St Outlook
MSC 3/24 Re: Item #1
From Laura Fleming
Date Tue 6/23/202612:19PM
To Gao, Beilei <[email protected]>
Cc Lyon, Jason <[email protected]>
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Re: Artificial turf installations in Pasadena
Dear City of Pasadena Municipal Services Committee:
My name is Laura Fleming. I'm a Pasadena resident in District 7.1 am the Environmental Sustainability Manager at Polytechnic School and also sen/e on the Environmental Advisory Commission.
Installing, or re-installing artificial turf in any setting is not a responsible choice for Pasadena and its residents.
I empathize with the challenges for the Parks, Recreation and Community Ser/ices Department to meet demand for playing fields. I do not, however, feel that the benefits of a few more playable days per year with artificial turf outweighs the public and environmental health risks.
Heat
• When we consider downtime due to rain, we must also evaluate downtime due to excessive heat.
When air temperatures reach 90 degrees, artificial turf temperatures are 140 -170 degrees. • Geo infill may reduce temperatures but plastic turf will always be significantly hotter than natural grass.
• In March of this year, Pasadena experienced five unplayable days due to excessive heat.
Currently Pasadena has 30 days when temperatures reach 90 degrees or higher. According to a report by UCLA scientists, by 2050 Pasadena may see an additional month of temperatures higher than 95 degrees. We must plan for the future and install surfaces that help cool our City, not create more heat islands.
Costs
When the MSC evaluates costs for artificial turf vs natural grass, please take a longer view and look at projections over a 16 or 24 year period since artificial turf has a lifespan of approximately eight years. Returning a field to natural grass may initially cost as much as a new artificial turf installation, but that is a one time expense due to the high cost of removing the existing synthetic system and installing irrigation. Once converted back to natural grass, there will be annual maintenance costs (for both surfaces), but artificial turf fields need to be replaced every 8 years for $1- $2 million or more, depending on the field size. At a time when the City is experiencing a budget deficit, artificial turf isn't a responsible fiscal choice.
Geo infill is also more expensive - for a standard 85,000 s.f. field, this will add roughly $80,000 - $130,000 for the infill alone. I do not see these increased infill costs reflected in the stated projections for artificial turf. In fact, the original artificial turf field cost was shared by the PRCS Director at a Commission meeting on December 3, 2024 (during discussion) and has not changed since then.
PFAS
And what brand of artificial turf would be sourced that does not contain PFAS? The public deserves to know what is being proposed. Brands that are now claiming to be PFAS free are also more expensive.
Recyclability
Artificial turf has not been recyclable to date. The public deserves more information about these claims of recyclability.
Pasadena has been making bold decisions to mitigate our climate impacts. Why would we install and re- install surfaces with known heat island effects and that contribute significant greenhouse gas emissions across their lifecycle through production, transport and disposal? It's time to make a responsible decision for Pasadena and reject artificial turf, developing an ordinance to ban artificial turf for residential, commercial and City-owned properties.
Sincerely,
Laura Fleming
District 7
^ Outlook
Villa Parke Turf Field — Community Member Input
From Alysa
Date Tue 6/23/20261:00PM
To Gao, Beilei <[email protected]>
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To Whom It May Concern,
My children go to school and play soccer in Pasadena, and I am concerned that Pasadena's Municipal Services Committee is being asked to replace the synthetic turf field at Villa Parke with turf instead of grass. A grass field would serve our community much better for many important reasons.
Artificial fields release microplastics which do not break down— they break up into smaller and smaller pieces that can take centuries to eliminate. These microplastics pose serious environmental and health threats to your constituents. I hope that when making this decision Pasadena's MSC will play the long game. Young people like my children are counting on you to prioritize giving the athletes who play at Villa Park a better future over the few minor inconveniences that come with grass fields.
My kids have played soccer in Pasadena for years with AYSO Region 13 (where I've also been a coach) and TFA and FCGS Clubs, and I know that playing on turf fields is very uncomfortable for them. The sun warms the plastic grass to high temperatures, heating the bottom of their cleats. After the games, their feet will be pink and raw from being scalded every time they take a step. It is not a fun experience. Their teams are always disappointed when we hear that a game will be played on an artificial grass field. The fans and parents are equally averse because of the sweltering heat on turf sidelines.
The point of an athletic facility is to serve the athletes who play there and the community; to foster a safe and fun athletic environment. By that logic, I urge you to replace Villa Parke's turf field with real grass.
I appreciate all that you do to listen to community members who are directly affected by your choices.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Alysa Nahmias-Carmichael
Concerned Resident
3^ Outlook
EAC Letter and Pasadena Beautiful on Artificial Turf
From Lauren Siegel
Date Tue 6/23/20261:05PM
To Official Records - City Clerk <[email protected]> I 2 attachments (422 KB)
Pasadena Beautiful Foundation Remarks to Recreation and Parks Commission Meeting December 3.pdf; 2024-09-10 EAC Artificial Turf Memo to Council with Figure-4.pdf;
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Please make sure the EAC letter on Artificial Turf and Pasadena Beautiful Letter are included on the MSC agenda for tonight.
Thanks,
Lauren Siegel
Lauren Siegel
MS Sustainable Development and Resource Management
Pasadena Environmental Advisory Commissioner
linkedin.com/in/siegell/
Pasadena Beautiful Foundation Remarks
to Recreation and Parks Commission -Review of Artificial Turf Issue Decembers, 2024 Meeting
Pasadena has been an aspirational City since its creation in 1886. Founded with a focus on architecture, education, the arts and a love of interesting events, Pasadena is a beautiful and multi-faceted City. We need to ensure that decisions made now to protect the assets within our City are consistent with our "history, culture and unique character" as specified in our City's Mission Statement. Our City's Vision Statement also focuses on providing "great neighborhoods and opportunities" for all.
With our historic focus on science and technology and our unique nexus to the Jet Propulsion Lab which is a global leader in evaluating environmental data, we are at the very center of a living laboratory that we need to continue to honor and appreciate. Notably, Pasadena has been a leader in the nation as recognizing the value of a Lush canopy of trees along our streets and in our parks. These beautiful living biosystems are valued, nurtured and protected. They are not a luxury. They are a necessity.
The ana lysis of the desirability of robust biosystems applies equally to the green spaces in City parks we also use as athletic fields. Notably, in times gone by, all playing fields were planted with grass.
Let us also not ignore the fact that the Rose Bowl uses only natural turf within the stadium and will never bow to economic pressure to use artificial turf. Also, Area H within Brookside Park which is also heavily used for athletic events will never be converted to artificial turf because it can't be used to park vehicles. If "environmental justice" has any meaning within the City, perhaps the location of the two parks in question should be evaluated.
Last, the California State Legislature recently passed a law allowing cities to prohibit the use of artificial turf. Though that legislation did not include regulation of artificial turf in parks, it may be just a matter of time before the obvious gap is addressed. Or the City of Pasadena could become a leader in banning artificial turf citywide.
For these reasons, Pasadena Beautiful Foundation lends its support to those who favor— and understand—the health benefits of natural turf over the artificial stuff.
For those who choose to focus solely on the dollars that will be needed to rehabilitate the fields in the parks, understand that the same analysis could be applied to the millions of dollars the City has expended over the decades to lovingly plant and maintain the thousands of City trees that cleanse our air, protect our soils from erosion and reduce air temperatures. And that is just the beginning of the graceful dance between biosystems that support our very existence, hidden underneath fields of grass and the trees we lavish with attention.
Perhaps there has never been a better time for the City of Pasadena to restate firmly and clearly that our "unique character" and our desire for "great neighborhoods" require us to act in the best interests of our environment in no uncertain terms. Restore natural turf fields to our playgrounds. Teach our children that a simple green field is a living laboratory essential for our good health and wellbeing.
Respectfully submitted,
JoanAarestad
Chair, Sustainability Committee
Pasadena Beautiful Foundation
Sara Edwards
President
Pasadena Beautiful Foundation
Memorandum
To:
From:
Date:
Re:
Pasadena City Council
Environmental Advisory Commission
September 13, 2024
Recommendations and Background on Artificial Turf in the City of Pasadena
1. Executive Summary
Plastic artificial turf (also known as "synthetic turf" or just "artificial turf"), much like lead paint, DDT, and asbestos, represents a once-promising innovation that has since raised significant concerns regarding environmental and public health and safety. Initially introduced as a low-maintenance alternative to natural grass, artificial turf was celebrated for its durability and ability to provide consistent, year-round playing surfaces, and the look of green grass without the commitment of water and fertilizers. However, as was the case with other seemingly-promising innovations, the long-term health risks and environmental impacts associated with artificial turf are now becoming unavoidably apparent.
In the case of artificial turf, the toxicity of materials used in its production, including in the infill, which is often made from shredded rubber tires, have raised alarm. Studies show that exposure to chemicals in artificial turf, including lead and other heavy metals and forever chemicals, poses risks to athletes, children, the public, and contamination of our water supply. Dangerous heat conditions arise since artificial turf gets significantly hotter than natural grass, increasing the urban heat island effect and leading to thermal burns and heat stress. Biodiversity loss and tree root suffocating derives from no organisms living under artificial turf. These concerns echo the historical pattern of substances initially embraced for their practicality, only to later reveal serious public health and environmental consequences.
For the reasons set forth below, after several months of study, research, testimony, and discussion at Commission meetings, the Environmental Advisory Commission recommends that the Pasadena City Council take the following steps relating to artificial turf in the City of Pasadena:
A. Recommendations for Residential, Commercial, and Institutional Settings:
Adopt an ordinance that would put a moratorium on new installations or replacement installations of artificial turf for landscaping in residential properties, commercial and institutional settings.
• Direct Pasadena Department of Water and Power to explore incentives and rebate programs to remove and replace artificial turf in residential, commercial and institutional settings with drought-tolerant native plants.
B. Recommendations for City-Owned Property, Including Parks and All City Landscaping:
Adopt an ordinance that would put a moratorium on new installations or replacement installations of artificial turf for City-owned property, including parks and City landscaping.
While artificial turf still exists in City-owned parks, direct the Parks and Recreation and Public Works Departments in coordination with the Public Health Department to (1) establish policies for the safe utilization of artificial turf to prevent burn injuries, heat stress, and dehydration; and (2) educate the public by conducting a series of information sessions about the environmental and public health safety concerns of artificial turf playing fields, including exposure to PFAS and extreme heat conditions.
Direct the Public hlealth Department to conduct a Health Impact Assessment (hllA) on artificial turf to study potential adverse health impacts of artificial turf both directly and due to contamination to natural resources caused by artificial turf. (An HIA isa tool designed to investigate how a proposed program, project, policy, or plan may impact health and well-being and inform decision-makers of these potential outcomes. An HIA in this context will aid the City in determining what, if any, future planning and actions should occur to mitigate health effects from existing artificial turf installations.)
2. Background - What is Artificial Turf?
Artificial turf is made of plastic, a petrochemical product designed as a substitute for natural grass. Plastics are derived from chemicals produced through the combustion of fossil fuels like oil and gas. Energy-intensive processes, including extraction, refining, and manufacturing, transform these fossil fuels into plastics, which are then used to produce both the grass-like blades and the backing materials in artificial turf installations.
There are three main components of artificial turf:
Blades: The plastic blades are made by melting nylon, polypropylene or polyethylene pellets and mixing them with other chemicals and additives to achieve desired color. The melted mixture is shaped into strands and spun into a yarn that is then sewn into a mesh material.
Backing layers: These layers are derived from various types of plastics such as polyester, polyurethane, polypropylene and latex to support the blades and provide stability and drainage.
• Infill: This granular material is spread between the blades to keep the blades upright and provide shock absorption. The most common types of infill are rubber crumb (made from shredded end-of-life automobile tires) and sand.
3. Environmental and Public Health Concerns of Artificial Turf Installations A. Dangerous Heat Conditions and Urban hHeat Islands
Turf Heats Up More than Grass: Numerous studies confirm that plastic turf gets significantly hotter than natural grass, regardless of the type of fibers or infill used. Penn State research shows surface temperatures of synthetic turf can reach 140-170°F.1 A study by Brigham Young University found synthetic turf to be 37°F hotter than asphalt and 87°F hotter than natural grass.2 Unlike artificial turf, grass cools itself and the surrounding air through water evaporation. (See Figure 2 of temperatures of artificial turf and grass at Villa Park). 1 (Abraham, 2019; Claudio, 2008; NPRA, 2019)
2 (Williams & Pulley, 2002)
Plastic Turf Increases Urban Heat Island Effect: Urban areas are already warmer than surrounding regions due to heat retention by buildings and pavement. Artificial turf contributes to this by trapping and radiating heat, creating dangerous conditions for users, and raising temperatures in surrounding neighborhoods. According to Kelly Turner of UCLA'S Heat Equity Initiative, plastic turf is one of the hottest materials, retaining heat longer than asphalt.3 (See Figure 1 of Urban Heat Island Effect at Jackie Robinson Park) Climate Change Will Make Plastic Turf Even Hotter: As global temperatures rise, Pasadena will experience more frequent days above 90°F. It is critical to address how artificial turf contributes to worsening conditions.4
B. PFAS and Microplastic Pollution
Toxic "Forever Chemicals": Plastic turf contains PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), chemicals that persist in the environment and have been linked to cancer, hormonal issues, neurotoxicity, and developmental delays in children. All artificial turf tested has contained PFAS.5 In addition, the infill, typically made of shredded tires made from end-of-life automobile tires, is extremely toxic, containing, among other substances, heavy metals and volatile organic compounds.6
Risks of Cumulative Exposure: Athletes frequently in contact with plastic turf, such as soccer players and goalies, face higher risks of exposure to PFAS through skin contact, inhalation, and ingestion.
Contamination of Water Systems: Runofffrom plastic turf fields carries PFAS into storm drains, polluting Pasadena's water supply, which could be both difficult and costly to clean up.
Estimates suggest cleanup would reach tens of billions of dollars, depending on the scale of the problem.7
Microplastic Pollution: Plastic turf blades break off over time, releasing microplastics into drainage systems and waterways. Fields using crumb rubber infill are even worse, with studies showing 85% of water samples near such fields contain microplastics.8 C. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Plastic Turf's Carbon Footprint: Greenhouse gasses are emitted from artificial turf continuously throughout its lifespan, in the extraction, storage, transportation and energy-intensive manufacturing processes, as well as off-gassing methane and ethylene while 3 httDS://innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/climate/heat-eauitv/. 4 California Healthy Places Index: Extreme Heat Edition, available at: httDs://heat.healthvDlacesindex.ora/. 5 What are the health effects of PFAS? Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, available at:
httDS://www.atsdr.cdc.aov/Dfas/health-effects/index.html; Our Current Understanding of the Human Health and Environmental Risks of PFAS, EPA, available at:
httDS;//www.eDa.aov/Dfas/our-current-understandina-human-health-and-environmental-risks-Dfas. 6 Health Impacts of Artificial Turf: Toxicity Studies, Challenges, and Future Directions, available at:
httDS://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.aov/Dmc/articles/PMC10262297/. 7 "Groundbreaking study shows unaffordable costs of PFAS cleanup from wastewater," Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, available at:
https://www.pca.state. mn.us/news-and-stories/aroundbreakina-studv-shows-unaffordable-costs-of-Dfas-cl eanup-from-wastewater.
8 (Korbol,2018).
»
in use and as it degrades. Solar radiation triggers the off-gassing from artificial turf and it continues long after dark.9 Methane is 80% more powerful at trapping heat than C02 and a significant contributor to global warming.
Life Cycle Emissions: A recent study10 found one artificial turf field emits 527 tons of C02 equivalents over its life cycle.
D. Carbon Absorption and Biodiversity Loss
Loss of Carbon Sink: Plastic turf installations eliminate natural spaces that would otherwise absorb carbon, hindering Pasadena's climate goals.
Biodiversity Loss: Plastic turf kills soil microorganisms and displaces habitats for pollinators and wildlife, worsening the biodiversity crisis. Nothing can thrive in plastic grass.
Harm to Trees: Plastic turf covering the ground near tree roots suffocates the soil, depriving trees of essential nutrients. Preserving Pasadena's tree canopy is critical for climate mitigation.
E. Public Safety and Injuries
Thermal Burns: Playing on plastic turf in high heat can cause first-degree burns at 1 18°F and second-degree burns at 131 °F. Hot artificial turf can melt shoes, blister skin, and cause dehydration or heatstroke.
Plastic "Turf Burns": Friction injuries from sliding on plastic turf are common and can lead to bacterial infections like MRSA. Artificial turf causes a two-to-threefold increase in skin abrasions compared to natural grass.11
Increased Injury Rates: NCAA football players are nearly three times more likely to suffer ligament tears on artificial turf than grass. NFL players also experience a 16% increase in lower extremity injuries on artificial turf.12
F. Lack of Recvclabilitv
Plastic Waste: At the end of its life, plastic turf becomes non-recyclable plastic waste, emitting methane in landfills. A typical 80,000 sq. ft. plastic turf field contains 40,000 pounds of plastic.13 G. Water Use and Maintenance Costs
High Water Usage: Artificial turf is often touted as a water-saving alternative to grass. However, in hot climates like ours, water is regularly required to cool the surface of artificial turf, which can 9 "Synthetic turf wilt contribute to greenhouse gas problems" MV Times, available at:
httDS://www.mvtimes.com/2019/02/20/svnthetic-turf-will-contribute-areenhouse-aas-Droblems/. 10 "Analysis of energy use and emissions of greenhouse gasses, metals and organic substances from construction materials used for artificial turf" available at:
httDS://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/Dii/S0921344917300861 11 (California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 2010). 12 American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2019, available at: httos://Dubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.aov/30995074/. 13 (Beyond Plastics, 2024).
reach 140-170'F. Water is also regularly required to remove pollution, bodily fluids, animal waste and bacteria from the surface of artificial turf. Given these factors, the water usage for artificial turf can easily match or exceed that needed to maintain natural grass.14 Replacement Costs: Plastic turf must be replaced every 8-12 years, with replacement costs ranging from $300,000 to $650,000 for football or soccer fields.15 hi. Environmental Justice
Pasadena's Environmental Justice Element requires fair treatment for all residents in implementing environmental policies. Artificial turf fields in Robinson Park and Villa Parke create urban heat islands in neighborhoods where some of Pasadena's most disadvantaged residents live, raising utility bills and worsening health conditions for low-income communities.
4. Other Municipalities Adoptinq Similar Ordinances
The cities of Millbrae and San Marino have already begun establishing moratoriums for new artificial turf installations. Other California cities and counties such as Los Angeles, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara County are considering artificial turf bans.
5. Conclusion
Based on the significant environmental and public health concerns we have outlined related to artificial turf installations, the EAC firmly believes that keeping this substance in our city is not a responsible choice for Pasadena. The Commission believes that allowing new installations or re-installations of artificial turf is not in alignment with the City of Pasadena's Climate Action Plan and makes it more difficult for the City to achieve its goals for climate change mitigation, adaptation and readiness.
We urge the City Council to act, adopting the recommendations we have put forward: Placing a moratorium on new and replacement installations of artificial turf for residential, commercial, institutional, and City-owned properties, conducting a Health Impact Assessment of artificial turf and establishing safe utilization policies for park field usage while the product still exists within the City of Pasadena.
14 httDS://www.turi,ora/oublications/artificial-turf/.
15 httDS://SDortsvenuecalculator.com/knowledae/artificial-turf-field/turf-field-reDlacement-and-recvclina/.
Figure 1. Villa Parke Temperatures on Artificial Turf vs Grass on September 2nd, 2024 '**['
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Figure 2 (Safe Healthy Playing Fields Memo to EAC, August 2024) hleat Island over Robinson and Villa Parks synthetic turf fields extending over surrounding areas:
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