Letter: The Science is Clear. We Also Oppose Artificial Turf in Newton
Warning sign at synthetic tuff field, near Saugatuck Elementary School, Westport, CT. Photo: Westport Parks and Recreation
Editor’s note: Debate about the installation of an artificial turf field at the high school continues. The letter below, from a resident of Newton, was forwarded to the Indy by a concerned resident. We are publishing it here, with permission of the author, because it provides some helpful information for those weighing the current issue in Amherst. This letter was originally published in FIGCITYNEWS.
The local group Better Action Now on Artificial Turf in Newton is thrilled that Dr. Phil Landrigan has let city councilors know that he opposes Mayor Fuller’s request for $2,400,000 for an artificial turf field at Newton North High School. See details here.
Dr. Landrigan is a Newton resident and a leading global public health expert, scientist and pediatrician specializing in pollution and children’s health. When he learned that city councilors are considering the Mayor’s request for artificial turf on Tuesday, November 28, he sent them his recent article and legislative testimony that describe the health and safety risks of artificial turf as well as the contamination of surface and groundwater.
He cited studies that student athletes are more likely to be injured on plastic turf than on grass, that they are exposed to known carcinogens and neurotoxins, and also are at increased risk of heat illness and infectious complications of turf burns.
Better Action Now has been working to convince Newton city officials to reject the plans for artificial turf. Today, Monday November 27, the group submitted a petition signed by 301 Newton residents from all eight wards urging the Mayor and the City Council say no to installing artificial turf in Newton.
Over the past year, local advocates have been joined by scientists, public health experts and environmental specialists from Clean Water Action, Silent Spring Institute, Toxics Use Reduction Institute and Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Newton’s Sustainable Materials Management Commission. Their testimonies and letters are posted online at SynTurf Decisions.
They all say “The science is clear.” Artificial turf is a bad choice for Newton.
More references and expert information can be found online at Artificial Turf? Listen To The Experts. Don’t Ignore The Warnings
Ellie Goldberg
Ellie Goldberg is a resident of Newton Centre