Artificial turf contains "per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances", a set of environmental toxins known as "PFAs" which have been shown to have adverse health effects. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), "Research is ongoing to understand the mechanisms of PFAS toxicity. The epidemiological evidence suggests associations between increases in exposure to (specific) PFAS and certain health effects"
ATSDR reported that exposure to PFAs have been linked with adverse health effects such as increased cholesterol levels, reduced antibody response to some vaccines, changes in liver enzymes, kidney and testicular cancer, pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia along with small decreases in birth weight.
According to the ATSDR, you can be exposed to PFAs by, "drinking water from PFAS-contaminated municipal sources or private wells, eating fish caught from water contaminated by PFAS (PFOS, in particular) , accidentally swallowing or breathing contaminated soil or dust, eating food (e.g., meat, dairy, and vegetables) produced near places where PFAS were used or made, eating food packaged in material that contains PFAS, accidentally swallowing residue or dust from consumer products containing PFAS such as stain resistant carpeting and water repellent clothing."
The Institute for Climate Change, Environmental Health, and Exposomics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai released their "Position Statement on the Use of Artificial Turf Surfaces" which asserted "The Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center at the Institute for Climate Change, Environmental Health, and Exposomics recommends against the installation of artificial turf playing surfaces and fields due to the uncertainties surrounding the safety of these products and the potential for dangerous heat and chemical exposures. "
Their position statement highlighted that "Children are uniquely vulnerable to harmful exposures from artificial turf surfaces because of their unique physiology and behaviors, rapidly developing organ systems, and immature detoxification mechanisms.[23] Children may be exposed to artificial turf chemicals through ingestion, inhalation, skin absorption, and open wounds or broken skin. Children and young athletes breathe faster than adults, putting them at greater risk for inhalation of chemicals that off-gas from turf fields. Small children put their hands and other objects in their mouths, increasing the risk of exposure via ingestion. In addition, youth have a higher surface area to body mass ratio, produce more body heat per unit mass, and sweat less than adults, all factors that increase susceptibility to heat injuries that have been observed on artificial turf fields.14 Vulnerability to turf chemicals persists through the teen years as the reproductive and nervous systems continue to develop beyond the first two decades of life. Lastly, children have more future years of life over which chronic diseases linked to the chemicals in turf develop."
The position statement also maintains that artificial turf materials remain on bodies, clothing, and shoes which allows chemical exposure to continue for an untold amount of time after playing on artificial surfaces.
The Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center at the Institute for Climate Change, Environmental Health, and Exposomics position statement revealed, "Chemical hazards escape from artificial turf surfaces to the environment. A number of the chemical components of artificial turf surfaces are soluble in water. When rain and snow fall on synthetic fields, these materials can leach from the surface to contaminate ground water and soil.[24] Recent studies find PFAS in wetlands adjacent to artificial turf suggesting that these chemicals may migrate from field components to contaminate the environment.[7] Runoff from turf fields also has the potential to release microplastics into the environment. Microplastic contamination is found in drinking water and wildlife throughout the globe and in human blood, lungs, and placenta.[25],[26],[27]"
Newton Creek is especially at risk due to its close proximity to the proposed turf field.
More information regarding the environmental impact of PFAs can be found in this article published on Mongabay.