Stephanie Boyd: Let's take a bit more time to think things through

Dear School Committee,

I have been following the discussion of the proposed artificial turf at MGRHS. Several years ago, as the Director of the Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives, I participated on the Weston Field building committee at Williams College when another artificial field was added to the Williams campus.  I had concerns then and I have concerns now.

As many of you are probably aware, the research is somewhat inconclusive in terms of health effects. However, crumb rubber contains cadmium, lead (which is a neurotoxin), zinc and many other carcinogens. A study by Dr. Alan Stern, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection concluded that the particles on turf fields can be inhaled.  The crumb rubber and the even the grass break down into smaller particles, after years of play and weather, making them easily inhaled. See report. 

In the US, we tend to assume that products are safe for use by default, and only regulate them after a problem has been discovered. Just because a governmental agency has not publicly stated these fields to be unsafe, we should not conclude that they are safe. 

In 2009 the EPA stated that crumb rubber was safe but has since retracted that statement.

The Center for Environmental Health recommends “that all crumb rubber should be removed from students’ clothing, bodies, and equipment after playing. Students should always wash their hands thoroughly after exposure to the crumb rubber and never lie down or eat on the field.”

I know we want to get our kids outdoors more often and there is a lot of demand for the playing fields. But I am sure there are also creative approaches we can employ to keep kids active and engaged outdoors when fields are not available.    No other high school in Berkshire County has an artificial turf field.  

According to Stuart Shalat, professor and director of the division of Environmental Health in the School of Public Health at Georgia State University, “there is little question in the mind of many scientists that crumb rubber should not be a first-choice material for children to play on.  Parents should be able to enjoy watching their children playing sports and not worry that they are being put unnecessarily at risk.”  See report.

It seems to me that we should err on the side of caution.  Why should we put the health of young children at risk for a few extra hours of play?

Some have asked about the cost of disposal.  I worry too about how these fields will be disposed of. Many of the components in the artificial turf would typically be treated as hazardous waste.  Some states are concerned about the leaching of chemicals when these fields are placed in a landfill.  This is interesting, since presumably they are leaching while they are in use. While it may be permissible to dispose of the turf in a landfill today, regulations may change.  

Concerns are also mounting about rubber pollution.  Car tires shed tiny pieces of plastic as they wear down, contributing to microscopic plastic pollutants found in the sea, rivers, land and the air. They are a major contributor to air pollution in large cities and are considered to be a major source of micro-plastics in oceans. 

https://www.politico.eu/article/tires-plastic-circular-economy-waste-ocean-pollution/

Why would we consider contributing to the micro-plastic problem by purposefully grinding up tires and adding them to our playing fields?   The European Chemical Agency consider artificial turf pitches “a substantial source of microplastics to the environment”, between 18,000 and 72,000 tones per year, and the small pieces of end-of-life tyres - falls under the definition of “intentionally added microplastics". 

I urge you to consider fully the impact of artificial turf.  

How will you protect the environment from potentially harmful runoff and micro particles? Will the student athletes be required to limit exposure as recommended by Center for Environmental Health?  Have we fully explored pros and cons of all options? How will the artificial turf and infill be disposed of at the end of its life?   How will MGRHS monitor and protect water resources on site?  Will MGRHS consider infill material other than crumb rubber if an artificial field is ultimately chosen?

Williamstown is known for its careful assessment of proposed changes.  We should take the time necessary to fully explore all options. We need to take a look at the full life cycle costs, along with health and environmental impacts prior to making a commitment to artificial turf. 

As a public school, we expect MGRHS to place the health and safety of our kids first, and to make choices that minimize our environmental impact.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Boyd

Resident, Williamstown

413-884-3498

The second sentence in the second paragraph has been edited from the original. The word "safe" has been added.