7 September 7-13, 2023 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | Contents | Letters | news | night+Day | CuLture | Cafe | MusiC | is the “worst place” to put artificial turf and that it will shed “hundreds of pounds of micro- plastics into the adjacent water and soil.” “You are literally laying down acres of plastic, which means that you are destroying that habitat, that soil for any kind of insect life or wildlife,” says Bennett, New England director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and PEER’s director of science policy. “It’s worse than putting pavement down. It is creating a heat island, particularly in warm places like the south.” As more and more cities around the coun- try pull out natural grass and replace it with synthetic turf to cut maintenance costs and provide durable fields, environmentalists have raised concerns about contaminants and chemicals in the material. A 2015 study by Gaboury Benoit, a professor of environ- mental chemistry and engineering at Yale University, found 96 chemicals, including possible carcinogens, in the rubber pieces in artificial turf fields. Other studies have found the presence of heavy metals. Although the EPA maintains that studies indicate no elevated health risk from playing on fields with tire crumb rubber, it admits the existing studies “have been limited.” As a result, the EPA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission launched a collaborative re- search effort to assess potential human expo- sure and characterize the chemicals in tire crumb rubber. In 2019, the EPA stated “in general, the findings from the report support the premise that while chemicals are present as expected in the tire crumb rubber, human exposure appears to be limited based on what is released into air or simulated biologi- cal fluids.” Concerns about the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in artificial turf have also been raised. Known as “forever chemicals” used in countless consumer prod- ucts, from nonstick pans to carpet coating, they do not break down in the human body or the environment. The compounds were the subject of a March 2023 Philadelphia Inquirer report that examined an elevated brain cancer rate among former Phillies players who played on artificial turf at the team’s prior ballpark. FieldTurf says a lab it hired in 2019 to test its synthetic turf for 30 PFA compounds did not detect the chemicals above the lab’s mini- mum reporting threshold. “With no need for pesticides, line painting, or chemicals for maintenance, synthetic turf helps protect the broader community’s health by reducing the need for products containing harsh ingredients or volatile compounds, re- ducing the potential for spillover of these compounds into surrounding neighborhoods, ecosystems, or habitats,” the company says in its marketing materials. FieldTurf, the synthetic turf division of Tarkett Sports, dubs itself a leading provider of artificial turf. The company has worked with more than 1,500 colleges and 11 NFL teams to install their products, including the New York Giants and New York Jets at Met Life Stadium and the Detroit Lions’ Ford Field, according to its website. The company’s proposals for Aventura indicate the turf features slit-film fibers, which NFL players have criticized over its increased injury risk. In a November 2022 letter, NFL Player Association president J.C. Tretter urged the league to ban all slit-film turf, arguing that it has led to a rise in-game rates and no- contact, lower extremity injuries. MetLife Stadium later announced it was changing its playing surface. Then-Giants safety Julian Love confirmed the change, say- ing, “Stats have shown that we are one of the worst fields in the league.” FieldTurf in- stalled its new CORE system at the stadium for the upcoming NFL season, a multi-layer dual polymer monofilament fiber rather than the previous slit-film design. Miami’s newest superstar Lionel Messi said he had no problem playing on artificial turf after rumors circulated that he would only play in games with natural grass as he moved to Major League Soccer. Beyond the risk of injuries, Bennett points out that the extreme heat here in South Flor- ida at times will make it difficult for children to step foot on the field. She notes that in Mas- sachusetts, where she lives, the high schools have a policy that students aren’t allowed on the field if it is too hot outside. She fears there will be more cases of people suffering heat stroke and skin burns, which have been docu- mented in kids playing on artificial turf. Aventura isn’t the only municipality em- bracing artificial turf. North Miami Beach is working with FieldTurf to build synthetic turf at Mishcon Park field. In June, Surfside passed an ordinance al- lowing synthetic turf to count towards the town’s front lawn landscaping requirement, particularly living material. In light of drain- age issues tied to synthetic turf, residents worried about whether the change would ex- acerbate flooding in the town. “We’re supposed to be going green, looking toward the environment, and looking at cli- mate change,” Commissioner Marianne Meis- cheid said in opposition. “Now, we are turning synthetic turf into living material. I don’t get it.”
[email protected] “YOU ARE LITERALLY LAYING DOWN ACRES OF PLASTIC, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU ARE DESTROYING THAT HABITAT.” DISCOVER MIAMI’S FLAVOR This August and September, treat yourself to three-course meals at Greater Miami and Miami Beach’s best restaurants for just $30/$35 for lunch/brunch and $45/$60 for dinner with Miami Spice Restaurant Months. Named the Bon Appetit’s 2023 Food City of the Year, savor everything from local, authentic favorites to best in class dining experiences. Discover more at MiamiTemptations.com © Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau — The Official Destination Sales & Marketing Organization for Greater Miami and Miami Beach AUGUST + SEPTEMBER MIAMI SPICE MONTHS
Miami 09-07-20223
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