Leah Sarnoff, reporting for ABC News, has brought attention to the safety concerns surrounding synthetic turf fields. Recent studies have found that these fields may contain PFAS chemicals, which are known to pose potential health risks. While regulatory bodies like the EPA and FDA are taking steps to better understand and regulate PFAS exposure, the full extent of its impact on human health is still not entirely clear.

Despite these concerns, the synthetic turf industry continues to grow, with thousands of new installations taking place each year in the United States. Dr. Kyla Bennett, director of science policy for PEER, questions the wisdom of covering acres of land with plastic turf and allowing athletes to play on it for hours each week without full knowledge of the potential risks involved.

The widespread use of PFAS chemicals in synthetic turf blades has raised alarms as these chemicals may leach into the environment as the fields wear down or are disposed of. This could lead to contamination of soil and water sources, posing a threat to human health and the environment. As awareness grows about the health effects of PFAS chemicals, there is a growing concern about their true cost over their full lifecycle. This increased awareness may have a significant impact on the synthetic turf industry as communities and decision-makers weigh potential risks against benefits.