from Sunday Herald, 17 October 2010
Ageing artificial grass can become contaminated with enough lead after a few years to poison children, according to a new study by US scientists.
The study has raised fears for the health of millions of children worldwide who use synthetic lawns for sports or play, and has prompted calls for “urgent checks” in the UK.
There are thousands of football, hockey and tennis playing surfaces made from synthetic turf across the UK. According to Sport Scotland, there are 232 full-size synthetic playing pitches in Scotland.
US health researchers have discovered that after 2-4 years or more of wear and tear, some artificial grass can become contaminated with lead dust. This has led to playing fields in the US being closed down because they were regarded as hazardous.
Lead, a heavy metal, has long been recognised as a potential danger to public health, and was eliminated from petrol and paint 20 years ago. If it gets into the body, it can cause brain damage, as well as heart disease and cancer.
Safety limits have been progressively tightened over the years, with some scientists now arguing that there may be no safe level of lead exposure for children. But a lead-based pigment has been used to colour fake grass, sometimes known by the trade name, Astroturf.
The new study comes from scientists at the US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in Atlanta, Georgia, helped by health departments in New York, Las Vegas and New Jersey. It found lead levels in breach of US legal safety limits at 12 out of 29 sports fields and child care facilities with synthetic surfaces.
Researchers also tested four new artificial turf products and found that two of them exceeded the statutory lead limit. The lead was found in grass made of nylon, polyethylene and mixtures of the two.
“Synthetic turf can deteriorate to form dust containing lead at levels that may pose a risk to children,” concluded the study, published in this month’s edition of the scientific journal, Environmental Health Perspectives.
“Given elevated lead levels in turf and dust on recreational fields and in child care settings, it is imperative that a consistent, nationwide approach for sampling, assessment, and action be developed.”
The study pointed out that chromium, another toxic metal, could also be contaminating synthetic grass because it was part of the pigment along with lead. But it was likely to occur at lower levels, and it wasn’t tested for.
Professor Andrew Watterson, head of the Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group at the University of Stirling, warned there were dangers for children and adults. "The evidence now suggests that there could be significant lead contamination, with ageing and wear and tear, in some types of artificial turfs used in recreational, residential and childcare facilities in the UK,” he said.
“This merits a prudent approach from regulators, industry and consumers. There is a case for urgent checks not only on the imports of artificial turfs but on the condition of such turfs already in place.”
Watterson argued that European safety limits should be tightened to protect children at risk. “The UK should follow the US example in trying to establish methods to monitor such lead levels and reduce exposures,” he told the Sunday Herald.
"The introduction of artificial turfs promised a means to reduce pesticide and fertiliser use in the UK. However, purchasers did not expect to face potential problems with lead, and possibly chromium, pollution on their sports fields, recreational and home lawns.”
The Sports and Play Construction Association, which represents the synthetic turf industry, pointed out that there were other US studies which concluded that children were not at risk. “To date no study has linked turf exposures to elevated childhood lead blood levels,” said the association’s Dr Colin Young.
“In light of these overwhelming findings we have no concerns about the safety of synthetic turf regarding the health risks caused by lead levels for use by children or adults.”
Evergreens UK, which describes itself as “the UK’s largest stockist of artificial grass”, said it had testing information showing that its products were not dangerous.
“Metal content in artificial grass is not a problem in any of our grasses,” said the company’s spokesman, Andy Driver. “Previously there have been traces found in some manufacturers’ grasses that have been produced with inferior yarns in the US and Asia.”
Sport Scotland promised that it would examine the new study. “We are aware of the potential contamination issue, but our understanding is that the risk is fairly minimal,” said a spokesman for the government agency.
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