Lead has been determined to cause cancer, damage to male and female reproductive systems, and birth defects in developing fetuses. It also gives field turf a natural green hue that makes it look like green grass.
A complaint filed in Alameda County California Superior Court alleges the three manufacturers violated California’s roposition 65 environmental law by knowingly failing to disclose that their products contain lead. A lawsuit names Beaulieu Group LLC of Georgia, Astroturf LLC of Georgia and Fieldturf USA Inc. of Florida.
Accross the country in the new $3.8 million turf at Concord-Carlisle High School’s football field tested positive for lead as did Boston’s Saunders Stadium, Lincoln Sudbury High School, and Charlestown High School.
An artificial turf field in East Harlem, N.Y., was slated for removal last month when local health officials determined it contained 500 parts per million lead.
“The bottom line is this is 2008. Why are you
making something with lead deliberately put into it?” Ragan said. “You
need to find some substitute to make the color stable.”
Does your school have artificial turf and has it been tested for lead?
Sources: LA Times , Boston.com
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Readers should know that there is a safe and environmentally-friendly alternative to the crumb rubber infill usually found in synthetic turf.
Geo is an organic infill that is comprised of coconut fiber and cork. The material is 100 percent environmentally safe, validated by lab testing, is non-toxic, and maintains a low temperature. A field infilled with this material is similar to the highest quality natural grass fields, and it enables intensive use of the field, even under bad weather conditions. Also, because it is organic, rain runoff contamination is not an issue.
The International School of Boston in Cambridge, Massachusetts is the first site in the United States to feature Geo. The ISB school nurse has reported a two-thirds decrease in sports related injuries from students playing on the field, compared to the earlier natural surface. We thought readers would want to know.
http://www.geosafeplay.com
Synthetic turf itself can be environmentally-friendly and that it is the crumb rubber infill that is hazardous.
Many homeowners especially in California opt to replace their natural grass lawns with artificial turf, relieving them of lawn care maintenance and costs.
Synthetic grass saves on water, eliminates the need for toxic fertilizers and requires no polluting mower. Lawn mowers produce more exhaust pollutes than cars due to their lack of a catalytic converter.
Synthetic turf itself can be environmentally-friendly and that it is the crumb rubber infill that is hazardous.
Many homeowners especially in California opt to replace their natural grass lawns with artificial turf, relieving them of lawn care maintenance and costs.
Synthetic grass saves on water, eliminates the need for toxic fertilizers and requires no polluting mower. Lawn mowers produce more exhaust pollutes than cars due to their lack of a catalytic converter.