June 9, 2023
Board Members
Superintendent and Principal
Saratoga High School
20300 Herriman Ave.
Saratoga, CA 95070
Dear Saratoga High School Officials,
The Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter is writing to urge you to replace your artificial turf playing fields with natural grass for a number of reasons; the most important reasons are the harmful health effect on students who use the artificial turf fields and the detrimental environmental impact.
All artificial turf is made with PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS is found not only in artificial turf, but also in a wide range of everyday products such as carpeting, rainwear, non-stick cookware, food wrapping. PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they do not degrade in the human body or in nature. Especially alarming is the fact that more and more research has come to light in recent years linking PFAS exposure to various cancers, auto-immune diseases, liver & kidney damage, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, birth defects and other adverse health conditions.
In addition to these direct links between PFAS and serious health conditions, many of which are fatal, artificial grass is also a potent heat-trapping surface, raising temperatures to as high as 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Citing the dangers of this “heat island” effect of artificial grass, an increasing number of professional sports teams, including the NFL, are demanding a return to natural grass playing fields.
The harmful impact of artificial turf on our environment is just as alarming. Not only does artificial grass require fossil fuels to manufacture, but immediately upon installation it emits methane gas, a potent planet-warming greenhouse gas, and releases microplastics that do NOT biodegrade, depositing forever chemicals in our ecosystems that will continue to poison habitats and wildlife for eons. Moreover, the runoff from artificial turf has been shown to contain pollutants such as heavy metals and chemicals that can reach surface water or groundwater, poisoning our drinking water. The list of other deleterious effects is extensive.
The good news is that many local governments are beginning to ban artificial turf, as well as other PFAS-containing products. Following in the footsteps of a growing number of cities that have banned artificial turf, the city of Boston became the first major American city to prohibit the installation of new artificial turf in 2022, citing the irreparable harm arising from the toxicity of the “forever chemicals” in artificial turf.
Here in California, our state legislature is beginning to take actions to prohibit the use of PFAS- containing materials. There are 2 bills that will affect the future use of artificial turf in California. SB499 mandates that schools use “heat-mitigating” surfaces such as natural grass when replacing or resurfacing outdoors surfaces. The second bill, AB1423, would ban a broad range of products and materials that use PFAS.
Given this legislative landscape prohibiting artificial turf/PFAS, why would Saratoga High School officials want to replace the old artificial grass fields with new artificial grass now? It makes sense to pursue the much healthier option for your students and the environment, of replacing your old PFAS-laden turf with natural grass.
The Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter has been working with Saratoga High School students who brought this issue to our attention. The students’ commitment to health, safety, and environmental protection is very inspiring. They are committed to doing everything they can to enable Saratoga High School to provide safe playing fields, including raising funds.
We stand ready to help in any way that we can. Please do not hesitate to contact us.
Finally, thank you for nurturing such amazing students who are determined to advocate for the public good!
Sincerely,
Gladwyn d’Souza
Conservation Committee Chair
Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter
Cc: James Eggers
Executive Director
Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter