Commissioner Kelly Fraasch goes through some of the hazards listed in the artificial turf MSDS sheets as well as uncovers the fact that the Zinc levels will be ABOVE state of California limits in contradiction to what Commissioner Linfante says. The "expert" in the room doesn't know how much zinc is in grass, doesn't know if flame retardants will be used and doesn't know if chemicals will be used to lessen static issues. Commissioner Silverman likens turf zinc to lozenges you might take for a cold. Really?Watch Dave Bumfield. He is the only one who doesn't follow along while Kelly Fraasch reads the warnings from the MSDS data. He has never seen anything negative concerning artificial turf because he refuses!
Link to video: http://youtu.be/DWWSNKOJpZU
Updated November 6, 2014 9:30 AM Albert Turfstein has uploaded another video. In this video, Gateway's Dan Deiseroth discusses the non-issue of runoff. He also states that the NPDES permit will be in hand by Friday, July 11, 2014.
Note: With all the revisions to stormwater management required by the DEP, the NPDES permit was finally granted on October 16, 2014. No word from the commissioners on how many millions of dollars will be added to the cost of the project for these mandatory upgrades. Thank you to all of the public commenters, or else the ACCD would have not taken this seriously. The ACCD forwarded it to the DEP for review.
Link to video: http://youtu.be/aV3SOz878YI When the video is embedded into a blog posting, the actual views are not tallied on YouTube. The number listed on YouTube is always less than the actual amount of views of any video.
Hope to see you at the protest on Saturday!
UPDATE November 7, 2014 5:49 PM Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for artificial turf mentioned above
Pretty sure flame retardants will be included in the synthetic turf given that tires are a MAJOR fire hazard.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire_fire
What is it with Linfante and wildlife.
ReplyDeleteIn the video she says something like-- regarding zinc I heard that it isn't a concern for humans but it is a concern for aquatic life.
Oh OK good, we won't give a rats behind about the environment or nature because zinc is safe for us... the fishies can fend for themselves.
Is that what she's inferring?
Let's gun down some deer and poison some aquatic life, sounds green.
Hmmmm
What I find most interesting is that no other commissioner seems to have read through those MSDS sheets just assuming that things would be fine.
ReplyDeleteWhen Kelly starts reading about cancer and silicosis and lung issues, they all sit silently.
Just after this video is clipped, Brumfield declares that this is just standard mumbo jumbo and we shouldn't worry about any of things in the MSDS sheets. Not the cancer, not the zinc, not the silica, nothing.
Earlier in the meeting (at 58:40) Dan declares that there is no storm runoff now and the turf will actually improve the situation!
Elaine What would these morons do IF we replaced our grass yards with turf? Would Mt Lebanon allow it? I'm sick and tired of cutting the grass, weeding and feeding it. What would happen if several hundred of us filed for a building permit to do such? I wonder if I could get a piece of used turf with the lines still on it? My dogs and kids wouldn't have muddy feet/paws. I would no longer have to kill myself cutting it. I could play with the kids and dogs in the rain etc. I'm sure if enough of us got together we could get a better price. Wonder if Brumfield and Linfante's neighbors would be interested? Wonder if they want to live next door to this product? Or is it only OK for those "Other" people to live next to it?
ReplyDeleteBrumfeld knows the dangers. The ambulance chaser sees dollar signs in his future.
ReplyDelete8:41 AM, I don't think Brumfield would sue himself.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder if Dave tells his clients "that this is just standard mumbo jumbo and we shouldn't worry about any of things in the MSDS sheets."
Elaine
Evidence to eventually indict, prosecute, convict and jail these elected and appointed clowns keeps building. Nice going Elaine !
ReplyDeleteIt is quite funny that the youth-indoctrinating, Save The Environment, Stop Global Warming, Give A Hoot-Don't Pollute, Plant A Tree SB, Administration and Teachers' Union are mute.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.soccerwire.com/news/a-level-of-risk-former-cdc-toxicologist-unsurprised-by-alleged-link-between-artificial-turf-cancer/
In 2007, when Dr. David R. Brown authored a report on the health hazards of tire crumbs in artificial-turf fields, a worst-case scenario crossed his mind.
ReplyDeleteCANCER for KIDS
I blogged about David Brown here.
ReplyDeleteElaine
The turf run-off comments are concerning:
ReplyDelete1. Deiseroth states that the ACCD "never usually comments" on his permit requests. This is because ACCD permits the muni to decide whether the post construction stormwater plans are adequate. So basically, ordinarily Deiseroth submits a plan that comes back to him to approve. Does anyone else have a problem with this?!? Due to MTL resident concerns, the DEP looked at this one and found loads of problems. What do all of the other PCSM plans look like in MTL? Oh wait, one wasn't submitted for the pool. So what else is being constructed...?
2. Deiseroth states that stormwater is "my expertise". So I am confused by this: Deiseroth this means that the one time DEP looks at your work, you have a 4.5 month delay on your expedited permit for the crown jewel field. What does that actually mean?
3. Deiseroth states "We were conservative" in our post construction stormwater plan. I think he is trying to say: "Don't worry, we are taking care of the water". But in reality, Gateway and the muni submitted such a bare minimum plan combined with omissions of important information regarding hazardous materials that the DEP had to provide you in feedback on how to get it to so called "acceptable". Out of a page long list of stormwater mitigation approaches, only one was adopted by Gateway. How does this reflect on the authenticity of MTL's plans for stormwater mitigation?
4. Deiseroth states that he is going to "improve things" and "there is nothing there now". But last I checked: there was grass. Beneath it? Yes, there may be the remnants of an entire pool. So I'd like to suggest that the commissioners dig up the old pool and take care of the field so that it actually "percolates" like grass does under normal conditions.
5. Deiseroth states "I'll have the permit in hand on Friday". That wasn't true, either.
https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1P2-36684186/artificial-turf-on-the-way-bids-would-be-let-on-new
ReplyDeleteHere's why people get upset with our current commissioners... their lack of credibility.
Back in February Commission President said this:
""There is not another option," said Kristen Linfante, commission president, who voted in favor of the turf along with John Bendel and David Brumfield. "We would love to have grass fields. There is simply no place to put them.""
No place to put them Commissioner?
The municipality bought two parcels of land (Twin Hills & McNeilly) for around $4 million specifically for sports fields. Both properties sit empty and unused as the taxpayers shell out more undesignated tax dollars so more sports stuff can be purchased!
If you can't even get a grasp on what land you have commissioner maybe the job is too much for you.
There are, presumably, pro-turfers that jump into the conversation and goad people saying "come on be honest, you don't want to spend money on sports!"
ReplyDeleteTo them I'd reply... yes it is about the money! But it isn't as simple as just defining turf opponents as cheap.
It is about fiscal responsibilty, as we see in the prior post, Linfante seems to think we don't have land for more fields. Then what the hell did we spend money for Twin Hills and McNeilly? Cheap, we're talking about millions of dollars!
But, many people I'll bet don't oppose turf on just one issue. They worry about kids health, the environment etc., etc.
I'll bet a lot of people have gotten involved late, because they worry about leaders stifling information, deceipt, lack of accountability and more.
What does MSDS stand for?
ReplyDelete4:17 PM, here is a link to my post about the MSDS, including the actual document from which Commissioner Fraasch is reading.
ReplyDeleteMaterial Safety Data Sheet and metal testing for artificial turf from low bidder posted
MSDS stands for Material Safety Data Sheet.
Here is a direct link to the MSDS.
MSDS From Shaw
Also, read more about the MSDS here.
Elaine
EPA Faces Court Challenge Over Solid Waste Loophole
ReplyDeletehttp://earthjustice.org/news/press/2014/epa-faces-court-challenge-over-solid-waste-loophole
The MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is posted on the Municipal website at:
ReplyDeletehttp://mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/10364
Parents are welcome to read the document before signing permission papers for their child to play turf sports.
Some of the information presented is from :
2003 Page 7 of 7 0f the 2003 report discloses, “Inhalation of silica dust may cause lung injury (silicosis). Take appropriate measures to avoid breathing dust”
2008
2009
2011
2012 The 2012 report disclosed, “Dusts may cause eye irritation. Immediately flush eyes with water for at least 15 minutes.”
“Dusts may cause skin irritations” “For skin irritation flush with large amounts of water. If irritation persists, get medical attention.”
“Inhalation. Dusts may cause respiratory irritation.” “Move person to non-contaminated air. If the affected person is not breathing, apply artificial respiration”
Parents, Mrs. Gillen has been diligent enough to bring you much later information about the safety of the tire crumb in artificial turf. CBS worked for a full month before bringing you a story about 50 cases of cancer discovered by the assistant soccer coach at Univ. of Washington - 38 of these cases were goalies.
It is the parents’ choice to sign or not sign the permission slip for students to play on turf. It is also your choice to not turn in the physical required by a Doctor.
I wish you all good luck in making your decision.
Very Respectively.
John Ewing
It was NBC, not CBS.
ReplyDelete9:26,
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, parents can make a choice.
Unfortunately, the data made available on which we may make our choice is incomplete. One MSDS sheet is for "ground rubber". It does not mention the components that comprise "ground rubber". Carbon Black is one of the particularly nasty components in this "Vulcanized rubber compound". It makes up 30 wt% of the compound and is listed in other places as a "possible carcinogen". Actual Vol% is much greater. No mention of that here. What work that has been done was not focused on children in a sports field environment (or adults in the same, for that matter!). How can parents make informed choice?
Additionally, the interest in these surfaces will undoubtedly spark supplementary research. Why should Mt Lebanon rush this through now? Why be on the cutting edge when there is such a downside? Wouldn't the prudent thing be to pause, look for solutions that mitigate any risk and then take action?
Why are these commissioners screwing with this. The whole country now knows about the link between crumb rubber and cancer and here these commissioners go moving ahead:
ReplyDeletehttp://usatodayhss.com/2014/artificial-turf-causing-health-scare-in-athletes
Boise Idaho
October 9, 2014
http://www.kvoa.com/news/can-artificial-grass-be-linked-to-cancer-/
Tucson, AZ
October 9, 2014
http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/11837028/women-soccer-stars-court-mediation-resolve-canada-world-cup-artificial-turf-suit
Womens World Cup Lawsuit Updated
November 7, 2014
http://grab-media.com/premium-videos/5344270
NBC Follow Up
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2014/08/05/city-council-votes-to-ban-synthetic-turf-artificial-grass/
City Council Votes to Ban Turf
August 5, 2014
Dallas, TX
http://www.wdtv.com/wdtv.cfm?func=view§ion=5-News&item=Possible-Link-Between-Artificial-Turf-and-Cancer-18761
Clarksburg, WV
http://www.coloradoan.com/videos/news/2014/10/13/17187377/
Local mom wonders if turf caused daughters cancer
Denver, CO
October 12, 2014
http://www.kotatv.com/news/south-dakota-news/should-your-kids-be-worried-about-playing-on-artificial-turf/29164392Ra
Rapid City, SD
October 16, 2014
A town that installs crumb rubber turf doesn't love it's children.
ReplyDelete5:38, doesn't matter. Brumfield hasn't seen anything negative about artificial turf.
ReplyDeleteI think Kelly may have been the only commissioner to read the MSDS report in the commission packet.
ReplyDeleteThe only other comments I remember from the clip of the commission discussion session was Silverman saying zinc was used to treat a cold, and Linfante asking Kelley what page she was on.