For years, plastic turf was seen as an environmentally friendly and water-saving alternative to natural grass during California’s persistent drought. But new information from studies about its harmful effects has led countries, states, cities and counties to reconsider its use and weigh its risks against the benefits. The long-term detrimental effects of plastic turf in public areas, as opposed to natural grass, can have crippling effects on both public health and the environment.
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider on Tuesday an ordinance prohibiting new installations of plastic artificial turf on county property. This measure, brought forward by us and supported by numerous community organizations and advocates, aims to protect the health and safety of the environment and community, particularly children. These organizations and advocates include the Santa Clara County Medical Association (SCCMA), Green Foothills, Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter, numerous local students, a coalition of concerned parents and more.
Plastic turf contains hazardous chemicals, bio-accumulative “forever” chemicals (PFAS) and heavy metals linked to endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Children are especially vulnerable to these toxins, which they can absorb through skin contact, inhalation or ingestion. Moreover, industry claims of “safe” new turf products tend to lack comprehensive testing for biological and environmental harm.
The SCCMA has found plastic turf to be an unsustainable substitute for natural grass due to its potential adverse health and environmental effects. Major health concerns include toxic chemical exposure, orthopedic and head injuries, and heat-related illness, with children being particularly vulnerable due to their biological development, and more frequent and closer physical contact with plastic turf.
Studies on high school, college and professional athletes consistently show an increase in lower extremity sports injuries, due to increased biomechanical stress on joints when playing on plastic turf fields. The blades of plastic turf also cut into bare skin, while grass does not. Moreover, deceleration studies show head impact is substantially greater on plastic turf. Many professional athletes and associations such as the NFL Players Association and the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team strongly prefer natural grass fields. The latter even filed a lawsuit to play matches on natural grass.
Plastic turfs are urban heat islands. They become hotter than concrete and experience surface temperatures 40-70 F higher than natural grass, which rarely exceeds 100 degrees. This poses a risk of heat injuries and less playability.
Moreover, disposal of plastic turf is problematic because of an average eight-to-10-year lifespan. Thousands of non-biodegradable worn-out turf rolls now decay in landfills, empty lots and farmlands nationwide. Being a product of crude oil, plastic turf contributes to climate change, toxicity, pollution and other hazards. Natural living grass mitigates these issues.
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Based on a life-cycle analysis, water use for plastic turf is not significantly different from natural grass. Plastic turf actually requires regular cleaning and watering to cool it down on hot days, typically using drinking water. Natural grass can be irrigated with recycled water.
Water conservation also involves protecting water sources from microplastic pollution, PFAS and other toxic chemicals. Plastic turf fibers were found in 50% of the waterways tested by researchers in Spain, making up as much as a quarter of the total plastic pollutants in the samples. These pollutants also seep into groundwater, where they are extremely difficult and expensive to remove.
A precautionary approach for the long-term protection of children, the environment and public health means stopping the installation of plastic turf and investing in well-maintained natural grass fields. Considering all that is at stake, it is the responsible way forward to protect public health and the future of our environment.
Supervisor Otto Lee represents the Third District and is president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Dr. Cindy Russell is co-chair of the Environmental Health Committee of the Santa Clara County Medical Association.
