Public commenter urges moratorium on artificial turf installations over PFAS, microplastics concerns

At public comment Bob Hall, speaking for keepcrockerreal.com, urged the Health Commission to support a moratorium on artificial turf installations in city parks. Hall said San Francisco Recreation and Parks plans to install 20 additional acres of artificial turf at Crocker Amazon Park and argued the Southeast sector of the city is already burdened by environmental injustice.

He cited research and statements from pediatric and exposure scientists, including work by the Mount Sinai Childrens Environmental Health Center, saying artificial turf contains PFAS and microplastics that can be ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Hall pointed to state agency findings he summarized as indicating that a synthetic turf field can shed microplastic material in large quantities annually and said that runoff carrying PFAS and microplastics could reach Bay waterways.

Commissioners responded by asking staff to check whether DPHs population-health teams had studied the local implications and by asking Parks and Recreation counterparts about planned installations. Several commissioners said the issue should be agendized for committee review so the department can present the scientific evidence and local policy implications to the commission.

No departmental policy decision was made at the meeting; commissioners requested a follow-up report and potential committee agenda item to examine the science and any city projects involving artificial turf.