the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, local resident Cynthia O’Keefe recently shared her perspective on artificial turf and its potential risks, sparking a renewed conversation in the community. She has been vocal about her concerns, which focus on the health and environmental impact of artificial turf. In a recent post, she outlines why she believes this playing surface, particularly one that includes PFAS chemicals, is neither safe nor sustainable for our village.
O’Keefe explains, “I am not anti-sports and truly understand the importance of outdoor activities.” However, she emphasizes the caution issued by medical experts on artificial turf and the growing trend of cities banning it. This, she suggests, warrants a pause and careful consideration of alternatives, especially as communities worldwide are reconsidering their stance on synthetic grass.
The Debate Over Safety and Sustainability
O’Keefe references recent claims made at the League of Women Voters Candidate Forum by Frank Mortimer, who stated that artificial turf is entirely safe. For her, this assertion downplays the complex concerns surrounding PFAS “forever chemicals” found in these fields. “Did this person really need to get popular votes?” she asks. “Why act so irrationally on a topic that is easily fact-checked?”
Artificial turf, often touted as low-maintenance and resilient, comes with hidden environmental costs, she argues. The fields can shed microplastics and PFAS—chemicals linked to health and environmental hazards. These, she points out, can leach into local waterways and ecosystems, raising concerns about long-term impacts.
The Gaps in EPA Reports
O’Keefe also delves into the EPA’s study, which Mortimer cited, noting that it specifically covers turf with crumb rubber infill—not PFAS. The EPA report acknowledges limitations in assessing health risks, particularly due to inadequate data for many exposure parameters. As O’Keefe highlights, the EPA’s own disclaimer advises against interpreting the findings as conclusive.
According to O’Keefe, the report includes disclaimers regarding various uncertainties in exposure estimates, such as:
- Insufficient data on the respiratory and dermal exposure athletes face on synthetic fields.
- Lack of measurements for the number of crumb rubber particles in athletes’ breathing zones during sports activities.
- Limited studies on how these chemicals may be absorbed through the skin, ingested, or inhaled by athletes.
The EPA report also did not study the effects of PFAS, which are known for their persistence in the environment and potential toxicity.
A Call for Responsible Decision-Making
For O’Keefe, the decision to move forward with artificial turf isn’t just about convenience. “I am not posting this information to sway a vote one way or the other, but I stand steadfast in doing the right thing and making sure people are informed,” she wrote. She stresses that misinformation or half-truths are unhelpful, and every resident should be empowered to make choices based on a full understanding of the facts.
Ultimately, her stance isn’t anti-sports or anti-progress, but rather a call for responsible decision-making that values the health of both residents and the environment. As O’Keefe concludes, “If you do nothing else, please think long and hard about the mischaracterization of critical pieces of information that make up this report.”
The full EPA report, with disclaimers, is available on the EPA’s website, and O’Keefe encourages community members to read it for themselves and form their own opinions.
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They’re just bulldozing blindly and ignoring significant research. The amazing part is that they don’t seem to care that they could be causing their own children to have adverse effects such as infections and cancer.
Beats me.
Pleasing their investors is more important for some people then taking care of their own kid’s health!
As another poster on RMDFS mentioned, are we really prepared to switch to natural grass with all the fertilizer, fungicides, and herbicides needed to actually have healthy turf? My fear is that we go down this path only to have the fertilizer nazis go after that so the fields end up being nothing but weedy dust bowls. And if the $1,000,000 a year number is even close to accurate for maintenance, that is a big number. One way or another, let’s get our facts straight before we pull the trigger.
Actually guidance can be sought from communities that are doing it organically, where they don’t need to use the bad chemicals. Since artificial turf is made of plastic, you need to clean it with fungicides to reduce the bacterial growth from blood, sweat, spit and other body fluids.
You are like that idiot on facebook who’s spreading rumors. He thinks he knows EVERYTHING and he has talked to EVERY parent in the school system.
yes let’s get our facts straight but no one seems to want to do that. Whining about girls fields and boys fields and bad grass is so much easier than demanding, for the amount of taxes paid, that a healthy option is available and safer for all. people are brainwashed into thinking turf is the bee all and end all-sorry for the play on words with the bee idiot but it was just too easy.. They guy needs to legit quit.
Kids are eating and drinking water or sports drinks on the turf also right after the game without washing up and they are bringing this stuff home with them in their clothes. It is really gross.
Frank the bee man Mortimer is a fake. He is a wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing and will flip flop more than a stack of silver dollar pancakes over at IHOP. As part of this trio, he will be just another one of full dais of ineffective municipal bodies that sit up straight and word vomit their way through the council meetings. Everyone knows it is a joke. It is only a matter of time until they send Ridgewood into a doom spiral we can’t get out of. At least I will know that my vote didn’t go to him.
I do know for a fact that when my kids play on that field, they bring home all the black rubber beeds. It’s a pain in the ass. It’s bad for the washing machine.
You’re supposed to pressure wash them in the driveway before you let them back into the house.
and what about turf burn and their skin rubbing against the plastic and rubber. I can’t imagine that is is safe especially when it heats up to molten plastic in the summer.
I applaud Cynthia for being tenacious yet respectful during the entire Schedler fiasco. She is stronger and smarter than most and she has my undivided attention.
Residents imagine if all the trees across the street from you were cut down, the land bulldozed and a sports complex moves in. Now your quiet street turns into a speedway, noise and lights glow all day and chemicals are now running into your well water because they don’t use RW water. Their life will be forever changed.
Not only do I ask that you vote this election but moreover I urge you to get involved in your community, let your voice be heard and attend council meetings, please get engaged. Every little bit helps.
Will grass fields be subject to our continual watering restrictions? If so, good luck with that.
Artificial turf fields require a lot of water for cleaning and for reducing high temps during hot days. Maintenance is not as straightforward as people are led to believe.
Grass with deep roots can handle drought. Turf fields can be super dusty, and then kids are breathing plastic dust as they exercise.
It is interesting that Frank Mortimer chose information from a report that doesn’t represent all of the facts. This is concerning. He was specifically asked to opine on the installation of artificial turf on the Schedler property and chose a report with crumb rubber.
Based on some other things I have seen from this candidate, he is just a rubber stamp for Vagianos and will not be an independent thinker and has already shown that his value system is meaningless.
If he comes out with no mow may or any other sustainability programs, people are going to laugh at the hypocrisy.
We went the grass route and after a few weeks, you’re playing on dirt, rocks, and goose poop!
who is we, where, when ???????????
All the years before 2010.
The fall and spring sports seasons only last 10 weeks each. Grass can certainly stand up to this. For those 10 weeks, pay someone a small stipend to repair divots using a garden fork and a compost/seed mix. Water these spots and the goal mouths. Done! Millions of $$$ have been saved.
So? Eating the occasional goose turn builds character.
Our bumbling bee man may need to work on his reputation recovery plan wither he gets elected or not. He has lost credibility trying to fool the public and many parents don’t trust him now.
Bee Man Mortimer is one Rude Dude. He’s against and Stifles public comments opinion.