The Synthetic Turf Council (STC), representing the U.S. synthetic turf industry, has launched a public outreach and education campaign to offer some clarity and context by reason of recent community concerns…

… such as those raised by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services when lead was found in the surfacing of two fields in New Jersey, causing to close three playing fields in recent weeks. In this respect the STC explains: “Based on the facts, chemical science, and research that is readily available, we believe the synthetic turf fields identified in New Jersey, and similar fields made with nylon fibers, are safe to use and pose no known risk to an individual`s health or the environment”.

The Council argues with the fact that the pigment used to color the nylon fiber contains lead chromate which is a highly insoluble compound with extremely low bioavailability – what implies that it is very difficult for the compound to be absorbed within the body. There is no known evidence that this poses any health risk.
Elemental analysis testing have been conducted recently by the City of Newark using EPA approved protocols on turf fibers from one of the fields identified in the New Jersey report. Both tests concluded that no leaching of heavy metals occurs. In other words – the lead chromate can´t escape the nylon within which it is contained. In addition the City of Newark ordered an air monitoring test which showed no detectable levels of airborne lead or lead chromate.
But it´s important to point out that the evaluation of the New Jersey fields were conducted by using EPA residential soil safety standards which doesn´t take into consideration the extremely low bioavailability of compounds that are bound and encapsulated in plastics such as synthetic turf. It´s critically important to refer to the aspect that the New Jersey Department report itself acknowledges there is “a very low risk of exposure” to the users of the fields in question.

Also in Vancouver there were mentioned concerns about lead - with regard to installing artificial turf fields. The lead issue was quickly resolved when it was understood that the synthetic turf in Vancouver was made with polyethylene. However, the issue of crumb rubber emissions – and the potential health risks – still has broad attention.

The STC´s informational campaign is – according to the Atlanta-based Council - part of its corporate and community responsibility to offer some clarity and context to community concerns, but to not only promote health and safety, but also to act as an industry that relies on science, technology and research as well as it insists on testing and factual data. These standards have enabled the industry to develop cutting edge products that provide safe and environmental absolutely correct facilities.
As part of its campaign the STC has published “Commonly Asked Questions About Synthetic Turf” in which it addresses environmental concerns about crumb rubber use in synthetic turf as well as concerns about lead and other claims of toxicity in the turf.

Literary source: ScrapTireNews - May 2008, p. 5, 14.

See also www.scraptirenews.com and www.syntheticturfcouncil.org