Letter to the Editor: Be Informed About Synthetic Turf Field

Educate yourself before voting for the synthetic turf field proposed for .  

This is not a political issue, just an issue of safety for our children & increased flooding risks to our homes. Please do your own research and decide for yourself! 

 Areas of concern

1. There are toxins found in the rubber pellets made from the recycled materials. Toxins are harmful to the children that play on them. The pellets contain heavy metals & known carcinogens.  

Recommendations from health departments around the country include: 

• Children should shower and wash thoroughly after playing on artificial turf fields. 
• Clothes that were worn on the field should be taken off inside out and washed separately.

2. Artificial turf surfaces are reported to have temperatures significantly higher than natural grass fields, increasing the risk of burns, dehydration and heat exhaustion in children.   

3. Other health concerns about artificial turf fields have been raised, including:  abrasions, infections, and increased injury rates. The surface may harbor dangerous bacteria because it does not get washed down and irrigated that increases risks of antibiotic resistant infections. Goose/animal droppings don’t decompose quickly on these artificial surfaces.   

4. The chemicals from the pellets and rubber will run off into our local streams and natural springs, decreasing our water quality and adding to our local pollution.   

5. Drainage failures are one of the major problems confronting owners of turf fields. Doesn’t Springfield have enough problems with drainage and flooding?
Do we need to add to that problem especially in a neighborhood that already floods?   

A few quick references:  

http://www.njwec.org/images/pdf's/fact‐artificialterf.pdf 

http://www.state.nj.us/health/artificialturf/documents/other_concerns.pdf 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcdiUBYpRY4

Ms. DeVone read a version of this at the Feb. 6 Springfield School Board meeting.