of abrasions and specifically “turf burn”
- Turf can get up to 60 degrees hotter than natural grass, increasing the rate at which toxic gases are released & ingested, as well as heat related injuries
- Unlike grass, turf does not cool the environment. It does not filter air and water pollutants
- In June 2024, Los Angeles City Council’s Energy and Environment Committee approved a motion to study the feasibility of banning artificial turf in the city.
What are we waiting for? Let's LEAD the change!
Why is this important?
We all play on these fields and our kids are exposed to these chemicals for extended periods of time all year long. Let’s not wait for more studies that show the dangers of turf fields. Let’s get ahead of this!