Artificial turf investigated for lead risk

Last update: April 18, 2008 - 9:01 PM

TRENTON, N.J. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is looking into the possible health hazards of lead in artificial turf installed at schools, parks and stadiums across the country.

Two fields in New Jersey were closed this week after state health officials detected what they said were unexpectedly high levels of lead in the synthetic turf and raised fears that athletes could swallow or inhale fibers or dust from the playing surface.

The artificial-turf industry denied its products are dangerous.

"We have a great deal of interest in any consumer product that could be used by children where children could potentially be in harm's way because of lead exposure," CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson said.

The United States has about 3,500 synthetic playing fields made of various materials, including nylon and polyethylene, and about 800 are installed each year at schools, colleges, parks and stadiums, the industry's Synthetic Turf Council said. Artificial turf use has exploded in recent years as a way to save costs and reduce water use.

Pigment containing lead chromate is used in some surfaces to make the grass green and hold its color in sunlight. But it is not clear how widely the compound is used. The New Jersey Health Department found lead in both of the nylon fields it tested, but in none of the 10 polyethylene surfaces it examined. Both nylon fields were Astro Turf brand surfaces.

Jon Pritchett, chief executive of General Sports Venue, the Raleigh, N.C.-based licensee of Astro Turf products in the United States, said the company's tests have shown a low risk of exposure to lead.

Wayzata High School installed FieldTurf in 2000. Since then, at least 16 metro high schools have installed similar turf, with six more schools set to have it in place this fall.

Mike Grant, activities director and head football coach at Eden Prairie High School, which has three turf fields made by ProGrass, said he had not heard about a connection between turf and lead before a reporter's call Friday afternoon. "That never came up in any conversation we had," Grant said, "and we did a lot of research on the fields."

Grant said he is confident Eden Prairie's fields are safe but added he wouldn't be surprised if local turf fields are tested for lead as a result of the problems in New Jersey.

ASSOCIATED PRESS, MIKE RAND

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