Whitefoot Lane, Downham: risk of serious harms to children's health from planned football pitch
Downham GP Dr Helen Tattersfield raises concerns over potential "serious detrimental effects" of microplastics on young players' health, as well as the risks to nature.
Lewisham council and Bonus Pastor college plan to install a "third generation" (3G) artificial grass football pitch on Whitefoot Lane playing fields, next to the 15th century Green Woman Oasis and conservation areas.
Dr Tattersfield told us:
As a local GP I have a real interest in our residents' health which of course includes good access to recreation, and so support all efforts to improve accessibility to physical activity.
I believe that the motivation behind installing an "all weather" surface is well meant and intended to enable activity on more days of the year. However, in the haste to achieve this I think wider health implications are being overlooked.
There is increasing concern regarding the effect of microplastics on everyone’s health and in particular on children, and most particularly on growing boys. There is evidence that microplastics can interfere with the body’s hormones and this can have long term affects on growth and fertility.
There is also evidence that microplastics leach from these surfaces, can be breathed in as aerosols and can be absorbed through the skin following impact. All of these things are likely while playing soccer on this type of surface so there is the potential for direct harm to individuals exposed to the artificial surface.
While this evidence is in the early stages, it is likely more will accumulate with time and I would urge great caution before the decision is made to install this with potential serious detrimental effects on the health of the young people using the grounds.
The artificial surfaces also result in more injuries, grazes, sprains etc which again are particularly an issue for our youngsters, who would also be denied the exhilaration of running on natural grass, engaging with the soil and getting healthily muddy.
Desperate impact on what is effectively a conservation area
This is without even mentioning the leaching of microplastics into the water table, with the effects on the local ecosystem and wider environment which are also becoming better understood.
The planned pitch would have a desperate impact on what is effectively a conservation area, surrounded by ancient woodland and containing an ancient pond, on the creatures that live in the soil and those that feed on it whose presence we value and are an essential part of our natural environment.
Dr Helen Tattersfield has been a GP in Downham for 35 years and is currently chair of Sevenfields PCN (Primary Care Network.)
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