An investigation showing a possible link between brain cancer and artificial turf strengthened a key argument among champions for natural grass — that nature does it better. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on examinations into the deaths of six former Philadelphia Phillies, who spent much of their baseball careers playing on fake turf at Veterans Stadium, which was open from 1971 to 2003.
They played atop an artificial field made in part with so-called forever chemicals that are linked to cancer. “We don’t know what those chemicals are doing to us — what happened to exercising caution when we’re talking about human health?” Kyla Bennett, a former scientist for the Environmental Protection Agency, said to the Guardian, which also reported on the deaths. Bennett now works for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.
