“When you extrude plastic, it’s like a cookie cutter,” explained @gfpeaslee , a professor of nuclear physics at @NotreDame who has spent the last five years studying PFAS compounds. https://twitter.com/yourturnoutgear/status/1343634060292349952

Without the PFAS, the rigid plastic used to make the turf durable clogged up the extruding machines that make the turf. “So they added fluorochemicals and now it runs through the extruders just fine.” While other chemicals can also ease the turf-making process,

“the fluorinated ones work the best,” said Peaslee, who likened the PFAS in turf to “chemical hitchhikers” that are left over from the processing rather than used as ingredients.