Keep Play in CA
Proposed artificial turf bans in California are misinformed, short-sighted and likely to do more harm than good.
The basics: what lawmakers and the public need to know
PFAS
Turf has fewer parts per million (ppm) of PFAS than many everyday products, like jerseys, cleats, helmets, dental floss, or makeup, and many fields don’t have added PFAS at all.
Water
In a region prone to water restrictions, artificial turf can save up to one million gallons per year and provide consistent, high quality playing surfaces no matter the weather or season.
Heat
Turf innovations have come a long way to reduce temperature, including replacing black crumb rubber with a variety of infills that cool the field without affecting performance.
ROI
Natural grass can be costly to install and maintain. Turf allows more play hours for communities, doesn’t need recovery time, heavy maintenance or regular irrigation and allows play through rainy and dry seasons.
Jobs
Turf is an important industry in California. The majority of the 350,000 jobs related to turf in the U.S. are in California, and range from manufacturing, to installation, maintenance and more.
Equity
Turf can handle 24/7 play without downtime, allowing more teams, athletes and students to play year-round. Artificial turf means accessibility to play, especially for communities with high populations and limited access to natural grass fields.
PFAS in Common Products
Makeup
Makeup can have up to 6,000 ppm of PFAS.
Prescription medications
Medications can have up to 50,000 ppm of PFAS.
Dental floss
Common dental floss brands have up to 248,000 ppm of PFAS.
Contact lenses
Contact lenses can have 20,000 ppm of PFAS.
Nonstick Cookware
A study by Ecology Center showed 79% of nonstick cookware tested had several types of PFAS present.
Rain Gear
Water repellant coatings are made from PFAS.
Fertilizers , insecticides, pesticides, fungicides
Used on natural grass athletic fields, many of these are categorized as PFAS.
Rainwater
PFAS in rainwater often exceed U.S. safety levels.
When turf is banned, our communities lose.
Turf increases access to the social benefits of play. In California, water restrictions mean natural grass fields can turn hard, uneven and unsafe. Even well-maintained grass fields can’t support as many play hours as turf can. A turf ban in California means reduced access to play for our communities. And that matters. Physical activity contributes to overall well-being, improving physical health and fitness, and supporting mental and emotional wellness, as well as safe, fun, developmental activities for youth.
Turf bans could mean our environment stands to lose, too. Turf doesn’t need regular irrigation and won’t burden precious aquatic ecosystems with overuse or creating hazardous runoff from chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers (which contain — or are classified as — PFAS).
That isn’t to say that there aren’t valid concerns around artificial turf. However, new innovations are working to solve concerns around heat, microplastics, recyclability and PFAS.
Heat
Infill alternatives to black crumb rubber, including cooling infills, can help reduce the temperature of artificial turf fields.
Microplastics
New innovations like no-infill fields reduce microplastic shedding by removing abrasive infill and sand.
Recyclability
Turf designs that feature a single material help make field recyclability a reality.
PFAS
PFAS-free turf is widely available today as industry leaders have shifted toward safer materials.
Testimonials
Alan Reising
Assistant Superintendent- Facilities & Operations at Long Beach Unified School District
“As our communities continue to rely on public schools to support the recreational needs of our neighborhoods, our fields have become almost a 24/7 operation. School Districts need resilient, sustainable solutions that can withstand the type of rigorous use we put on our athletic fields. Simply put, a natural grass field will not support our needs into the future. We need these solutions, and I ask that you join me in opposing this ban.”
Ted Walstrom
Assistant Superintendent- Facilities and Governmental Relations at Santa Ana Unified School District
“With the Community Schools movement, our facilities and playfields are used many more hours per day than they were designed for. It is impossible to keep natural grass in playable shape without the proper recovery time. This ban will only remove opportunities for our youth to have safe surfaces to play on.”
Paul Caliguiri
Diamond Bar / UCLA | 90 & 94 FIFA World Cups | US National Soccer Hall of Fame
“Proper synthetic turf offers athletes a secure, dependable, and uniform playing surface. Engineered to provide cushioning and support, it significantly reduces the risk of injuries from falls and impacts. Moreover, synthetic turf rigorously adheres to safety standards and regulations set by sports governing bodies.
Extensive testing has certified the safety of synthetic turf, which is made from non-toxic materials and devoid of harmful chemicals. Furthermore, artificial turf does not harbor allergens such as pollen or mold commonly found in natural grass.
Los Angeles possesses the opportunity to lead in water conservation efforts as a city situated in a region frequently plagued by water scarcity. It is imperative for Los Angeles to prioritize sustainable water management practices. Through the implementation of innovative strategies and the encouragement of community involvement, Los Angeles can become a beacon for other cities to emulate. Let’s unite and conserve water for a sustainable future on our planet.”
Joe Max Moore
Mission Viejo / UCLA | 92 Summer Olympics | 94, 98, 02 FIFA World Cups | US National Soccer Hall of Fame
“The utilization of synthetic turf is imperative in providing equal opportunities for youth in urban areas to engage in sports and physical activities, regardless of weather conditions. This vital product ensures that all communities have the same opportunities for athletic training and success. Furthermore, sports and physical activities on these surfaces play a crucial role in combating obesity in both youth and adults.”
Eric Wynalda
Westlake Village / San Diego State University | 90, 94, 98 FIFA World Cups | US National Soccer Hall of Fame
“Synthetic turf offers a dependable and long-lasting playing surface, enabling young athletes in urban areas to engage in sports and physical activities without concerns about adverse weather conditions. Regardless of weather, these turf fields deliver a consistent playing experience, guaranteeing that all communities have equitable opportunities for athletic training and success.”
