“Turf creates a mini-heat island. It can create toxic run-off. After maybe 8-10 years of use, because of multiple polymers, there is very limited ability to recycle the material.” Joann Stephan, community member, said via email.
On Aug 23, Stephan posted about the risks of the turf on Moss Field on Webster Groves Community Connect, a facebook group locals use to post about the neighborhood. The post sparked a debate, with 14 comments under it and 22 reactions to the post, most of which were discussing or arguing about the topic.
Concerns with the turf include safety issues and environmental issues. Webster shows itself as an environmentally friendly school, but the small actions such as this have big impacts, and are often overlooked. The school has put over 10 million dollars into the moss field renovations.
“Webster Groves talks about green spaces, no-mow April, sustainability, etc., but puts in artificial turf at Moss Field and plans to put more at the high school, for the short-term gain of convenience and year-round use for multiple activities,” Stephan said via email.
Along with this, the safety risk for students playing on Moss Field is more significant than some would think.
“It is dangerous to those using it, both in documented increased injuries (head and limb), and because temperature on the turf field can be 40-70 degrees higher than ambient air temperature, so even on a 70 or 80 degree day, there’s a risk,” Stephan added.
Due to the fact that sports aren’t canceled aside from cases of severe heat, if students are practicing or playing sports outside in 90-100 degree weather, they’re exposed to temperatures up to 170 degrees from the turf.
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology , human skin begins to feel pain when exposed to temperatures at 111 degrees. Then, first degree burns are caused at 118 degrees, and second degree burns at 131 degrees. With that being said, on only a 70 degree day, it’s possible for students to develop second degree burns if there is extended skin to turf contact.
Along with the burns that are caused by the heat, turf burns can be caused by exposed skin sliding on artificial turf. According to the National Institutes of Health, untreated turf burns are associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outbreaks, sepsis and pneumonia.
On Dec. 5, 2015, the U.S. National women’s soccer team refused to take the field during a FIFA match against Trinidad and Tobago in protest of the unfair customs of the fields they have to play on. According to Time magazine, The men’s League played on primarily natural grass, while the Women’s League was forced to play on artificial turf, which had caused Alex Morgan, U.S. women’s soccer player, an injury the year prior. More than 40 soccer stars have filed lawsuits against FIFA regarding the issue, but still artificial turf is used on some fields including Moss field.
According to Green Building Alliance, putting the rubber and plastic particles present in turf contributes to microplastic pollution. Microplastics are not only extremely harmful to the environment, but can cause long term health issues, specifically from a toxic substance called bisphenol A, which is absorbed into the body and causes various diseases in the endocrine and reproductive systems. Animals also may ingest this, which as well can cause other health issues to them, as artificial turf is essentially plastic.
As Webster aims to be an environmentally friendly neighborhood, the artificial turf was a major step back, and the school should focus on the big effects these actions have. The slight convenience does not outweigh the issues affected.
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