Toxic Turf - with Barbara Laker and David Gambacorta

Two investigative reporters from the Philadelphia Inquirer talk about what they found when they looked at the chemicals in artificial turf.

This week on Green Street, Patti and Doug talk about firefighting gear that was supposed to be PFAS-free (but turned out not to be), hazardous mercury vapor emanating from school gymnasium floors, and how men, not women, are responsible for at least half of all fertility problems. Then, in an interview recorded a few years ago, reporters Barbara Laker and David Gambacorta from the Philadelphia Inquirer talk about what they discovered when they started looking at the chemicals in artificial turf fields. 

Green Street - Toxic Turf with Barbara Laker and David Gambacorta

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Links from the interview:

• PFAS in Veterans Stadium turf:https://www.fox29.com/news/investigative-report-dangerous-chemicals-pfas-veterans-stadium-turf

• Barbara Laker:https://www.inquirer.com/author/laker_barbara/

• David Gambacorta:https://www.inquirer.com/author/gambacorta_david/

• Athletes are exposed to PFAS on artificial turf fields:https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/mar/15/athletes-higher-pfas-levels-artificial-turf

Links from the news:

• Quincy, MA finds PFAS in their "PFAS-free" turnout gear: https://thequincysun.com/city-firefighters-sound-alarm-over-pfas-in-turnout-gear/

• Gym floors in schools emitting mercury vapor: https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/glen-cove-school-district-mercury-in-gym-floors/

• Men are responsible for half of all fertility problems: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/opinion/freeze-sperm-infertility-chemicals.html

What Are We Doin"? (Music and lyrics by Doug Wood)

What Are We Doin'?

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