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TOXIC TURF Newton is planning to spend millions of dollars to install artificial turf. The projects include replacing two old fields at Newton South High School (summer 2023), one at Newton North High School (summer 2024) and another at Albemarle in spite of the growing evidence about multiple health and safety hazards and environmental contamination. There is also evidence of false and misleading claims about the benefits of artificial turf and the likelihood that new and anticipated regulatory standards will burden the City with significant fiscal liabilities in the near future. (8/31/23)
LESSONS LEARNED Admittedly, it is painful to threaten the illusion of safety in a school or community, to question the integrity or qualifications of public officials, and to talk about illness, pain, death and loss. The survivors of the 1937 Texas School Explosion (see below), silenced by guilt, regrets and grief, did not talk about their painful losses for more than forty years. Their stories show us that it is even more painful to live with a tragedy when warnings about safety are ignored and opportunities to prevent harm, pain and loss are wasted.
I hope it isn’t too late for Newton to see the wisdom of making responsible prudent decisions for Newton. Let your City Councilor know that you want Newton to make the smart choice for safe sustainable grass fields for Newton.
A Cautionary Tale. Warnings Ignored.
March 18, 1937 New London, Texas. Eighty-six years ago a gas explosion killed 300 people, mostly students, while they were in the supposed safe haven of a new state-of-the-art public school. It was considered by many to be the richest rural school district in the nation. No expense had been spared except when it came to safety.
NOT AN ACCIDENT. The tragedy of the 1937 Texas School Explosion is a cautionary tale that dramatically shows the result of ignored warnings, false economies, and willful blindness. The explosion was not an accident. It was the result of school and community officials deliberately ignoring safety warnings and taking avoidable risks with their own and other people’s children.
WARNINGS IGNORED. The school board ignored the architects' warnings that the building was not designed to vent gas and substituted 72 gas heaters for the boiler and steam system. Then, the school board decided to hook-up to a free residue gas line while school and oil company officials agreed to look the other way. Thirteen minutes before school dismissal a shop teacher in a basement class flipped a switch creating a spark that caused the explosion.
IRRESPONSIBLE DECISIONS. The irresponsible decision-making that led to the 1937 explosion is the same type of decision-making happening today where Newton and sister communities are installing artificial turf. And, as with cigarettes, pesticides, plastic and fossil fuels, there is a clear pattern of corporate deception, lobbying against science-based safety regulations, and profiteering at the expense of public health and public budgets.
Abbreviations
Abbreviations
https://pfasproject.com/pfas-sites-and-community-resources/
https://pfasproject.com/pfas-sites-and-community-resources/
μg/kg microgram(s) per kilogram. Equivalent to parts per billion, this is the standard measure for PFAS concentrations in solids
AFFF aqueous film forming foam. Used to fight Class B fires, contains PFAS and is often the source of contamination at military bases, airports, and other fire/spill sites
MCL maximum contaminant level. The highest concentration of a chemical allowed in public drinking water systems
ng/L nanogram(s) per liter. Equivalent to parts per trillion (ppt); this is the standard measure for PFAS concentrations in water
ppb parts per billion Equivalent to microgram(s) per kilogram; this is equal to 1,000 parts per trillion
ppt parts per trillion. Equivalent to nanogram(s) per liter
PFAS per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Class of over 9,000 highly persistent and toxic substances used in many industrial processes and consumer products
PFOA perfluorooctanoic acid. One of the legacy long-chain contaminants in the class of PFAS, also known as C8
PFOS perfluorooctane sulfonic acid. One of the legacy long-chain contaminants in the class of PFAS, first used as the main ingredient in Scotchguard
WWTP wastewater treatment plant. Installations to remove contaminants from waste and sewage streams, though typically not effective at filtering PFAS
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