file photo
the staff of The Ridgewood Blog
PFAS chemicals (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) also know as “‘forever chemicals’ are a class of man-made chemicals that have been used in a wide range of industrial and consumer products for decades, including non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, and firefighting foam. However, the dangers of PFAS chemicals are becoming increasingly clear, and there is growing concern about their impact on human health and the environment. Here are some of the dangers associated with PFAS chemicals:
- Health risks: PFAS chemicals have been linked to a range of health problems, including cancer, thyroid disease, decreased fertility, developmental delays in infants and children, and immune system dysfunction.
- Persistence: PFAS chemicals are persistent in the environment and do not break down easily, meaning that they can accumulate in soil, water, and air, and can remain in the environment for decades or even centuries.
- Bioaccumulation: PFAS chemicals can bioaccumulate in the food chain, meaning that they can build up in the bodies of animals and humans over time. This can result in higher concentrations of PFAS chemicals in higher-level predators, including humans.
- Global distribution: PFAS chemicals have been found in water supplies, soil, and even in the bodies of people and animals all over the world, including in remote areas far from industrial sources.
- Regulatory challenges: PFAS chemicals are not regulated by most countries, including the United States. This means that companies can continue to use them in products, despite growing evidence of their potential harm.
The dangers of PFAS chemicals are significant and have far-reaching implications for human health and the environment. It is essential that governments and companies take action to restrict the use of PFAS chemicals and develop safer alternatives.
In September 2022, the city of Boston banned artificial turf in parks due to toxic ‘forever chemicals’
The city joins a growing number across the US in limiting the use of artificial turf made with dangerous PFAS compounds
All artificial turf is made with toxic PFAS compounds and some is still produced with ground-up tires that can contain heavy metals, benzene, VOCs and other carcinogens that can present a health threat. The material also emits high levels of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and sheds microplastics and other chemicals into waterways.
Where do you think that special hint of flavor in his food comes from?
And everyone thought there would never be a mayor worse than Paul Aronsohn.
Damn the torpedoes; full speed ahead!
the new clowns all made campaign promises to the sports groups. the sad part is that even if shedler becomes a full size turf field or even worse if we turf every field in town there will still not be enough field space…..
His ego is so enormous, he thinks if he just keeps talking, that something he says will make sense. He is a collosal dumby. There’s gotta be a trail of $$$ behind their decision because at the end of the day, that is probably all that matters. It will be evident one day and may take time, but I am sure they will be exposed for the evil doers they are.
Did he not run as a Democrat who loves environment??
Paul Vagianos is a total as***hole. God help Ridgewood.
Interesting to note, that Ridgewood’s very own Green Ridgewood Committee Chairman, just last week, strongly advised the Mayor and Village Council to not use PFAS laden artificial turf on the Schedler property. So why do they have an advisory board if they are not going to heed good sage advice. Clearly they do not really care about the health impacts to children or the environment.
The historical preservation consultant they’re about to hire also told them not to make any decision about artificial turf until the consultant himself gets a chance to review the ramifications. But they are proceeding full speed ahead, regardless of the torpedoes.
” So why do they have an advisory board if they are not going to heed good sage advice.”
To create the illusion of action; when dogs and ponies won’t do, you form an advisory board.
Then you also have something to blame…………..
Such a ridiculous argument. PFAS exists in our lives already so exposing our kids to more PFAS shouldn’t matter.
PFAS is just the latest gimmick. After that there will be another fearful threat that spells certain death. And somebody who has the solution for such a small fee…………………………………….
Shut-up and get in line. We promised the new turf field to the sports crowd. Little Johnny needs to practice if he’s going to get that college scholarship. The Schedler historic designation was only for the grant money, we can hire an expert to get around that. Paulie will make a couple of calls to the connected crowd, Siobhan will do her due diligence, Eva Perrone reserved her right to vote on the new turf field and Evan is going to play ball. I didn’t even know the other side of 17 was part of Ridgewood.
lawsuits and injunctions in the works…can’t receive grants for historic preservation, then disregard and keep the money.
Field Envy….
Seriously people, this is ALL about our pompous A$$ mayor and his three side kicks!
They won’t take advice from anyone, hiring a advisor is all smoke and mirrors. This A$$ Clown should be investigated for all the Sunshine laws that have been broken over the last 3 months.
We attended meetings, get up and say our peace, yet it falls on deaf ears. They never address public questions nor do they care about the Village of RIDGEWOOD.
Our Mayor keeps saying keep your comments respectful, hey Mr Mayor why don’t you and your council members keep it transparent to the people of RIDGEWOOD, opps I forgot, if you do your back door $$$$ deals my come back to you. Follow the money
The Record has an article today on this finally.
Remember cockroaches hide from the light…but we see you Pee Wee !
It certainly looks like “Follow the Money”is the key action here. Any way to find out where the money heading into the personal coffers of some of the Council came from? Those Council Members are certainly acting as if they are absolutely petrified to lose out on their promises to “Evil money sources”. What are they actually facing if they don’t perform as directed?
Where did all the millions go that were given to healthbarn and feed the front lines?
#realgenius
If mayor Vag is promoting turf fields as safe,“As for PFAS, we have PFAS everywhere, in the carpeting, in our food packaging, in our dental floss, in our clothing.”
Ask mayor Vag. next, would it be safe to use artificial turf for our lawns? Won’t need to worry about the water stage II irrigation shortage, no more noise weekly landscaper’s machines, no more need to fertilize, use chemical weed killers, etc. Everyone will have nice green artificial turf lawns.
Does saying “mayor vag” make you feel like a big strong man? I hope it does. Lol you’re pathetic
You assume a great deal, not least that the gender of the anonymous poster who merely abbreviated the Mayor’s name.
not a big strong man, never assume, you make an a$$ of yourself. just merely abbrev. mayors name. Ms. Anonymous
Good grief, will use spell check nxt time or simply Paul V.
Ms. Anonymous
And Paul had to admit to seeking out the shady consultant in the first place before he was even Mayor…he was shown drawings, had access to Chris R. and Heather M, all because of Paul. Interesting that when interviewed he noted that there were issues in his past professional life but wouldn’t discuss his personal problems. I guess that would be opening Pandora’s box. That is unbelievable!
You may not like him, but it is true that PFAS are everywhere. We have them in our clothing and food packaging and many many things. While it might be advisable to reduce PFAS usage in our world, but focusing on artificial turf is really just a BS excuse, unless you are advocating for elimination of all plastic in clothing, bottles, bags, packaging etc. etc. So just be honest with yourself and say you are against the field, no need to bring up a red herring PFAS issue.
(widely used everywhere)===>
https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained#:~:text=Because%20of%20their%20widespread%20use%20and%20their%20persistence,at%20locations%20across%20the%20nation%20and%20the%20globe.
This is complete bullshit. You have to start with something. You start by eliminating smoking in hospitals. Then you eliminated in offices. Then you eliminated in department stores. Then you eliminated in trains. You don’t say well people smoke everywhere, so why don’t we just smoke in church. You start by eliminating one step at a time. Vagianos wants this turf field because the sports people own him. He hangs out with Richard Brooks and his wife Gail Price. Reportedly they vacation together. He needs this turf field to keep his friends happy.
“Reportedly they vacation together” lol someone has been Facebook stalking…..WEIRD
Why is it “weird” if it’s a fact, proven by public social media postings of Brooks, Price & the Mayor together? Why is it “stalking”?
It would, perhaps, be “weird” if we were to find out the Mayor’s business is officially registered at Deputy Mayor Perron’s home …
What I don’t get is why people don’t move along once their kids age out. Brooks, Muller, Delzio, etc. Their kids have been out of town for at least a decade. Time to get a new hobby folks.
I couldn’t agree more…except that a new bunch of turds would take over.
if we all moved out who would subsidize your real estate taxes *the bloated school budget*
No, you just are choosing turf fields because you don’t like them. If you want to “start somewhere” you start where MOST of the PFAS come from. So you would start by limiting the things that are getting in our water the MOST. That would be from plastics in our clothing (and the plastic from Tide Pods) which are causing micro plastics to get in our water every time we wash our clothes. Also the many food containers and bags. Turf fields are less than .0001% of the source of PFAS in our water. It is OK to just oppose the field because you don’t want the field. Stop with the BS reason.
Good point.
I just ran out of popcorn.
Oh shit’
Well, the mayor should say if any of these chemicals make anyone sick, please stay home
Pretty sure everything has PFA chemicals in it including the Graydon pool swamp y’all swim in like dirty ducks in the summer sooooo quit bitching, it’s embarrassing
So now The Vag gets caught hiding comments and blocking people on his official FB page….taking a page from Siobhan’s playbook.
“successful 14 year career as an environmental attorney” so why did he abandon success to sling ill tasting gyros?
It’s been decades since Pau-lie was an attorney, even then it was questionable.
He sounds pathetic desperately hanging onto his past life experience. The experience was so long ago, it’s not even relevant in todays world.
The next time our turf fields flood, let’s collect the water and provide that to Vagianos for his drinking and bathing supply.
Oh I’m sorry, is PV a scientist or doctor now too? Does he have a lab in the back of the God awful It’s Greek To Me now..? What a buffoon. This is so upsetting I can’t even read this whole article, but thank you for taking the time, once again, to call out the complete morons running Ridgewood at this time. Does he not want to do anything because he owns a restaurant and has been poisoning patrons with the sick water for years? Or is he not smart enough to understand all the info out there on forever chemicals. All kinds of cancers… blood disorders… Other towns have already completed their upgrades to protect their residents and Ridgewood has been stalling for years now. I have set my sights on leaving Ridgewood. Who else is with me?
Bye
Ge’s not even the lawyer he claims to be. Went to law school back in eighties, practiced a few years (not the 16 he claims and I dare you to find a case he tried), and his gyros are just plain bad and overpriced now.
With that said, other towns have NOT completed the upgrading of their water treatment plants. Ridgewood is way out front on this thanks to RIch Calbi, the Ridgewood Water Staff and former Mayor Susan Knudsen.
the best thing for this group to do is show up to council meetings and state your case. None of you are helping the community or the ZS house neighbors. Get up and out !