Health experts have warned that children are uniquely vulnerable to toxic chemicals. Dr. Sarah Evans (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai) and Dr. Diana Zuckerman (National Center for Health Research) sent letters of concern to Mayor Brindle, the Westfield Town Council, Superintendent Gonzalez and the Westfield Board of Education. Read the full letters below.
Heat
- Artificial turf fields ABSORB heat resulting in temperatures 40-70 degrees hotter than natural grass.
- Children are less able to regulate body temperature, raising their risk of dehydration and heat stroke.
Injuries
- Studies show players are more likely to sustain foot and ankle injuries while playing on plastic grass compared to natural grass.
- The NFL Players Association has been very vocal the past few years advocating for natural grass fields because of the injury rates on players.