The Environmental Protection Agency acknowledges that more studies of crumb rubber need to be done, and has retracted an earlier assurance that crumb rubber turf is safe. Both the EPA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, however, recommend and promote rubber mulch.
Here is the video link to the NBC Nightly News Investigation Report.
http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nightly-news/are-recycled-tires-used-in-playgrounds-a-health-risk--366304835835
Brian Williams reported that towns all across the country want to remove their artificial turf. Here in Mt. Lebanon, our defiant commissioners and staff are turfing on!
9 comments:
What do you think these commissioners do when stories like this come on the national and local news (Channel 11 is doing a follow up tonight)?
Actually, let's play a game...here is my guess at each of their reactions:
#1 quickly changes the channel so as to be able to say he/she has never heard of anything negative on artificial turf
#2 covers their ears with earmuffs and their hands and sings at the top of their lungs "LA LA LA LA LA LA".
#3 says under his breath inaudibly, "the EPA says it is ok, the EPA says it is ok, the EPA says it is ok"
#4 leans forwarded intently listening to new developments
#5 throws pen at TV with a loud audible sigh at the same time saying, "It's not true. It can't be validated. It is only harmful to aquatic life"
Unfortunately, the joke is on the children and families of Mt. Lebanon.
Hey commission, there is a reason you can't throw toxic tires into the regular dump! I mean, tires are TOO TOXIC FOR A GARBAGE DUMP! And you want our townships toddlers to go out there and breathe it all in.
How many parents will have this information when they go to sign up little Billy or Jane for soccer or whatever sport. Brumfield or the other idiot lawyer involved in this mess won't tell them. You can bet it won't be the "community magazine". I'll also bet that anyone attempting to hand out anti-turf material during the sign up period will be approached by the police and sent away. The schools won't help. Any geeks out there? How can you use social media to do this?
All that is needed is for two rational commissioners to join Kelly and step back for more dialogue on this topic.
John and Steve, you are smart guys. You are in business, so you understand the concepts of risk and the concept of sunk costs. Just because you made decisions yesterday doesn't mean you can't change your mind and position in the face of new facts and information. Just consider your legacy alternatives - you can stick to your decision and be part of something that has every indication of turning out very, very badly, or you can reconsider this, justly weigh the alternatives, risk and downside, and step up to say let's reconsider this decision. I'm guessing you'll be in much better favor and not have to duck the future public outrage if you choose the latter.
Please do the right thing and stop this while you have the opportunity. I just drove by today and this project could still be redirected to a better and safer alternative. I'd have no issue with my tax dollars going to change orders and cancellation costs to avoid a future of risk to our children.
10:35
In case you haven't noticed, John and Steve don't give a damn. They will change their minds when pigs fly because they are narrowminded.
Didn't Commissioner Linfante say that Commissioner Fraasch's attempt to remove the playground rubber mulch and rubber steps was 'just political'.
Another harmful ingredient in the infill which you don't hear much about is the crystalline silica sand. There will be 2 lbs. per square feet of silica sand mixed in with the crumb rubber which at roughly 110,000 square feet of turf equates to 220,000 lbs. of silica sand (pgs. 444-445 of contract).
On page 524 of the contract it clearly states in the MSDS:
"Lung injury and cancer hazard. Do not breath dust. May cause delayed lung injury. Long term exposure can cause silicosis. Silicosis is a respiratory disease, which can result in delayed, disabling and sometimes fatal lung injury. IARC has determined that crystalline silica inhaled from occupational sources can cause cancer in humans."
An interesting article regarding silica sand and artificial turf can be found at: http://www.synturf.org/silica.html
In another MSDS on silica sand, it states:
"Chronic Exposure: Respiratory diseases may develop such as silicosis, pneumoconiosis, pulmonary fibrosis which can increase the risk of Tuberculosis. Is a known carcinogen. Can cause scarring of the skin and internal organs (Leroderma)."
On the EPA website regarding silica sand, it states:
"Crystalline silica is widely used in industry and has long been recognized as a major occupational hazard, causing disability and deaths among workers in several industries. This is a health risk assessment covering the causes and studies of crystalline silica exposure."
It is true that silica sand can be found in some everyday items, but the question is, why do we want to increase the exposure of these dangerous elements to young developing children when the choice to use natural grass which would cost less in the long run was available?
Nick M.
We are really stretching our dollars here in MtL.
So now the field is restricted to 11-18 year olds that play field sports.. but they can't all play at the same time. So basically this field is for the U16 Lacrosse team starring Brumfield as the assistant coach.
9:57 PM, regarding the commission's reaction to this report, you nailed it. You also very succinctly summed this up in one sentence. "Tires are too toxic for a garbage dump." Thank you!
10:01, there is a Facebook page dedicated to this issue. Mt. Lebo Residents Against Child-Health Risks of Artificial Turf It is excellent! Pass the word.
10:35 PM, most of the commissioners are smart, but only one is rational. For some reason, this issue defies all logic. I too, wish they would do the right thing. "Recede and reseed."
10:58 PM, you are correct. Commissioner Fraasch asked for a minimal amount of money from unassigned funds to remediate the playgrounds, and was stopped by Ms. Linfante. It was removed from the list.
Nick at 11:19 PM, thank you for your comment concerning silica. Commissioner Fraasch also raised this point during a Commission Discussion Session, but was ignored by fellow commissioners.
"why do we want to increase the exposure of these dangerous elements to young developing children when the choice to use natural grass which would cost less in the long run was available?" That is the million dollar question.
12:13 AM, there are discussions about naming rights for Middle/Wildcat Fields. Let's cut to the chase and call it Brum Field.
Elaine
No Elaine, let's call it DUMBFIELD !
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