Amy Griffin is associate head coach of the University of Washington women’s soccer team. One of her grads developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and when Amy visited her she met another ex-goalie with the same condition. A nurse in the ward said, “Don’t tell me you guys are goalkeepers. You’re the fourth goalkeeper I’ve hooked up this week.”
Amy started collecting names and was struck that goalies were more than 15 times more prevalent on the list than any other position players, with blood cancers like lymphoma and leukemia predominant. They all had something else in common – years of playing on artificial turf.
She also knew that goalkeepers spend much of practice and games diving and rolling on the turf.
Because of our past involvement with the issue, Amy came to PEER for help bringing worldwide attention to the dangers of toxic turf.
PRESS RELEASES
EPA Fumbles Artificial Turf Science
New Federal Artificial Turf Study Will Lead to More Questions
CPSC Drops Artificial Turf Playground Safety Review
Toxic Forever Chemicals Infest Artificial Turf
U.S. Product Safety Commission Stumbles on Artificial Turf
Industry in a Dither about PFAS in Synthetic Turf
Lead Limits Needed on Tire Crumb Playgrounds
Safety of Shredded Tires in Playgrounds Under Question
