Artificial Turf on Sports Fields: Promise or Peril?

Date: Tuesday, October 1
Time: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (PST) with Q&A to follow
Location: Zoom
Registration: Free
Title - Session 2: Artificial Turf on Sports Fields: Promise or Peril?
Speakers:

• Sarah F. Evans, PhD, MPH - Artificial Turf and Children's Health
• Rachel Massey, ScD - Safer Athletic Fields: Reducing Toxic Chemical Use

The Santa Clara County Medical Association’s Environmental Health Committee presents the 2024 Fall Environment and Health three part webinar series! In this series we look at some ways to reduce the burden of climate change and illness, understanding that our health is inextricably related to a cleaner environment and a stable climate. This second session is on artificial turf on sports fields. We invite you to be part of the conversation and part of the change.

Description:
Artificial turf was introduced into the sports world in 1965. Currently there are approximately 13,000 synthetic turf sport fields in the U.S. and the number is increasing. While in the past artificial turf seemed to be the best alternative for sports fields and lawns due to reduced costs, reduced water usage, and lower maintenance, newer information has come to light regarding the direct and indirect environmental and health impacts of synthetic grass. It is now recognized as a global problem. Concerns include toxic chemical and plastic pollution with risks to children and the environment, creation of urban heat island effects, sports injuries and disposal challenges, in addition to climate change impacts and water usage. A full life cycle analysis of artificial turf is needed to address the true sustainability of this product. There has been much progress made in developing state of the art drought resistant, water conserving and even organically managed grass fields that are sturdy and can be watered with non-potable recycled water. Some cities are banning artificial turf The Netherlands is poised to ban all artificial turf on sports fields by 2030 and the Dutch Eredivisie professional football league is banning plastic pitches from the 2025/26 season. Our expert speakers will review the health risks of artificial turf as well as the different components used, alternatives to artificial turf and ways to stay safe on artificial turf.


Speaker Bios:

Sarah F. Evans, PhD, MPH - Artificial Turf and Children's Health.  Dr. Evans is assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine and Climate Science and a member of the Institute for Climate Change, Environmental Health, and Exposomics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She is an active faculty member in the Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center (CEHC), Center on Health and Environment Across the LifeSpan (HEALS) Community Engagement Core, Mount Sinai ConduITS (Institute for Translational Sciences). Dr. Evans’ research is focused on the impacts of early life environmental exposures on nervous system development and child behavior. She is dedicated to translating complex science on the health effects of toxic chemicals in order to empower individuals to protect their own health as well as how to advocate for healthier policies in their local communities to reduce toxic exposures.
Dr. Evans obtained her doctorate in neuroscience from Weill Cornell Medical College and her Master’s in Public Health from Mount Sinai, where she also completed a three-year fellowship in environmental pediatrics.


Rachel Massey, ScD - Safer Athletic Fields: Reducing Toxic Chemical Use. Rachel is senior science and policy advisor, Collaborative for Health and Environment and senior research associate, Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, University of Massachusetts Lowell. She has served as senior associate director at the Toxics Use Reduction Institute at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where her projects included state, federal and international chemicals policy initiatives, analyzing toxics use reduction opportunities for businesses and communities, and working in partnership with small businesses and grassroots organizations addressing toxics at the community level. In 2022 she received the Ken Zarker Memorial Pollution Prevention Champion Award from the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable. She has authored numerous reports and articles on chemicals policy and safer alternatives, including reports for European government agencies and the United Nations on chemicals and development, chemicals in consumer products, and other topics. Rachel received a Master of Science in Environmental Change and Management from Oxford University, a Master of Public Affairs from the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, and a Doctor of Science in Work Environment from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

The presentation will be followed by Q&A.

The seminar continues with the third webinar on October 15th: "Environmental Illness: Root causes and Prevention." Save the date and register HERE.

Environment and Health Series 2024

Medicine has changed in the last 200 years but so has the landscape of our environment and human illness. Prior to industrialization infectious diseases were the leading cause of death. Chronic diseases now lead the way with over half of all adults with a chronic disease. 78% of those over 55 have a chronic illness. For children 27-43% have a chronic illness, depending on how many chronic diseases are listed. Five of the top 10 leading causes of death in the US are, or are strongly associated with, preventable and treatable chronic diseases according to the CDC. Chronic disease not only affects an individual’s quality of life and vulnerability to other diseases, it significantly increases healthcare costs, the requirement for more physicians, and impacts business and the economy due to disability and health insurance costs. According to the CDC, 90% of the nation’s $3.8 trillion per year healthcare costs can be attributed to people with chronic diseases and mental health conditions. More human illness relates to higher environmental impact due to increased medical waste and energy use in healthcare.

Climate change is expected to intensity all these issues with an increase in medical emergencies from heatwaves, wildfires, floods, tropical storms and hurricanes as well as exacerbating air pollution, water contamination, vector borne diseases, food security and mental health issues. This all leads to higher medical costs and societal disruption.

In this 2024 series we look at some ways to reduce the burden of climate change and illness, understanding that our health is inextricably related to a cleaner environment and a stable climate. We have a number of experts who will discuss climate change, environmental toxins and their relation to diseases, in addition to better choices we all can make for the benefit of the next generation who are affected by our decisions. We invite participation and discussion among physicians, who are trusted leaders, on how to be part of this shift to improve planetary and individual wellness, rather than just treating illness.

Save the Date for the SCCMA Environment and Health Series 2024:

Session 1 - September 17: Confronting Climate Change. Register HERE.

Session 2 - October 1: Artificial Turf on Sports Fields. Register HERE.

Session 3 - October 15: Environmental Toxins, Environmental Illness. Register HERE.