By Bob Katzen
Another measure heard by the State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Committee would ban municipalities and the state from installing or subsidizing new artificial turf fields that contain zinc, plastic, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or other toxins.
It would not affect current turf fields which would be grandfathered in under the bill, but it would assure that no new public artificial turf construction would take place.
“Based on the growing body of evidence that shows that these turf fields pose a danger for athletes from heat stress, severe abrasions and toxic chemical exposure, and cause substantial environmental harm to the local environment,” said sponsor Rep. Carmine Gentile (D-Sudbury). “These concerns have led the U.S. Men and Women’s soccer teams to stop playing on turf, and have compelled towns and cities, including Boston, to issue moratoriums on new turf construction.”