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Unveiling the Turf Debate: Exploring the Potential Dangers of Artificial Fields

10 Ways Synthetic Turf Fields Beat the Competition 569709360 e1676024710385

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, in the realm of sports, the allure of lush green fields has long been synonymous with the thrill of competition and the camaraderie of team play. However, beneath the surface of these meticulously groomed surfaces lies a contentious debate surrounding the safety of artificial turf fields—a debate that has gained renewed urgency in light of recent revelations linking synthetic turf to potential health hazards.

One such revelation comes from Jim Koenigsberger, whose insightful observation sheds light on a troubling trend within the baseball community. Highlighting the tragic deaths of six former Phillies players—Tug McGraw, Darren Daulton, John Vukovich, John Oates, Ken Brett, and David West—all of whom succumbed to glioblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer, Koenigsberger raises a compelling question: could there be a correlation between their environment and their untimely demise?

The connection, as Koenigsberger suggests, lies in the presence of artificial turf within Veteran’s Stadium—a fixture from 1971 to 2003, where these players spent countless hours honing their craft. While correlation does not imply causation, the alarming prevalence of glioblastoma among individuals associated with this environment warrants further investigation into the potential health risks posed by synthetic turf.

Indeed, the debate over the safety of artificial turf fields is not new, but recent developments have cast a spotlight on the issue with renewed urgency. Synthetic turf, composed of plastic fibers infilled with rubber granules, is lauded for its durability, all-weather resilience, and low maintenance requirements. However, concerns have been raised regarding its potential health effects, particularly in relation to exposure to toxic chemicals and carcinogenic compounds.

Studies have shown that synthetic turf fields may contain hazardous substances such as lead, phthalates, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can leach into the surrounding environment and pose risks to human health. Of particular concern is the presence of crumb rubber infill, derived from recycled tires, which has been found to contain a cocktail of carcinogens and heavy metals.

Furthermore, the heat-absorbing properties of synthetic turf can exacerbate heat-related illnesses and contribute to elevated surface temperatures, creating inhospitable conditions for athletes, especially during hot weather. Additionally, the abrasive nature of artificial turf can increase the risk of abrasions, sprains, and other injuries, further raising questions about its safety and suitability for athletic use.

As the debate rages on, stakeholders must weigh the potential benefits of artificial turf against its known and potential risks, taking into account the well-being of athletes, coaches, and spectators alike. While technological advancements continue to improve the quality and safety of synthetic turf, it is imperative that comprehensive research and rigorous testing be conducted to ensure that artificial fields meet stringent health and safety standards.

Ultimately, the decision to embrace or eschew artificial turf must be guided by evidence-based considerations, prioritizing the health and welfare of those who rely on these fields for recreation, competition, and community engagement. By fostering informed dialogue and advocating for responsible practices in turf management, we can strive towards a future where sports fields are not only arenas of athletic prowess but sanctuaries of safety and well-being for all.

 

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29 thoughts on “Unveiling the Turf Debate: Exploring the Potential Dangers of Artificial Fields

  1. Your allegations and suppositional health risk claims are nothing more than NIMBY (not in my back yard) editorial non sequitur.

    The vast majority of people who are opposed to sythetic turf are largely NIMBY people who recklessly and irresponsibly correlate unconnected health risk supposition to conjure up fear in the hope of blocking the installation of synthetic turf fields.

    I have been a staunch supporter of kids athletics and recreational opportunity. In many cases sythetic turf fields create and provide equity for inner city kids who otherwise wouldn’t have an athletic field. Sythetic turf helps level the playing field and Nike is behind the grants that help build these fields to help promote sports for kids in economically challenged communities and environmentally challenged because of the inability to grow sustainable natural grass fields otherwise.

    To claim causality of health risk is just reckless non sequitur…the supposition casts no scientific proof or evidence to any causality of health risk. The same VOCs mentioned are also in every day household items in higher concentrations and predominantly used in the manufacturing of child toys including teething rings. Are any of these products banned by Consumer Reports or any other product safety commission? No.

    Most every college and university have increased their investment in synthetic turf because they are more reliable and resilient to natural grass and safer as they reduce the incidence of head injury and concussion. For us old guys who still play soccer as recreational activity it’s a cushion on aging joints. From an Environmental perspective, synthetic turf helps reduce chemical run off from fertilizers and helps recycle materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Infill doesn’t have to rubber pellets as cork and other recycled material are also available infill options.

    A synthetic turf field costs less annually to maintain and reduces carbon footprint from eliminating emissions of grass cutting machinery.

    So it’s indeed ripe and interesting to see a one sided article claiming health risks when Princeton, Rutgers, Harvard, Yale, Brown, Colgate, Rutgers, Dartmouth, Penn, Stamford, Michigan, Duke, North Carolina, Virginia universities have all increased their investment in sythetic turf fields.….all the brightest colleges and the growing numbers across high schools and towns can’t be ignored. They have studied the scientific evidence and have made their decisions to install and replace/recycle the materials into their lifecycle approach to maintaining their athletic facilities.

    Trying to scare people is wrong especially when there’s no scientific evidence to support the flimsy NIMBY claims. Shame on you.

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      1. Your article states that “all brain cancer experts who have spoken with the Guardian or were quoted in previous stories on the Phillies deaths cautioned that it is impossible to prove that the ball players’ cancers were caused by PFAS from the turf.”

        “The bottom line is anything in the world is possible, but what’s plausible and provable are totally different things,” said Henry Friedman, a neuro-oncologist at Duke University who treated two of the players. “There is no way to now say, ‘If these chemicals are there, they are causing the tumors.’”

        The link that you provided does not pretend that there is a connection . There are a lot of other common exposures that could have affected the players. And maybe it wasn’t environmental.

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      2. It has been brought to my attention that my name was listed improperly and incorrectly and inaccurately here.

        First, to clarify, this web site is a garbage dump. Never, ever would I look at the ridiculous nonsensical lunacy that is here.

        I chastised the RW person that called me with this unwelcome & gruesome news today. why look at that shit were my exact words.

        I made no such comment.

        and if you respond, have the intelligence and common sense to list your full name. otherwise, you are just a gerbil lurking in your dark corners.

        talking to you James.

        and you too, Anne Hating. Don’t be a gerbil.

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        1. yes have another drink

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        2. Yup, dumb and dumber, see IFFY!

        3. Wow, you done gotta turn that ego downtown my brother. Seems yall sewin that king sized quilt outta the same fabric the emperor wore? Then that a be nothin my man, yes, that is right Don-key kong! You done becom da wolf in da sheep’s clothing, my man bullying old folk and such. Tsk tsk. Think weddings for gerbils, go day way and such. Karma may round about yo ass and it ain’t a pretty site, you dig?

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        4. Talk n to U, reap wat u sew man.

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    1. Phillies are in Philadelphia

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      1. Yes, and Philadelphia is Pennsylvania.

        At least it was this morning when I turned on CNN.

    2. wow the kicksbacks from the turf company must be huge , the Phillies are a professional baseball team , but of coarse some wannabe inbreed in Ridgewood knows better

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    3. Did Big Synth Turf pay you by the word for this bullshit salad?

      Little free advice for your next propaganda piece: don’t lay it on so thick. Calling people reckless and irresponsible and accusing them of scaremongering because they have questions about the safety of artificial turf just makes you sound suspiciously invested in the matter. You’re in the wrong movie. You make it sound like people are asking to have arsenic added to children’s vitamins or something.

      Also, how about this. No one needs to prove anything, to you or anyone else. They don’t want artificial turf, no artificial turf. End of story. And don’t waste your time talking about how artificial is actually better! it’s better for the environment! it solves racism! it doesn’t cause cancer, it cures it! What doesn’t it do?

      Just be less of an obvious shill, is all I’m saying.

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    4. Jim Madden, are you a turf vendor? How would you know if the “elite” institutions such as Princeton, Rutgers, Harvard, Yale, Brown, Colgate, Rutgers, Dartmouth, Penn, Stamford, Michigan, Duke, North Carolina, Virginia universities, have “all increased their investment in sythetic turf fields”. Really inquiring minds want to know how you come to know this.
      How does someone living in our little hamlet have the inside track on who is doubling down on plastic grass at these elite schools? I tell you what is ripe and frankly uninteresting, it is your fake news. uninteresting bullsh*t.

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    5. So you are suggesting that it is better for inner city kids to get out there on the artificial turf to benefit from the great outdoors, yet all the while it may be toxic but that is okay because they are poor and they don’t know any better and even better, Nike is paying for it. OMG laughable argument.

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    6. Jim Madden you are suffering from a very serious and potentially irreversable case of the Dunning Kruger effect. Ignorant people who think they are smart because they can use big words in a sentence but can string a rational and logical thought together backed by any real data but continue to spout off because, at the end of the day, you are probably afraid that one day your precious turf wil be taken away and that the world will come to an end. Well it actually will come to an end if continue down the wrecklass path we are on with our climate and make really bad decisions. But you are living in the now and don’t care about tomorrow, I am guessing. There is hope, Jim. There is this thing called Google, it is a search engine and you can get a lot of data, research and read about players who have gotten sick. Peer review studies, doctors, science professionals. It is easy and not like the giant set of encyclopedia books you probably grew up with.

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    7. question for Jim M…
      re: “”Princeton, Rutgers, Harvard, Yale, Brown, Colgate, Rutgers, Dartmouth, Penn, Stamford, Michigan, Duke, North Carolina, Virginia universities have all increased their investment in sythetic turf fields…””

      BUT, are those artificial synthetic turf fields in a FLOOD ZONE???that constantly needs repair from floods, and worst, mostly do those art. turf fields need to constantly be removed and replaced with new artificial turf costing extra multiple $,$$$,$$$. ??????

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  2. So tired of this art turf stuff. We have more important things to focus on this village. Just go back “old school” and use grass. Geesh

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  3. Don’t be bullied by the turf nazis

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  4. Artificial turf will eventually be banned like asbestos.

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    1. Probably, like lead paint in houses eventually got banned, when found to be poisonous .

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  5. My got loves peeing on that fake shit.

    1. Me too!

  6. We’re not going back to grass folks, so get over it.

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    1. One day in the not too distant future om guessing you’ll be “getting over it” because, as you probably know, it’s not able to be recycled snd it’s toxic. Don’t let that get under your skin though…I mean…literally.

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  7. The town deserves more parks and fewer playing fields. Horrible.

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    1. But parks with out big businesses in them like Habernickel. Those poor neighbors. Bus after bus all day long

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  8. Future class action lawsuits.

  9. Never belonged in a flood zone to begin with.

  10. Listen, this is all brought into town many years ago so they can fire employees. Less maintenance less workers, it’s not working out so well is it. You look at the board of Ed they turfed everything they fired all the employees all the janitors custodians bus drivers and now they pay outside companies too. Do that work. Are they really saving, look at the board of education budget. The money that they saved maybe from that guess what they just hire more staff it’s all A smokescreen wake up. And new people talk about the mafia, the Board of Education is worse.

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