Philadelphia, PA — Several community and environmental groups rallied outside of City Hall Thursday morning to demand the City Council “ban artificial turf installation on city property including parks and recreation centers.” The leading concern is that artificial turf almost always contains toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” that can harm both humans and wildlife.

According to a press release the speakers include the Clean Air Council, Clean Water Action, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania, Physicians for Social Responsibility PA, Riverways, Save the Meadows and Sunrise Movement Philadelphia.

Video from the rally and interviews:

From a Save the Meadows press release:

“A growing number of municipalities, including Boston, have imposed bans on turf installation, while several states, including New York, have adopted statutes prohibiting the sale of products with PFAS including artificial turf.

In Pennsylvania, HB 2238 (Greg Scott, D-54) would ban sales of PFAS-containing products including artificial turf as of Jan 1, 2027. Its Philadelphia cosponsors include Reps. Elizabeth Fiedler, Joe Hohenstein, Mary Isaacson, Tarik Khan, and Stephen Kinsey.

All artificial turf contains PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), “forever chemicals” that have been linked to cancer and other diseases. Its toxicity is measured in parts per trillion. As Dr. Kyla Bennett of PEER.org, who discovered PFAS in turf in 2019, states, “There is no PFAS-free turf.” Artificial turf is associated with higher rates of injury, heat stroke and infection among players. It also increases local temperatures, emits greenhouse gases, and releases both PFAS and microplastics into the environment. It also costs more than grass over time. See Artificial Turf: Facts with Sources.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has published a series of landmark reports on the health effects of turf, including Risky Play, which profiled young athletes sickened and in some cases dying after years of contact with artificial turf. The Inquirer followed up with an editorial in March: Ban turf fields in Philadelphia parks.

The City of Philadelphia itself has sued PFAS manufacturers and vendors, saying in its complaint, “PFAS contamination presents a significant threat to public health, property, and the environment.” It lists adverse health effects including liver damage, preeclampsia, thyroid disease; increased risk of certain cancers, and decreases in birth weight.

However, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and its partners continue to install artificial turf playing fields at rec centers, as well as children’s play areas made of turf.”

Save the Meadows press release

The demolition of much of FDR Park‘s “Meadows” area motivated opposition in 2022 and opponents rallied at a restricted-access ballroom event in January 2023.

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