No need to rush artificial turf

Jackie Lombard Albemarle County
Published: April 30, 2008

At a recent Albemarle County School Board meeting, plans for artificial plastic turf continued.

The April 20 Washington Post story “U.S. Investigates Artificial Turf’s Lead Levels” stated that the federal government is investigating whether turf contains lead that rubs off and poses health hazards.

The investigation asks, “Are you exposed by walking on it? Is dust inhaled? Can lead transfer to another object?” Children playing on artificial turf take home tiny particles in their cleats, clothes and hair.

According to “On Playing Fields, Grass Is an Endangered Species, the New York Times, Aug. 13, 2007, Columbia Uni-versity scientists found artificial turf was up to 60 degrees hotter than grass, requiring the use of local water for cooling.

Turf surface temperatures can reach 140 degrees, and turf contained “worrisome” levels of the known carcinogen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, plus heavy metals at levels exceeding New York state standards.

As a result, New York, New Jersey, California and Connec-ticut have moratoriums on new artificial turn surfaces and may require existing fields to be torn up within a year.

Particles also mix with rainwater and may wash into the county’s water supply.

The April 19 Virginian-Pilot story “As fish die in droves in Virginia, scientists seek clues” suggests people not swim where there’s a fish kill and avoid eating fish with cancerous lesions.

Avoiding deformed fish is more difficult, such as male fish that also have female eggs. Scientists don’t know why this happens, but continue to analyze toxic chemicals found.

Should we install plastic turf that may add more chemicals to waterways?

Aside from health and environmental considerations, there are financial ones. A $975,000 donation was accepted for artificial turf at county high schools, and fundraising started.

But with budget problems and tax hikes behind us, ongoing costs of turf may now be added to the county’s budget.

Are there health issues for children? For our water supply? What do we know about plastic turf?

Not enough. We do know for sure that organic grass fields are safe and healthy places to play upon and do not add chemicals to children or the water supply.

Until we’re sure we can afford their maintenance, and most importantly until tests from the government prove artificial turf to be safe, these fields should be put on hold or we too may be faced with ripping them up later.