December 8, 2025
Dear County Executive Elrich and Members of the County Council:
I am writing to you today as a constituent and neighbor, and as President of the National Center for Health Research, a nonprofit think tank incorporated in Montgomery County, Maryland in 1999. I have proudly lived in Montgomery County for more than 30 years, and during that time I have become increasingly concerned about the County’s rapid shift away from natural grass playing fields. I have repeatedly seen county officials misled by artificial turf companies and by residents or “experts” recruited to promote plastic artificial turf fields.
As you know, Montgomery County is the home of some of the most impressive scientists in the country. We should be paying attention to the most up-to-date science, which clearly shows that artificial turf should not be used to replace natural grass at any Montgomery County high schools.
Health Concerns
As president of a public health research center and a mother and grandmother, my primary concerns about artificial turf are the health risks that these playing surfaces pose to our students and community members. Whether through exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals like PFAS, microplastics from the plastic grass itself, particulate matter from the various types of infill, injuries from fields getting dangerously hard (Gmax) or hot, or the well-documented increase in limb injuries, these fields pose a health threat to all students and community members who play on them. The short-term and long-term health risks make the greater safety of well-maintained natural grass an equity issue and an ADA-compliance issue.
Microplastics from the plastic grass carpet as it deteriorates due to weather and wear are invisible in the air, but can accumulate in the players’ hearts, brains, lungs, and livers, causing serious harm.[1],[2]
Artificial turf has been found to contain PFAS and other hormone-disrupting chemicals known to increase obesity risk, contribute to early puberty, worsen asthma, and may even exacerbate attention deficit disorder.[3] PFAS are of particular concern because they enter the body and the environment as “forever chemicals,” which means that they are not metabolized and do not deteriorate, accumulating over the years.[4] Many companies claim that their products do not contain PFAS, that is based on very limited testing. There are nearly 15,000 PFAS chemicals, and some worrisome PFAS chemicals have been found in independent testing of artificial turf.[5] Additionally, even if the turf fields have PFAS concentrations below threshold levels for some testing, there are some types of PFAS that the EPA has determined have no safe level.[6] There have not been any long-term evaluations of the impact of PFAS exposure from artificial turf, which makes it impossible to draw conclusions about potential health impacts from the kinds of testing that are currently done.
The particulate matter from most types of infill also poses a threat to the lungs of people playing on these fields.[7] Particulate matter is inevitable because of the friction of cleats on artificial turf and infill; like other types of air pollution, it causes lung damage even when it is invisible to the naked eye.
In addition to chemical exposure, the extreme heat of artificial turf surfaces during a Montgomery County summer poses a health risk. Our tests show that when the air above natural grass is 80°F, artificial turf can reach 160°F or higher, causing burns and “heat poisoning.”[8]
Another concern is that artificial turf fields become dangerously hard as they age. Turf companies recommend annual Gmax testing at multiple locations on each field. A Gmax score above 200 is considered by industry to pose a death risk, and although the companies prefer not to discuss lower levels, even scores above 165 exceed what is considered comparable to a safe grass field.[9] A field that is too hard leads to a more forceful impact when one lands on the surface and may lead to increased risk of concussions. Maintaining safe levels requires regular watering and annual professional testing. When the fields get dangerously hard, they need to be replaced, which results in substantial recurring costs for the school district.
In addition, the NFL Players Association, U.S. Women’s National Team Players’ Association, and the U.S. National Soccer Team Players Association are among the unions that oppose the use of artificial turf fields due to the increased likelihood of musculoskeletal injuries to players.[10],[11]
Environmental Concerns
In addition to the health risks to school children and athletes, nearly 5,000 pounds of infill materials migrate off each synthetic turf field into the surrounding environment each year. These tons of infill migrate from the fields into grass, water, and our homes.[12] The fields also continuously shed microplastics as the plastic blades break down. These materials may contain additives such as PAHs, flame retardants, and UV inhibitors, which can be toxic to marine and aquatic life.[13],[14] Microplastics are known to migrate into the oceans, the food chain, and drinking water, and they can absorb and concentrate other toxins from the environment. On the other hand, natural grass and soil protect groundwater quality; biodegrade polluting chemicals and bacteria; reduce surface water runoff; abate noise; and reduce glare.[15]
Disposal presents further challenges. As documented in the University of Massachusetts TURI Playground Surfacing Report, the majority of artificial turf materials ultimately end up in landfills.[16] Adhesives used in installation and production are not recyclable, so anything that has been covered in adhesive is not recyclable even when small components of the turf might be. For all these reasons, claims that artificial turf fields are “recyclable” are at best misleading; it is important to determine which components of artificial turf are actually recycled and where the rest of these materials end up in our county.
Financial Concerns
Despite claims that artificial turf reduces maintenance costs, the reality is the opposite. Turf fields are extremely expensive to install. They must be regularly maintained, watered, cleaned, and eventually replaced, typically every 8–10 years, at great expense. Natural grass fields, particularly organically managed ones, cost less to maintain over time and do not require costly disposal.[17]
Conclusions
Communities across the country have been misled by artificial turf sales representatives who insist these products are safe. The scientific evidence clearly shows otherwise. The only remaining question is how much exposure will harm which children—and that is not a gamble we should ever take in Montgomery County. As the home of hundreds of scientists who do not have financial ties to these products, our leaders should be seeking their unbiased advice. Our children deserve safe, sustainable athletic fields.
Artificial turf comes at the cost of our children’s health, our school district’s budget, and the long-term health of our environment. I strongly urge you to oppose the replacement of natural grass with artificial turf on all Montgomery County high school fields and to prioritize safe, organically managed natural grass instead.
Sincerely,
Diana Zuckerman, Ph.D.
President
And Montgomery County resident since 1991
References
[1] Kole PJ, Löhr AJ, Van Belleghem FGAJ, Ragas AMJ. Wear and tear of tyres: A stealthy source of microplastics in the environment. International Journal of Environmental Research Public Health. 2017;14(10):pii:E1265. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29053641/
[2] Winiarska, E., Jutel, M., & Zemelka-Wiacek, M. (2024). The potential impact of nano- and microplastics on human health: Understanding human health risks. Environmental Research, 251, 118535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.118535
[3] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/mar/15/athletes-higher-pfas-levels-artificial-turf
[4] https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pfc
[5] https://www.eenews.net/articles/our-community-has-been-deceived-turf-wars-mount-over-pfas/
[6] https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas
[7] https://www.safehealthyplayingfields.org/the-problem-with-alternative-infills
[8] https://www.safehealthyplayingfields.org/heat-levels-synthetic-turf
[9] https://sporturf.com/do-you-know-about-g-max/
[10] https://nflpa.com/posts/only-natural-grass-can-level-the-nfls-playing-field
[11] https://time.com/4140786/womens-soccer-team-turf/
[12] https://www.safehealthyplayingfields.org/environmental-hazards
[13] Kole PJ, Löhr AJ, Van Belleghem FGAJ, Ragas AMJ. Wear and tear of tyres: A stealthy source of microplastics in the environment. International Journal of Environmental Research Public Health. 2017;14(10):pii:E1265. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29053641/
[14] Oehlmann J, Schulte-Oehlmann U, Kloas W et al. A critical analysis of the biological impacts of plasticizers on wildlife. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. 2009;364:2047–2062. http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2047
[15] https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/environmental-benefits-lawns
[17] https://www.safehealthyplayingfields.org/cost-grass-vs-synthetic-turf