Sunday, November 11, 2007

Health questions on turf

Excerpted from today's New Haven Register (by Abram Katz):

Every new expanse of artificial turf contains plastic grass and about 120 tons of finely chopped tires that emit a small amount of toxic, cancer-causing, mutation-triggering chemicals and metals. The layer of rubber "crumbs" makes the surface softer and more forgiving. It also gives off dozens of compounds that have not been studied or assessed for safety in the United States....

Environment & Human Health Inc. of North Haven completed a 30-page study of artificial turf in July, becoming one of the first environmental groups to address the issue. Nancy Alderman, president of EHHI, said, "People have been calling from all over the country. We’re one of the few organizations that’s done anything...."

"There’s a need for more research and study on the health hazards," Blumenthal said. Rather than review every chemical detected in crumb rubber, investigators could search for known harmful compounds, he said. "Few people anticipated that their children would stick their faces into chopped up tires, or swallow any. My four children played on synthetic turf. I’m not panicking," Blumenthal said. Simple measures, such as washing after playing on artificial turf and avoiding artificial turf when temperatures are high, could minimize whatever risk the rubber poses, he said. "The connection between tires and health effects are unexplored. It is counter-intuitive to use tires where children play. I can understand the apprehension of parents," Blumenthal said. "There seem to be serious questions here. Maybe we should find answers," he said.


Tim White
Town Council, 4th District

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

C'mon, we cementheads think it is our duty to eliminate all forms of nature throughout Cheshire

If you care about health and the environment you must be some sort of caveman

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Tim, for putting this article on the blog. Hopefully it will get many people thinking a bit more about the turf and it's possible health issues.

Anonymous said...

Relay for Life held on a field that potentially causes cancer......

Anonymous said...

Show some proof, please something.

Anonymous said...

"Show some proof, please something."

This is why AG Blumenthal has called for health studies.

The question for us now is, do we put in rubber turf not fully knowing the potential health and environmental hazards, or do we defer until there is more study?

Too bad the folks living in proximity to hazardous waste dumps didn't get the benefit of full studies before they began getting cancer.

Anonymous said...

There also should be a concern about the "run off" of water from these rubber pellets. Suppose it seeps into nearby water supplies?

Just recently on the news a group of women were tested for chemicals in their bodies. Most thought they were pretty healthy but chemicals were found in their blood samples that likely came from plastics (from water bottles and other plastic containers). There was much more in the televised report specifically naming each chemical.

This report, along with the chemicals known to be released from rubber tires, should set off alarms in all communities.

Stick with grass fields...that is if you care at all about the health of anyone using them.

Anonymous said...

If this appears on the TC agenda and Matt A proposes it or seconds it an investigation should be demanded.

Anonymous said...

How about chemicals used on the grass. There is no proof that the fields lead to any health problems.

Anonymous said...

There are no chemicals used on the grass fields now. If you were paying attention, you'd know that.

Anonymous said...

"There is no proof that the (artificial) fields lead to any health problems."

That's because there haven't been comprehensive studies, although preliminary evidence suggests longterm health hazards. That's why AG Blumenthal has called for thorough study of health risks.

Hey, Matt A, you're from the pro-environment, pro-health,and pro-children party. What's the rush? Why not wait until we know for sure?

Anonymous said...

Was this a campaign promise?

Anonymous said...

Instead of spending money on the turf field why don't we spend the money on alcohol addiction. Based on the behavior of students and parents at the home football games, the alcohol is a bigger problem.

Anonymous said...

5:26 You're right that the money could be better spent on something other than a turf field, but we have a DARE program - it doesn't seem very effective though.

Drugs and alcohol are a big problem in CHS. The administration doesn't want you to think that they are though. What I think needs to happen is the administration needs to admit the problem is there - perhaps publicly through their CPS program on channel 16. They need to reach the parents and get them involved in finding an answer or finding help for those who need it. Until they openly admit to the problem, it won't go away.

Anonymous said...

There is a huge problem in this school system with drugs, booze and other recreational drugs. The school administration refuses to admit and deal with it because they are afraid of the potential downside to admitting a problem. The real estate people and developers do not want this brought out because of obvious reasons. The parents are one of the biggest causes of the problems because they choose to be bets friends of their students instead of parents. learn how to say "no" and start demanding of yourself and your children accountability for your actions.

Anonymous said...

Responding to 6:37 above --

"The parents are one of the biggest causes of the problems because they choose to be be friends of their students instead of parents. Learn how to say "no" and start demanding of yourself and your children accountability for your actions."

As a retired teacher, I can tell you this is absolutely true, and this "parent pal" syndrome is happening everywhere.

A Columbia University study found that fully 75% of US parents are permissive, "hands off" parents. And it has nothing to do with low income or second jobs. Some of the most permissive parents are from affluent suburbs like Cheshire.

Of course, few politicians or school officials have the courage to stand up and say to parents, if you want to know why your kid is failing or in trouble, go home and look in the mirror. Voters (parents) don't want to hear that.

So all we hear are the mantras, "fix the schools, fix the teachers, spend more money on the schools." The same mentality as parents saying, "here's 50 bucks for the mall, don't bother me."

But no amount of money can fix the real problems : inadequate parenting and mal-developed children. Schools can't raise kids, only parents can.