LA City Council committee seeks study of possible ban on artificial turf
When a Los Angeles City Council committee approved a motion calling for a feasibility study into a potential ban on artificial grass in L.A., Kelly Shannon McNeil, associate director of the nonprofit Los Angeles Waterkeeper, saw the move as an “incredibly positive step.” The city council’s Energy and Environment Committee voted on June 28 to approve a study in order to understand the health impacts of artificial turf — a product that is widely used by schools, homeowners and many others, but which can contain synthetic chemicals known as polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. … Artificial turf is promoted as not requiring water like real grass — but artificial turf is sometimes watered to cool down the green plastic on hot, sunny days. It is being widely installed in residential yards, recreational areas and sports fields. But Los Angeles city council members Bob Blumenfield and Katy Yaroslavsky, who introduced and seconded the motion, want to know if the health impacts of artificial turf outweigh the potential benefits.