SACRAMENTO, Calif. – On April 18, the California Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxics Materials Committee approved a measure that would ban the manufacturing and sale of artificial turf containing the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. Assembly Bill 1423 was introduced in California by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo (D-Santa Clarita) and cleared the committee.
If signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, it will go into effect one year after it becomes law.
“Young athletes who play on artificial turf are frequently exposed to harmful ‘forever chemicals,’ ” said Schiavo. “As these fields age, they give off dust containing these chemicals, which are inhaled, ingested and released into our environment and groundwater.”
“California must protect the health of our young athletes and our community, and making sure the fields of the future don’t contain these dangerous chemicals is a major step toward doing just that,” she added.
A.B. 1423 is sponsored by the Environmental Working Group.
Artificial turf has been a source of concern for scientists, athletes and parents because of the many chemicals used in its production. Tests have shown some turf contains PFAS.
“Assemblymember Schiavo’s bill is a wakeup call both for consumers who use turf in their yards, and obviously for those creating play spaces,” said Bill Allayaud, EWG’s California director of government affairs. “We should not expose ourselves and our children to the hidden dangers of PFAS, with their toxic impacts and persistence.”
PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment and they build up in our blood and organs. They are among the most persistent toxic compounds in existence.
In July 2021, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment proposed bold new limits to regulate the toxic PFAS in drinking water. And last month, the Environmental Protection Agency unveiled unprecedented new limits for six notorious PFAS in drinking water – PFOA, PFOS, GenX, PFBS, PFNA and PFHxS.
These new guidelines serve as a stark reminder of just how toxic to human health these “forever chemicals” are, even at infinitesimal levels.
Putting health at risk
PFAS have been linked to an array of serious health harms at extremely low levels of exposure.
Absorption of PFAS through skin is likely not a major route of exposure, but more research is needed. Experts are concerned about the PFAS from the turf after its disposal. The PFAS from turf may enter wastewater, posing a pollution challenge for sanitation agencies.
Some PFAS have been linked to a higher risk of harm to the immune system, such as reduced vaccine efficacy; harm to development and the reproductive system, such as reduced birth weight and impacts on fertility; increased risk of certain cancers, like breast cancer; and effects on metabolism, such as changes in cholesterol and weight gain.
California joins Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont in introducing bills to regulate PFAS in turf.
This bill would be a major step forward in protecting the health of Californians, especially children who play on artificial turf in play spaces. The bill was referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
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The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action. https://www.ewg.org
