San Francisco BaykeeperNov 7

Attention, SF! A plan is underway to cover Crocker Amazon's fields with synthetic turf, effectively blanketing the area with plastic.

Unlike living lawns, artificial turf contains heavy metals, PFAS & microplastics.

If you want to advocate against this plan, please join Recreation and Park's meeting next Wednesday 11/12 🌱

Details: https://sfrecpark.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2523

#sanfrancisco #sf #artificialturf #syntheticturf #microplastics #pfas #pollution #crockeramazon

Inside The StarOct 29

Turf Titans, Grass Strugglers: The Cowboys’ Identity Crisis

Through eight games of the 2025 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys look like two completely different fo...

#DallasCowboys #2025Defense #2025Offense #ATTStadium #DakPrescott #DonovanEzeiruaku #GeorgePickens #Grass #JamesHouston #Sacks #SyntheticTurf
https://insidethestar.com/turf-titans-grass-strugglers-the-cowboys-identity-crisis?fsp_sid=5722

Turf Titans, Grass Strugglers: The Cowboys’ Identity Crisis

Indoors and on turf, they’re explosive — scoring in bunches and dictating tempo. Outdoors and on grass, they’re ordinary, sometimes even fragile.

Inside The Star
John EnglartMar 6, 2025

Victorian Gov #Springst engagement on Melbourne Waterways protection closes 16 March: https://engage.vic.gov.au/planning-for-our-waterways

My brief submission was to prohibit #syntheticturf near waterways to reduce #microplastics pollution

Planning for our Waterways

Tell us what you think about proposed new protections being created to protect Melbourne's creeks and rivers for the future.

Engage Victoria
John EnglartSep 11, 2024

More research to highlight human health risks and toxicity of #plasticgrass:
In vitro endocrine and cardiometabolic toxicity associated with artificial turf materials

#artificialTurf #SyntheticTurf #Toxicology
#sportsfields
#environment
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1382668924002023

In vitro endocrine and cardiometabolic toxicity associated with artificial turf materials

Artificial turf, a consumer product growing in usage in the United States, contains diverse chemicals, some of which are endocrine disruptive. Endocri…

JunicastJul 28, 2024
If I was in a garden with #syntheticturf I would give in to the urge to vomit to cover up the plastic crap with a more beautiful organic layer.
John EnglartMar 17, 2024
#PFAS in #syntheticturf: “We put these products out into the environment without truly understanding their fate. Unfortunately, scientists and public health advocates have to scramble and try to put the Genie back in the bottle on this.”
More studies being done on #Artificialturf and human health. #PlasticGrass
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/03/12/artificial-turf-pfas-chemicals/
Turf fields may have ‘forever chemicals.’ Should kids be playing on them?

Researchers are conducting studies to determine whether PFAS and other chemicals detected in turf can end up on athletes and pose a risk to their health.

The Washington Post
@nathanpbostonMar 1, 2024
Sports perfectionists demanding #SyntheticTurf never want to see a remarkable play like this again:
https://youtu.be/pCwNNqgrKOM?feature=shared
Ozzie Smith makes greatest infield play of all time!

YouTube
John EnglartFeb 12, 2024

At 2.20pm yesterday I was Just passing a local grass soccer oval on the way home.
What should be the heat health policy for children (teen girls) playing soccer in 35C+ heat? Anyone?

When I got home, I did some reading: Sports Medicine Aus says Soccer is a category 3 sport for extreme heat health risks. The girls were playing in 35.8C ambient temperature, 22% humidity as I measured. That places them into moderate #heathealth risk approaching high risk.
I have no idea if more frequent breaks, or drink stoppages were being implemented which are risk mitigation measures at moderate level.
I am only glad this wasn’t on #syntheticturf which would amplify the heat health risks. Synthetic Turf can reach spot temperatures up to 80C in direct sunlight posing a direct health stress risk to playing on the surface.
The Sports Medicine Australia document says near the end :
“currently unclear if heat stress risk is truly elevated in children”
#Extremheat #HeatHealth #Health #SportsMedicine #heatwave #Soccer

https://sma.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SMA-Extreme-Heat-Policy-2021-Final.pdf

John EnglartNov 9, 2023

Good news for CommsDeclare. #MerribekCouncil to impose a #FossilFuel Advertising Ban on Council Land. Also a Sports grounds surfaces policy for governance of #syntheticturf adopted, and #Extremeheat measures revised as Council has a Duty of Care.

#MerribekCouncil #FossilAdBan #ClimateDiary #ClimateCrisis
#ClimateAction

https://climateactionmerribek.org/2023/11/09/merri-bek-council-fossil-fuel-advertising-ban-approved-extreme-heat-measures-considered-sports-ground-surfaces-policy-approved/

Merri-bek Council Fossil Fuel Advertising Ban approved; Extreme Heat measures considered; Sports ground surfaces policy approved

November Council meeting was very busy, with most time debating transport related issues, but a number of important climate related measures and policies were also approved with limited debate, inc…

Climate Action Merribek
Show threadJohn EnglartJul 26, 2023
@docdieterlen
Oppose conversion of sports fields and nature strips to artificial turf which adds to urban heat and becomes a safety risk for contact burns during extreme heat. Grass fields and lawns provide vegetative cooling and other environment services.
In 2021 I wrote a literature review on #SyntheticTurf, including looking at #UrbanHeat...
https://takvera.blogspot.com/2021/04/literature-review-synthetic-turf-carbon.html#urbanheat
Literature Review: Synthetic Turf carbon footprint, environmental, health, microplastics and biodiversity impacts

Writings on climate change, sea level rise, ocean acidification, biodiversity loss, climate adaptation & protests from a Melbourne Citizen Journalist.