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By: Madison McCarthy

Synthetic turf is everywhere—from your kid’s playground to local sports fields to professional stadiums. Praised for its durability and low maintenance, it’s clear why this grass alternative has gained popularity. However, beneath the lush green surface, synthetic turf fields raise concerns about health risks, environmental impact, and a lack of regulatory oversight.

The health impacts of synthetic turf are among the most pressing issues in the debate over its regulation. Research has shown that certain materials commonly used in synthetic turf, particularly crumb rubber infill, can contain potentially harmful chemicals, including heavy metals, the “forever chemicals” known as PFAs, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).^{1, 2} Studies linking these chemicals to cancer and respiratory issues have raised alarms, especially when considering that young athletes spend years playing on these fields.^{3, 4}

In addition to health risks, synthetic turf fields pose substantial environmental concerns. Unlike natural grass, which can help mitigate urban heat, synthetic turf can exacerbate the urban heat island effect, with field temperatures sometimes exceeding 160°F on hot days.⁵ Furthermore, the synthetic fibers used in the turf grass blades contribute to microplastic pollution, contaminating water sources and threatening local ecosystems.^{6, 7} Lastly, when fields reach the end of their lifespan—usually within 8 to 10 years—the disposal of synthetic turf poses significant waste management challenges.⁸ The tires recycled to create these fields ultimately end up where they came from: landfills.⁹

Beyond the environmental damage, there are additional concerns for athletes’ safety. While great for softening athletes’ impacts, the turf’s surface has been linked to various potential health issues, from skin and respiratory irritations to increased rates of ACL injuries and concussions.^{10, 11, 12, 13, 14} Additionally, synthetic turf can become extremely dangerous on hot days, reaching temperatures up to 60 degrees hotter than natural grass.^{15, 16} This presents a considerable risk of heat stroke for athletes and children.¹⁷

Despite these risks, regulatory oversight is sorely lacking in the U.S., leading to a patchwork of state and local rules with inconsistent standards.¹⁸ Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Synthetic Turf Council have provided oversight regarding synthetic turf’s contents,^{19, 20} they have not provided comprehensive guidance detailing the long-term effects on athletes’ safety and health.²¹ Additionally, misinformation is being rapidly spread by turf field producers using limited inconclusive tests to gain localities’ trust.²² Companies claiming to be PFA-free have been found to be inaccurate.²³ Without regulatory oversight, communities face challenges in addressing misinformation and managing synthetic turf independently.

Some states, like California and New York, have taken proactive measures, funding studies, and limiting the use of certain materials in synthetic fields.^{24, 25, 26, 27} As Kelly Shannon McNeil, associate director of the nonprofit Los Angeles Waterkeeper, put it, “[w]e’re looking at all of the different ways we can limit exposure to PFAS in our communities, and banning synthetic turf would be an immediate opportunity to do so.”²⁸ New York has also taken steps to ban PFAs found in synthetic turf grass blades. A recent bill has been approved to amend the environmental conservation law to include a ban on PFAs in carpets, including “synthetic turf.”²⁹ New bills are being introduced to eliminate the use of crumb rubber in synthetic turf fields; however, they are still in the early phases.³⁰

Meanwhile, other states have adopted little oversight, meaning millions of players—kids and adults—are exposed to potential risks.^{31, 32} PEER Science Policy Director Kyla Bennett, a scientist and lawyer formerly with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), states that “[o]ur current embryonic state of regulation makes it difficult to trace the life cycle impacts of these highly toxic chemicals from production to disposal.”³³ In other words, conducting long-term research on this subject may be difficult without federal regulation mandating that turf fields be produced similarly.

While the U.S. lags in regulatory action, other countries have taken a different approach. The European Union, for instance, will phase out crumb rubber infill prospectively, given its potential health and environmental risks, and is moving toward banning microplastics in synthetic fields altogether by 2030.^{34, 35, 36} Canada has also been exploring changes to address safety and environmental concerns related to synthetic turf, and several provinces have initiated studies into alternatives that could lower health risks.³⁷

Moreover, many advocates are calling for a unified regulatory approach in the U.S. and suggest that the federal government set baseline standards to ensure nationwide safety. Proposed measures include mandating safer materials, implementing heat-mitigation guidelines, and establishing rules to hold field operators liable for injuries related to synthetic turf risks.^{38, 39}

However, there may be another option: organic grass. Advocates are pushing to include organically maintained natural grass in discussions over synthetic turf use.⁴⁰ Since synthetic turf must be replaced every 8 to 10 years, and no current recycling program exists, these fields can cause more harm than good when they end up in landfills.^{41, 42} States that replace the fields with organic grass instead might resolve these underlying issues.

For now, synthetic turf fields remain popular for their low maintenance and resilience, but as awareness grows, so does the call for greater accountability. Until stricter regulations or change take hold, experts advise that parents, players, and coaches exercise caution—especially on hot days—and keep pushing for transparency about the materials in their local fields.

Sources:

[1] Synthetic Turf/Recycled Tire Crumb Rubber, NAT. TOX. PROGRAM, (November 2015), https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/topics/syntheticturf.
[2] Evaluation of potential carcinogenicity of organic chemicals in synthetic turf crumb rubber, 169 ENV’T RESEARCH 163-72 (Elsevier, Feb. 2019), https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935118305528?via%3Dihub.
[3] Artificial Turf: Cancers Among Players, ENV’T. HUM. HEALTH, INC., https://www.ehhi.org/turf-cancer-stats.php.
[4] https://mountsinaiexposomics.org/artificial-turf/.
[5] Id.

[6] Mara Silgailis & Amy Goldsmith, The Turf is Artificial, But the Harm is Very Real, CLEAN WATER ACTION (Sept. 2024), https://cleanwater.org/2024/09/16/turf-artificial-harm-very-real.
[7] Dangerous Play: Studies find harmful ‘forever chemicals’ in artificial turf fields, PENNENV’T RSCH. POL’Y CENTER (March 2024), https://environmentamerica.org/pennsylvania/center/updates/dangerous-play-studies-find-harmful-forever-chemicals-in-artificial-turf-fields/#:~:text=Sadly%20the%20problems%20with%20synthetic,acute%20mortality%20in%20coho%20salmon.
[8] Candy Woodall, ‘Running out of room’: How old turf fields raise potential environmental, health concerns, YORK DAILY RECORD (Nov. 18, 2019), https://www.ydr.com/in-depth/news/2019/11/18/old-artificial-turf-fields-pose-huge-waste-problem-environmental-concerns-across-nation/2314353001/.
[9] Kathryn Dressendorfer, Artificial Turf: Why we shouldn’t choose plastic over plants, SURFRIDER FOUND., (July 4, 2023), https://www.surfrider.org/news/artificial-turf-why-we-shouldnt-choose-plastic-over-plants.
[10] Katerina Kerska, Injuries Related to Artificial Turf, NAT’L CENTER FOR HEALTH RSCH., https://www.center4research.org/injuries-related-to-artificial-turf/.
[11] Artificial Turf Health Risks, INST. FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, ENV’T HEALTH, AND EXPOSOMICS (July 2024), https://mountsinaiexposomics.org/artificial-turf/.
[12] Corey Grunberg, Turf Leads to More ACL Injuries: Fact or Fiction?, CUROVATE (Jan. 21, 2021), https://curovate.com/blog/turf-leads-to-more-acl-injuries-fact-or-fiction/.
[13] Mark Cote, Turf vs. Grass Injuries: What Athletes Need to Know, MASS. GEN. BRIGHAM (Jan. 30, 2024), https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/about/newsroom/articles/turf-vs-grass-fields-sports-injury-prevention.
[14] Are ACL Tears More Common on Grass or Synthetic Turf?, MODERN TURF https://modernturf.com/are-acl-tears-more-common-on-grass-or-synthetic-turf/.
[15] Natural grass vs artificial turf: Everything sports organizations need to know about player safety, injury risk and, and legal implications, CAPILLARY FLOW (Sept. 13, 2023), https://www.capillaryflow.com/reports/examining-the-turf-safety-injuries-and-legal-implications-in-the-debate-between-natural-grass-and-artificial-turf-for-sports-surfaces.
[16] Health Impacts of Synthetic Turf, VIRGINIA DEP’T HEALTH (July 31, 2024), https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/public-health-toxicology/health-impacts-of-synthetic-turf/#:~:text=Heat%20Illnesses,fields%20can%20reduce%20temperatures%20temporarily.
[17] Katerina Kerska, Injuries Related to Artificial Turf, NAT’L CENTER HEALTH RSCH., https://www.center4research.org/injuries-related-to-artificial-turf/#:~:text=our%20article%20here.-,Heat%2DRelated%20Illness%20and%20Injury,turf%20field%20got%20much%20hotter.&text=For%20example%2C%20on%20a%2090,when%20it%20gets%20this%20hot.
[18] Philip Zuccaro, David C. Thompson, Jacob de Boer, Andrew Watterson, Qiong Wang, Song Tang, Xiaoming Shi, Maria Llompart, Nuno Ratola & Vasilis Vasiliou, Artificial turf and crumb rubber infill: An international policy review concerning the current state of regulations, 9 ENV’T CHALLENGES 100620 (Dec. 2022), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2022.100620.

[19] Synthetic Turf Field Tire Crumb Rubber And Exposure Characterization Research Under The Federal Research Action Plan, Response to Comments from External Peer Reviewers, U.S. ENV’T PROT. AGENCY (April 2024), https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-04/epa-atsdr-tire-crumb-study-response-to-external-peer-review-comments.pdf.
[20] Synthetic Turf Council, https://www.syntheticturfcouncil.org/.
[21] Position Statement on the Use of Artificial Turf Surfaces, INST. FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, ENV’T HEALTH, AND EXPOSOMICS (July 5, 2024), https://mountsinaiexposomics.org/position-statement-on-the-use-of-artificial-turf-surfaces/.
[22] Industry Misinformation, SAFE HEALTHY PLAYING FIELDS, https://www.safehealthyplayingfields.org/industry-misinformation.
[23] Sue Chow, Artificial Turf Wars: People Fighting to Protect Their Communities, SIERRA CLUB, (May 30, 2024), https://www.sierraclub.org/loma-prieta/blog/2024/05/artificial-turf-wars-people-fighting-protect-their-communities.
[24] Shreya Agrawal, Once it was hailed as a drought fix — but now California’s moving to restrict synthetic turf over health concerns, CALMATTERS, (Oct. 23, 2023), https://calmatters.org/environment/2023/10/california-synthetic-turf-pfas/ (last visited Nov. 10, 2024).
[25] Synthetic Turf Studies, CAL. OFF. ENV’T HEALTH HAZARD ASSESS., https://oehha.ca.gov/risk-assessment/synthetic-turf-studies.
[26] B. Sakura Cannestra, Santa Clara County to study ban on artificial turf, SAN JOSÉ SPOTLIGHT (Apr. 17, 2024), https://sanjosespotlight.com/santa-clara-county-to-study-ban-on-artificial-turf-athletics-sports-fields-grass/.
[27] Mark Patton, Coastal Commission Denies UCSB’s Project for Artificial Turf at Uyesaka Stadium, NOOZHAWK (Dec. 14, 2023), https://www.noozhawk.com/coastal-commission-denies-ucsbs-project-for-artificial-turf-at-uyesaka-stadium/.
[28] Delilah Brumer, LA City Council committee seeks study of possible ban on artificial turf, LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS (July 11, 2024), https://www.dailynews.com/2024/07/11/la-city-council-committee-seeks-study-of-possible-ban-on-artificial-turf/ (last visited Nov. 10, 2024).
[29] New York Governor Signs PFAS Bans in Apparel and Carpet, BUREAU VERITAS (Jan. 10, 2023), https://www.cps.bureauveritas.com/newsroom/new-york-governor-signs-pfas-bans-apparel-and-carpet.
[30] S. 7239, 2023 Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (N.Y. 2023), https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S7239 (temporarily suspending the installation of synthetic turf products that contain crumb rubber).

[31] Liz George, Council Calls for Time to Consider Three-Year Moratorium on Artificial Turf Installation, MONTCLAIR LOCAL, (Oct. 9, 2024), https://montclairlocal.news/2024/10/council-calls-for-time-to-consider-three-year-moratorium-on-artificial-turf-installation/.
[32] Maura Keene, PFAS Legislation Proliferates Across The Nation, AMHERST INDY (Feb. 3, 2023), https://www.amherstindy.org/2023/02/03/pfas-legislation-proliferates-across-the-nation/.
[33] Kyla Bennett, PFAS in Artificial Turf Coats Players’ Skin, PEER, (Mar. 12, 2024), https://peer.org/pfas-in-artificial-turf-coats-players-skin/.
[34] Philip Zuccaro, David C. Thompson, Jacob de Boer, Andrew Watterson, Qiong Wang, Song Tang, Xiaoming Shi, Maria Llompart, Nuno Ratola & Vasilis Vasiliou, Artificial turf and crumb rubber infill: An international policy review concerning the current state of regulations, 9 ENV’T CHALLENGES 100620 (Elsevier, Dec. 2022), https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667010022001767.
[35] P. Zuccaro, et al., The European Union Ban on Microplastics Includes Artificial Turf Crumb Rubber Infill: Other Nations Should Follow Suit, 58 ENV’T SCI. TECH. 2591-94 (2024), https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c00047.
[36] Granules and mulches on sports pitches and playgrounds, EUR. CHEM. AGENCY https://echa.europa.eu/hot-topics/granules-mulches-on-pitches-playgrounds (follow “What is the EU doing?” hyperlink).
[37] Supra note 33.
[38] Tamela Trussell, Are Synthetic Playing Surfaces Doing More Harm Than Good?, SIERRA CLUB (May 20, 2023), https://www.sierraclub.org/pennsylvania/blog/2023/05/are-synthetic-playing-surfaces-doing-more-harm-good.
[39] Federal Action – EPA & CPSC, SAFE HEALTHY PLAYING FIELDS, https://www.safehealthyplayingfields.org/recent-action-federal.
[40] Synthetic Turf Fields, Forever Chemicals and the Safer Alternative: Organic Grass, BEYOND PESTICIDES (Mar. 27, 2024), https://beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2024/03/synthetic-turf-fields-forever-chemicals-and-the-safer-alternative-organic-grass/.

[41] Rebekah Thomson, Synthetic Turf Fact Sheet, MARTHA’S VINEYARD COMM’N (Sep. 2016), https://www.mvcommission.org/sites/default/files/docs/DR%201%202016%20HS%20Athletic%20Fileds%20Correspondence%20R%20Thomson%202016-09-06%202.pdf.
[42] “40,000 lbs in the average athletic field often end up in landfills when its lifespan runs out.” Carmela Guaglianone, As the world heats up, so does the debate around artificial turf, THE NEW LEDE (Aug. 20, 2024), https://www.thenewlede.org/2024/08/as-the-world-heats-up-so-does-the-debate-around-artificial-turf/.

By: Austin Dewey

Reliable energy is a commodity that every American has grown accustomed to. Whether plugging in our toasters in the morning to make the perfect bagel sandwich, maintaining comfortable temperatures in our living spaces during the winter, or being held on a ventilator at the hospital, having a reliable energy grid is essential to our society. Additionally, as we combat the current climate crisis, America has expanded its green energy infrastructure to where renewable energy generates over 20% of our electricity. [1] While this may sound like a promising step toward a sustainable future, our aging energy grid and infrastructure are running into a higher risk of failure with every green advancement, particularly with solar energy. This dilemma has been described as the Duck Curve Problem.

The top line of this graph represents the grid’s energy demand from nonrenewable sources over 24 hours, while the bottom line shows the demand when solar renewable energy is factored in. The significant drop in midday energy demand provided by solar energy, contrasted with the sharp rise in the evening, creates the famous ‘duck’ shape seen in the graph. This steep and quick rise in energy demand puts huge strains on nonrenewable power plants which risk overgeneration to compensate for the energy use differential. This imposes higher prices on consumers, causes infrastructure damage, and threatens our national security.

To curtail this problem, the Biden Administration, under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), has launched a joint grid modernization initiative with twenty-one states toupgrade approximately 100,000 miles of existing transmission lines. [2] This will allow for advancements in battery technology, which will help store midday solar energy and allow for a gradual release of energy when the sun goes down, which will reduce the strain on power plants. Recently, the California Energy Commission has used IIJA funding to expand 100 miles to their power grid to allow multiple sources of renewable energy input such as wind and hydroelectric, to reduce the effects of the duck curve. [3] This is an effective solution because hydroelectric and wind energy input will buffer the drastic evening energy demand.

While the IIJA is a critical step toward enhancing the reliability of the U.S. power grid, further state-level legislative action is needed to meet renewable energy goals without posing a threat to our energy grid infastructure. California’s Energy Storage Mandate serves as a key example. This innovative mandate requires the state’s three major utility companies: Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric to procure a combined 1,325 megawatts (MW) of energy storage over ten years. [4] This initiative has proven highly successful, as all three utilities have nearly met their procurement targets. [5] By expanding energy storage capacity, this legislation ensures more efficient use of renewable energy, reducing strain on the grid and helping to stabilize electricity prices during periods of high demand. 

As we continue to expand renewable energy and modernize our grid, innovative green legislation in energy storage will be essential to overcoming the challenges of the Duck Curve and ensuring a reliable, sustainable future for America’s energy infrastructure.

____________________

[1] Renewable Energy, U.S. Dep’t of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/eere/renewable-energy (last visited Oct. 5, 2024).

[2] Biden Administration Partners with 21 States on Grid Modernization Initiative, S&P Glob. Commodity Insights (May 29, 2024), https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/electric-power/052924-biden-administration-partners-with-21-states-on-grid-modernization-initiative.

[3] California Receives More Than Half a Billion Dollars in Federal Funds to Improve Power Grid, Off. of the Governor of Cal. (Aug. 6, 2024), https://www.gov.ca.gov/2024/08/06/california-receives-more-than-half-a-billion-dollars-in-federal-funds-to-improve-power-grid/.

[4] Cal. Assem. B. 2514, ch. 469, 2010 Cal. Stat.

[5] 2022 CAL. PUC LEXIS 171, 2022 CAL. PUC LEXIS 171

By Kaitlin Sommer

The emergence of social media has impacted our mental health in a way more complex than we may understand for hundreds of years. U.S. Surgeon General Murthy has called for warning labels on social media to remind users that this has not been proven safe.[1] Further, adolescents who spend a significant amount of time online are at risk for anxiety and depression.[2] So, what about the companies behind these platforms? What liability do they have, if any, to the effects of social media on the general public?

Currently, there is an ongoing lawsuit by more than 40 states who are suing Meta, one of the largest operators of several social media platforms.[3] The claims under this lawsuit are that Meta is responsible for harmful features such as “recommendation algorithms, social comparison features, infinite scroll, notifications and alerts, and photo filters” which all have negative links to addictive behavior and mental health conditions, like body dysmorphia.[4] This lawsuit requests remedies such as fines, penalties, and orders to stop using some problematic features.[5] 

Additionally, there is litigation in one California court assessing the liability social media companies have about the potential effects on mental health.[6] The plaintiffs argue that failure-to-warn claims should be applied without a physical product at issue, and this would just be the law evolving to keep up with the times.[7] Opposing counsel argues this type of product liability is not applicable, since it tailors the experience to each user.[8] Similar lawsuits have been filed by parents, school districts, and attorneys general (AGs), claiming similar injuries.[9]

What About the Kids: 

This question is being challenged specifically on behalf of children, and the impact it has on their development. New York, California, and Utah have passed similar laws allowing parents to have greater control over their children’s algorithms and social media uses.[10] California’s law defines an “addictive feed as a website or app in which multiple pieces of media generated or shared by users are … selected or prioritized for display to a user based … on information provided by the user.”[11] 

TikTok’s defense to claims that it is misleading and threatening to adolescents is that they have already provided the safeguards necessary.[12] These protections include removing suspected underage users, “default screen time limits, family pairing, and privacy by default for minors under sixteen.”[13] The response from the New Jersey AG is that the safety features are misleading for parents, and the time restraints can be easily bypassed through passwords or eliminating the limit.[14] 

The ongoing litigation for liability in the social media space will set up future standards for how seriously we take threats to our mental health. The resolution of these legal challenges could set important precedents for accountability in the tech industry while balancing a First Amendment right to free speech on these platforms. 

________________________________________________________________________________

[1] Cristiano Lima-Strong and Aaron Gregg, Surgeon General Calls For Social Media Warning Labels, The Washington Post (Updated June 17, 2024), https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/06/17/surgeon-general-social-media-warning-labels/. 

[2] Id.

[3] David Goguen, Lawsuits for Social Media Addiction and Mental Harm, Nolo.com (Updated September 18, 2024), https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/lawsuits-for-social-media-addiction-and-mental-harm.html. 

[4] Id.

[5] Id.

[6] Rachel Scharf, Social Media Apps Don’t Need User Warnings, MDL Judge Told, Law360 (October 10, 2024), https://www.law360.com/cybersecurity-privacy/articles/1889256/social-media-apps-don-t-need-user-warnings-mdl-judge-told. 

[7] Id.

[8]Id.

[9] Id.

[10] Sophie Austin, California Governor Signs Law to Protect Children From Social Media Addiction, AP News (September 21, 2024), https://apnews.com/article/california-social-media-addiction-children-law-bc649326701f892a16be1159bc008d71. 

[11] Id.

[12] George Woolston, AGs Slam TikTok With Youth Addiction, Fraud Claims, Law360 (October 8, 2024), https://www.law360.com/media/articles/1887891/ags-slam-tiktok-with-youth-addiction-fraud-claims.

[13] Id.

[14] Id.