The usage of artificial turf on athletic fields at schools in the Fremont Union High School District raises concern among parents and students. Community members Carrie Levin, Susan Hinton and Andrea Wald expressed worries to student organizations within FUHSD. While artificial turf has traditionally been viewed as better than natural grass in terms of water conservation and maintenance, a recent abundance of injuries and environmental concerns has prompted debates about reverting back to real grass fields. 

Artificial turf contains PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are often referred to as “forever chemicals.” According to data from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, these chemicals can be extremely harmful as they slowly seep into our bodies over time and may cause liver and prostate cancer. PFAS also contains plastics that are not recyclable, further exacerbating the issue of plastic pollution.

Although it takes around 12,000 gallons of water to cool the surface of a typical grass field, it takes significantly more water to manufacture artificial turf. This undermines the argument that artificial turf is more environmentally sustainable than natural grass. 

The heightened risk of injuries on artificial turf is another significant concern. GMAX scores measure the hardness of field surfaces as an indicator of safety. The Synthetic Turf Council recommends around a score of 165, while a score over 200 is described as “life-threatening” and a “concussion factor.” Over a four-year period, six out of 12 FUHSD turf fields exceeded the highly dangerous 200 GMAX threshold. Homestead High School’s multi-use baseball and soccer field failed for three consecutive years with scores of 217.5, 203 and 213. 

The use of artificial turf has raised concerns not just locally in the FUHSD district but nationally as well. In week one of the National Football League Jets vs. Bills game, star quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles while playing on artificial turf. With a large organization like the NFL facing pressure to switch to real grass for the safety of their players, families in FUHSD are questioning why schools should be any different when prioritizing natural grass fields over artificial turf.

This issue remains unresolved. The Prospector will be monitoring its progression and provide further coverage as it continues to unfold.