(BOSTON 7/21/2025) — This week, the Senate Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight voted to advance S.2187 – An Act prohibiting state and municipal contracts for the purchase and installation of artificial turf fields, introduced by Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore. The bill, which was reported favorably the same week as its hearing, would stop any state agency, municipality, or organization using public funds from purchasing or installing artificial turf containing “intentionally-added PFAS,” toxic chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, and other serious health conditions.
PFAS, or Polyfluoroalkyl substances, is a class designation that includes nearly 10,000 chemicals used to make everyday items fireproof, waterproof, or non-stick. These chemicals have become ubiquitous in products ranging from cookware to children’s toys to turf fields despite posing dangerous health risks. Even at low levels, the toxicity of PFAS chemicals can be devastating, increasing the risk of cancer, immunosuppression, birth defects, colitis, and other diseases. Compounding these dangers is the persistent nature of PFAS chemicals, known as “forever chemicals” for their resistance to breaking down in the environment.
“Artificial turf has long been attractive as a lower-maintenance and safer alternative to grass fields for sports and recreation, but recent studies have shown that many of the most popular types of plastic turf contain carcinogenic PFAS chemicals. When these toxic chemicals leach into the ground over time, they contaminate water sources, poison our ecosystems, and harm the bodies of the people who unknowingly play on these fields,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “This bill recognizes government's role in protecting public health by stopping your tax dollars from being used to purchase and install artificial turf that we know pose a threat to our communities’ well-being. I’m thrilled that the Committee has voted to advance my bill, and I look forward to continuing this important conversation as we progress through the legislative process.”
Earlier this year, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment conducted a multi-agency research initiative examining sport players’ chemical exposure on synthetic turf fields using crumb rubber infill. This study concluded that there was no difference in exposure to certain chemicals, metals, or air emissions among players on crumb rubber filled synthetic turf than a traditional grass field. While this study provided creditable evidence that recycled rubber for turf fields are fine for public health, the study found the presence of PFAS “forever chemicals” in the blades of the synthetic grass. Specifically, the study “...completed a non-targeted chemical analysis of the crumb rubber and did not detect PFAS. The suspected source of PFAS chemicals is not crumb rubber infill or air, the focus of this study, but the artificial turf blades.”
Turf fields are mainly used for youth or school recreational activities, such as organized sports, community events, fitness classes, collegiate sports, and more. Yet, many who utilize these fields to better their health or gather with their community are unaware of the dangers presented in the artificial turf blades. Several municipalities in Massachusetts, including the City of Boston, have already taken steps to ban or restrict the use of artificial turf to promote public health and sustainability practices. S.2187 would align our state law with the values of several local governments in the Commonwealth as well as provide the optimal solution to combat PFAS exposure for vulnerable populations.
While the bill bans the use of public funds on the purchase and installation of artificial turf fields containing intentionally-added PFAS, it allows schools, cities, and towns who have already purchased and installed turf fields to continue to use them until the end of their useful life. Fields would then have to be replaced with compliant turf or with standard grass.
This bill is the latest in a series of PFAS-related legislation championed by Senator Michael Moore. Just last year, Massachusetts made history by becoming the first state to enforce a PFAS ban in firefighting equipment to protect the health and long-term wellbeing of our first responders – an initiative led by Senator Moore in partnership with the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts and activist Dianne Cotter. Moore continues his campaign to protect Bay Staters’ health with bills banning the use of PFAS in food packaging and creating a PFAS research and public safety fund.
Having been advanced by the Senate Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, the bill now moves forward to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means for further review.
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