LOS ANGELES (CNS) — A Los Angeles City Council committee filed a motion Friday calling for a study into the feasibility of banning artificial turf, citing health and environmental concerns.
The council’s Energy and Environment Committee approved the motion, introduced by Councilman Bob Blumenfield and seconded by Councilman Katie Yaroslavsky, by a 4-0 vote on May 24. Through the study, council members are seeking to understand the health and environmental risks of substances called polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, found in artificial turf.
City Councilman Kevin De Leon, who serves on the committee, did not attend the vote.
Gov. Gavin Newsom passed SB 676, a bill that allows cities to decide whether to ban artificial turf in 2023. Now, Los Angeles elected officials are considering whether this is the right move.
The cities of Millbrae and San Marino have each enacted artificial turf bans.
Artificial turf is made by fusing rubber with certain plastics to create the appearance of lush grass. In recent years, more and more people have been installing it for environmental reasons, such as to conserve water. But according to the city councillors’ motion, that may not be the case.
In April 2024, the Biden Administration, through the Environmental Protection Agency, classified PFAS and other “forever chemicals” as hazardous to human health. The EPA concluded that exposure to PFAS may lead to reproductive effects, developmental delays, and the risk of some cancers. Exposure can occur through inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, and mucous membrane exposure, including through microplastic dust suspended on artificial turf fields.
City council members also said in their motion that runoff from the artificial turf could leach PFAS and other contaminants into groundwater or into waterways or oceans, contaminating drinking water.
“Furthermore, while the city is taking steps to combat urban heat, such as installing cool pavement and increasing urban forests, adding grass contributes to the urban heat island effect, increasing local temperatures,” the motion states. “Artificial turf does not support organisms such as insects or birds, and by robbing the soil of water, air and light, it can kill beneficial soil organisms over the years.”
Los Angeles Waterkeeper, which describes itself as “Los Angeles’ water watchdog,” released a statement saying the commission’s vote was a “big step” in the right direction to protect the region’s public health and waterways.
“The industry has worked hard to circumvent regulations, but we are finally making progress in protecting Americans from these dangerous, forever chemicals,” said Kelly Shannon McNeil, vice president of Los Angeles Waterkeeper. “Phasing out and ultimately banning the use of artificial turf is an important step in that effort and is crucial to protecting the health of our communities, wildlife and the environment.”
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