PFAS-coated clothes that are thrown away will often end up either incinerated or in landfill. Unless incinerated at very high temperatures (>1000oC), fluorinated polymers could release more harmful PFAS during burning. PFAS of environmental concern have also been found in landfill leachate. PFAS is found in treated waste water from industrial and domestic sources and has been found in both rivers and groundwater. Conventional drinking water processes will not remove PFAS.Small quantities of PFAS will be removed during wash and wear of products containing PFAS. This includes fluorinated polymers used on stain-resistant coatings, and non-polymers that remain on clothes after production (Lassen et al. 2015).Non-polymer PFAS can build up in blood protein of animals, and is not always removed quickly. This means that predators eating PFAS-contaminated food will have higher levels in their bloodstream, and concentrations can increase up the food chain. Studies suggest that build up of PFAS is similar to those of other Persistent Organic Pollutants such as DDT.PFAS are estimated to be settling in arctic regions at rates of tens to hundreds of kilograms per year (25-850kg per year), depending on the specific PFAS chemical in question. Certain PFAS are released as gases to the environment and are blown a long way by wind and air currents in the atmosphere,. These gas PFAS will over time degrade to more persistent chemicals like PFOS and PFOA. This may be one reason why PFAS of environmental concern have been found in remote regions such as the Arctic as well as near PFAS production sitesPFAS including PFOS and PFOA have been found in air samples around Europe. The chemicals are found in small quantities, but appear in almost all samples tested. PFAS enters the atmosphere both from factories and the air inside our homes. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17554424 Non-polymer PFAS are used in the production of fluorinated polymers. The manufacture of stain-resistant finishes generally releases these PFASs into the environment, both by air and water emissions. They are very hard to remove during water treatment. Workers in textiles factories are some of the population most exposed to these potentially harmful chemicals.
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Pitch In Pledge
Downloads

Thanks for Signing the Pledge

Whether you are a community looking for ideas on raising awareness of pitch pollution or a contractor wanting to design pitches that are better for the environment, we’ve got resources to help you reduce microplastic pollution.

You can download all our resources free of charge below.

Briefing for Councils

We have created a briefing to help local authorities and pitch owners find out more about microplastic pollution from 3G pitches and how they can help with solutions. Download our briefing to find out more.

This briefing has been created with Scottish local authorities in mind but can be used by any decision makers wanting to understand more about the issue.

Briefing for Local Authorities

Poster & Information Sheet

Encourage pitch users to brush off their boots and tackle microplastic pollution. Our posters are great for putting up next to a 3G pitch or in a changing room to raise awareness of the issues and the different ways we can all tackle microplastic pollution for pitches.

On page 1 you’ll find a ‘Brush Off You Boots‘ poster and on page 2 an information sheet, all you need to do is print and pin it up.

Pitch In Poster

Cleaner Pitch Guidelines

Our set of guidelines to stop microplastic pollution from 3G pitches has information for everyone involved in using, maintaining and building pitches, from community trusts to contractors.

Guidelines for Pitch Users
Guidelines for Pitch Designers & Procurement
Guidelines for Pitch Owners & Maintenance