Lead in Artificial Turf
Back in May I noted this ABC News report on the dangers of artificial turf. Today’s LA Times reports that California Attorney General Jerry Brown alleges in a lawsuit against top makers of green plastic playing fields that:
…three makers of artificial turf deliberately failed to disclose that their products contain lead.
It turns out that lead is used to give the green color to artificial turf. According to the article:
lead,…,has been identified by state agencies as a chemical that can cause cancer, damage to male and female reproductive systems, and birth defects in developing fetuses.
The article does indicate that excessive lead was not found in all of the artificial turf samples from the three companies.
However, it was noted that:
Although artificial turf presents little or no danger when it is new, lead levels rise to potentially harmful levels as it gets older, said Deputy Atty. Gen. Dennis A. Ragen, the state’s lead attorney on the lawsuit.
The lead in artificial turf is a serious issue as the field ages and the dust from the material comes off on children’s hands, which they then put in their mouths. Lead contaminated dust could wash off the field and into the environment. Any installation of artificial turf at the Presidio should be carefully considered in the light of this information.
–Doug Kern
Tags: artificial turf, ballfields, human health, synthetic turf, Tennessee Hollow, water quality