Sportexe President and CEO addresses questions regarding health and safety of artificial playing surfaces
To all of our existing and future customers,
As many of you may be aware, there has been a great deal of information in the press lately regarding the health and safety of artificial turf playing surfaces. This flurry of information results from the fact that New Jersey health officials found what they consider to be high lead levels in two fields that were located near a remediation site. We understand these two fields were nylon fields installed in the late 1990’s. Other newer polyethylene fields tested in the area were not found to contain high levels of lead. The New Jersey health officials are quoted in the initial articles as saying they believed the lead levels in the old nylon fields represented a “very low health risk”, but they suggested further study was warranted. As a result of this initial study, the New Jersey health official contacted the Consumer Product Safety Commission to suggest they investigate this matter further.
Not surprisingly this situation has created a tremendous amount of concern among parents, school officials and others, (including Sportexe), regarding artificial turf fields. As opposed to putting out a quick response to this issue we have chosen to gather the facts and work with our industry association to develop a clear and thorough response to these concerns. Sportexe has always been diligent regarding product safety and integrity and will continue to apply the same commitment to reaffirm the safety of our turf products. One thing I have found very refreshing so far is that the individuals who have contacted us regarding this matter are very interested in “the facts not just the buzz”. With that in mind, the following are the facts, as we know them, regarding this situation.
Background on the New Jersey Situation
In New Jersey, the concern started with an old synthetic nylon turf field in Newark located in an industrial section known as Ironbound. The field is bordered on three sides by an abandoned industrial complex of the former Tidewater Bailing Company, a facility that reclaimed and recycled various types of scrap metals. The EPA found the Tidewater property was contaminated with heavy metals. The contamination also was found in an adjacent natural grass field, after which the EPA tested the synthetic field and detected levels of lead chromate. The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services then checked 12 more fields, 10 of which were fine. When they tested fibers from two of the fields, in Ewing and Hoboken, they found the fibers had lead chromate levels in the 3400 to 4100 mg/kg range.
The state then compared these findings to the soil threshold for lead cleanup and that’s where the confusion initially began. Since the cleanup standard is 400 mg/kg, they concluded the fibers containing lead chromate were 10 times that threshold, sounding the cause for alarm. However, New Jersey’s test doesn’t compare apples to apples. The soil threshold for lead does not apply to lead chromate in synthetic turf, which is encapsulated in plastic to prevent it from being absorbed by the body, or migrating into the environment.
Science substantiates these findings. Two independent labs using EPA-approved protocol tested the ability of lead chromate to be released from turf fibers into the air or the environment. Both tests concluded that the lead chromate was contained within its plastic shell. Concerning the question whether lead chromate in synthetic turf presents a risk to humans who play on it, Dr. David Black, a toxicologist at Aegis Sciences Corporation, and Dr. Davis Lee, a chemist from the Georgia Institute of Technology, issued this joint statement on April 21, 2008 “There is no scientific evidence of a health risk for children or adults based on recent test results and current knowledge of the chemical structure of aged synthetic turf products.” Even the New Jersey DHSS report itself acknowledges, “Available evidence suggests that there are no acute health risks due to use of artificial turf fields, and risks due to chronic and repeated exposure are unlikely.”
The pigment used to color the nylon fiber in these older fields in New Jersey contains lead chromate, a component used to extend the yarn color lifespan. Lead chromate is a highly insoluble compound with extremely low bioavailability, which is diluted, extruded with resins, and microencapsulated within the nylon fiber. In fact, OSHA requires no protective measures when handling the turf fibers. Extremely low bioavailability means that even if the compound were to be ingested, it is very difficult for the compound to be absorbed within the body.
Specific Sportexe Situation
The following information is intended to answer questions about the products that you have purchased or may be considering purchasing from Sportexe.
• Sportexe provides a variety of polyethylene based products; specifically our PowerBlade®, BladeMaster®, Momentum®, OmniGrass® and OmegaTurf® products. The vast majority of the yarns in these products have been produced with non-heavy metal based products, for example the various green and white yarns. There are a few colors that were produced using low levels of lead chromate based pigments. Please contact a Sportexe representative if you have questions about the exact colors that are on your field. Again, the science indicates that no health issue exists, however we intend to be open with our disclosure.
• Going forward Sportexe will not be offering these heavy metal based color choices. We intend to substitute alternative colors based on non-heavy metal based pigments. Although we don’t believe the current products represent a health issue, we believe that it is a prudent move from a public relations concern to remove these products from our product offerings so all of us associated with these products can present them as non heavy metal based system.
• Sportexe provides a variety of nylon based products; specifically our Dieter Turf®, Hockey Turf Elite®, Hockey Turf Club®, Victory Turf® and Mega Putt® products. Again, some of the product colors were produced using trace amounts of lead based pigments that are completely encapsulated in the polymer. The science, as highlighted above indicates that this does not represent an issue. However, please contact a Sportexe representative if you require specific information about your particular field.
• At the current time we are in discussions with our nylon yarn suppliers to evaluate alternative products, for the yarns that contain trace elements of lead that can be used in these applications. Where technically and economically feasible we intend to move away from the lead based pigments for the same reasons as highlighted above. We will keep you informed as we develop additional information on this subject.
In summary, all of the evidence indicates that the existing products as produced in the past are very safe for use. Going forward we need to be concerned with and address both the public perception and the scientific facts concerning the safety of our turf products. Due to this we will discontinue the use of lead based pigments within our polyethylene product line and we are investigating the potential to do that with our nylon supplier. Although we do not see a health risk in the current products we believe that this is the best decision for all of our constituents over the long run.
In addition to this letter, we have posted a Synthetic Turf Council press release regarding a scientific evaluation of these products on our web site. We will continue to provide information to our stakeholders as it becomes available. We appreciate the trust you have placed in Sportexe in the past and it is our goal to maintain that trust by not only providing you with the best products but also the most factual and straight-forward discussion of issues and concerns that we possibly can. Please do not hesitate to contact me or anyone else in the Sportexe organization if you have further questions.
Sincerely,
Stephen P. Noe
President and CEO
Sportexe Construction Services, Inc.
Add comment April 22nd, 2008