Last night the school board left the door open to the possibility of synthetic turf at DHS via the capital improvement project at Dunaway Field. This is despite the fact that the Joint Building Committee already determined we can’t afford it and cancelled the contract. Today we have yet another reason it should be rejected as an option ASAP.

The Intercept reports this morning that toxic Teflon "Forever Chemcials" called PFAS have been found in synthetic turf fields. 

For decades people have been focused on the toxicity of synthetic turf infill. Today we learned that the synthetic turf carpet itself is toxic.

PEER and The Ecology Center tested multiple samples of synthetic carpet backing and blades. Toxic PFAS was found in every sample tested.

Given what we know about how synthetic turf carpets are manufactured, it is likely that PFAS is in every single synthetic turf field.

These chemicals readily leach out into surrounding waters and will eventually make their way to groundwater and/or drinking water supplies.

PFAS has been associated with multiple health problems, including cancer.

Removal of PFAS from drinking water is astronomically expensive and PFAS are extremely difficult to destroy.

“Synthetic turf is now causing a risk to everyone who drinks water,” said Kyla Bennett of PEER.

In Dover, we have shut down two of our drinking water wells due to PFAS contamination. Dunaway Field sits directly near the Bellamy River and reservoir. Why would we knowingly add yet another source of PFAS contamination to our community? 

Please share the petition with Dover and NH Seacoast area residents. Tell decision makers NO TOXIC TURF! #PFASsynturf