http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2014/10/10/nbc-news-looks-into-link-between-artificial-turf-and-cancer/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2014/10/09/is-there-a-link-between-artificial-turf-and-cancer-in-soccer-goalies/

Bears2thDoc;842379433 said:

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http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2014/10/10/nbc-news-looks-into-link-between-artificial-turf-and-cancer/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2014/10/09/is-there-a-link-between-artificial-turf-and-cancer-in-soccer-goalies/

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I'm all for natural grass. This site is a great resource. Also links to a study showing 40% increase in acl tears.

http://www.ehhi.org/turf/

The next area for class action lawyers, no doubt.
Maybe we will return to grass and late autumn mud bowls when there's little grass left between the 20s.

Reminds me of when semiconductor manufacturing was referred to as "clean industry".
Then they discovered that all those very nasty chemicals leaked from single tanks and got into the drinking water of some towns.
Lots of children were born in Silicon Valley with severe disabilities whose parents' houses were on well water.
Of course, the studies were "non-conclusive".

This brings to mind the controversy when former Cal Bear and New York Giant, John Tuggle, died of cancer, and there was thought to be a link with environmental conditions at the Meadowlands:

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/15/nyregion/athletes-cancers-a-coincidence-study-of-meadowlands-site-finds.html

http://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/14/sports/tuggle-s-fight-against-time.html

Hmm, I guess it doesn't seem too unreasonable that these rubber pellets are toxic in some way. They need to hook up with someone with a statistics background to determine whether these numbers are really significant.

Also, has anyone heard of FB players with issues? Goalies wear long sleeve shirts, but maybe they are breathing the stuff in at a much higher rate since they make saves on the ground. It's pretty crazy to see the clouds of pellets kicked up when a player slides, especially in slo mo.

Is it time for organic turf fill? Oh that is called grass. If there really is a link, what else can be used as the pellet material? I know there are a lot of grass purists out there, but there are a lot of places where turf really extends the season (Pacific NW included obviously). Schools and municipalities in these regions would still likely consider a less toxic version of turf for their recreational needs because it's just not as easy to have a nice grass turf like in the south.

F the drought and change it !!!!!!!!!!!

Since we are already Walking on Sunshine, there is this, also: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/11/sports/high-school-football-team-in-caro-mich-cancels-games-citing-player-safety.html?mabReward=RI%3A6&action=click&pgtype=Homepage®ion=CColumn&module=Recommendation&src=rechp&WT.nav=RecEngine

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