Calif. studying health effects of artificial turf
By Melody Gutierrez, San Francisco Chronicle
SACRAMENTO — California officials have authorized spending $2.9 million to study the health effects of using recycled tire pieces on artificial turf fields, hoping to put to rest a simmering debate over their safety.
But even as the health effects are studied, the state will dole out millions of dollars in subsidies to schools and cities so that they can install public playgrounds and fields using the materials in question.
“I think it’s irresponsible,” said Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, who authored legislation that would have stopped the grant program while the state conducted the study.
Hill’s bill was killed amid fierce lobbying from well-funded opponents in the tire recycling industry as well as labor interests. The groups spent nearly $300,000 for lobbying on Hill’s bill and other legislation during the first three months of the year, according to filings with the secretary of state.
Isn’t the ground cover at the Rec Dept playground made of ground up tires? If it is, it should probably be removed and replaced with something else.
The middle school track and field is comprised of this crap as well. On hot days it smells totally toxic. We don’t like our kids breathing in these VOCs. (volatile organic compounds)
Lets replace all the fields with grass again, because we are in a drought. No more fields. Everyone stay inside and troll on LTN all day.
We should go back to natural grass on our fields. Less injuries to those playing on them and less toxic fumes from the plastic grass sickening those who play on them.
With a reduction in watering and proper maintence a REAL grass field will outlast a plastic one many times over.
Grow grass, real grass!!!… a few native plants for borders woud be a nice touch as well.
Make these fields good looking and plant the drought resistant plants. Old Long Skiis