“Taylor Swift is a powerful voice given her popularity, and she uses her platform to raise awareness and spark change,” said Kyla Bennett, director of science policy with Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, who has advocated against plastic athletic fields being installed by multiple New England municipalities.
Bennett is particularly concerned about how turf manufacturers use PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, to make small plastic grass blades. She fears the chemicals can leach into nearby waterways. Other public health experts have advised municipalities against installing turf fields for fear that children could pick up chemicals on their hands as they play and then accidentally ingest them.