| Looking for black-hole funding for a cause that | | | | Hazardous Fertilizers, Pesticides and Other |
| appears, at least to them, to have no end of | | | | Chemicals on Proposed Natural Turf Field |
| issues to "explore", EHHI, a publicly funded New | | | | The director of toxicology for EHHI, David R. |
| Haven, CT based environmental research group, | | | | Brown, readily admits, in a recent article from |
| demands a moratorium on building new local | | | | TireReview.com[1], that fertilizers, pesticides and |
| artificial turf fields and gets a commitment for | | | | other chemicals are going to be used on their |
| $200,000 more in financial support, from the | | | | proposed natural turf field for Fairfield Country |
| Connecticut Attorney General's office, to continue | | | | Day School located within short distance of an |
| their studies. | | | | environmentally sensitive river & estuary, |
| Instead of funding, AG may have solution to the | | | | However, says Brown; "agricultural chemicals are |
| problem! | | | | tested, licensed and regulated. Grass turf has no |
| Creating confusion and leveraging fear in parents' | | | | surprises, whereas crumb rubber might." |
| minds for their children and heartland's well-being, | | | | Brown side-steps any mention of the dangers to |
| an impassioned environmental group surfaced this | | | | children and local watershed to exposure to the |
| summer with a mission. Their efforts have cost | | | | very toxins EHHI was chartered to remove from |
| local communities thousands of dollars in funding | | | | local schools years ago! At time of publishing, EHHI |
| and consulting fees, delays in the construction of | | | | has not yet publicly published any data comparing |
| new sport fields, raw nerves and strained | | | | the environmental and cost impact of their natural |
| relations. The net result of this group's efforts, so | | | | turf solution to that of artificial turf. One would |
| far, are inconclusive test results and an | | | | wonder if it might not show that for every |
| independent, somewhat self-serving report that | | | | "possible" toxin related to crumb rubber there isn't |
| provided no new information or answers other | | | | one, equally as difficult to approve, using |
| than "more study is needed" about the issues | | | | "regulated and approved" lawn care solutions. |
| they themselves had raised. | | | | "Regulated" Lawn Care Pesticides Found in 93% |
| Crumb Rubber Infill is the new smoking gun some | | | | of Pre-Schoolers Tested In Washington State |
| want to put a safety lock on and throw in the | | | | These known hazardous materials, regulated or |
| closet. The consensus of industry professionals | | | | not, are documented to cause humans many |
| and east coast locals appears to lean towards | | | | health challenges. Recent studies done on |
| defining a small group of citizens' grass-roots | | | | pre-schoolers in Seattle, Washington has |
| efforts as a mere "smoke screen", clouding the | | | | documented results that 93% of them showed |
| real issue of how public demands for sports field | | | | positive results for pesticides (know neurotoxins) |
| play areas in schools and parks are out-stripping | | | | in their urine samples. For further information see |
| resources available and to spite the obvious need | | | | Pesticide Education Center Site. [2] |
| of the community and interests of everyone to | | | | Neurotoxins are now recognized as a leading |
| look at alternatives to natural grass play fields, | | | | contributor to the challenges of Chronic Fatigue |
| this group wants to filibuster the decision to make | | | | Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Autism, ADD and ADHD. |
| the needed investment by building a case against | | | | These health afflictions are prevalent and difficult |
| it; in effect adding additional hidden costs to the | | | | to manage neurological distresses that more than |
| process; taxing public and private funds. | | | | 30% of American school-age children are under |
| Every published safety report; and there are | | | | chronic treatment for, today. |
| hundreds that have been done over the years; | | | | Natural Turf Advocates Yet To Disclose |
| has clearly stated that no over-whelming evidence | | | | Environmental and Cost Impact of Proposed |
| exists that would imply our health or environment | | | | Natural Turf Field |
| is at risk using artificial grass and crumb rubber | | | | Advocates of "natural turf fields" have upset one |
| infill as surface materials for play fields, lawns and | | | | school's plans, forcing them to re-engineer their |
| leisure sports venues. | | | | field design for natural grass. Alderman has not |
| For every article written about the "hazards" of | | | | yet included reported projections of what |
| the crumb rubber infill that top-dresses artificial | | | | long-term costs or environmental impact is |
| turf surfaces, providing resiliency and UV | | | | associated with their proposed natural turf solution |
| protection for the blades, there are 20 more | | | | in comparison to their concerns about crumb |
| stories proudly describing years of faithful service, | | | | rubber infilled artificial turf. |
| lowered maintenance costs & water usage, | | | | Custom grown and blended natural turf and the |
| of water districts approving endorsements for the | | | | appropriate site preparation and maintenance that |
| use of artificial turf in the form of rebates and of | | | | would be required to insure the field can handle |
| the announcements of the funding of new artificial | | | | the wear and tear it will be exposed to might |
| turf fields for public use, for hundreds of | | | | cost a pretty penny. Added expense of delays, |
| thousands of people, all over the world. See | | | | re-engineering and rising costs of fuel, labor and |
| Current Artificial Turf Rebates Index and Industry | | | | job materials will also have to be considered. |
| News and Events at ASGi. | | | | Volatile Fumes From Transportation & |
| Public Agendas - Private Funding | | | | Maintenance Vehicles Should Be Considered as |
| Without publicly disclosing plans for her "toxic-free" | | | | Part of Impact |
| maintenance regime for natural field solutions her | | | | As the amount of volatile fumes emitted from an |
| group promotes while continuing to pursue | | | | artificial turf field are one of EHHI's main points of |
| securing additional funding for further studies of | | | | concern (referred to as "out-gassing"), one would |
| the "possible hazards" of crumb rubber infill in | | | | hope that Alderman's group also insists upon using |
| artificial turf fields her group wants to stop from | | | | "hybrid or natural gas" vehicles to deliver the |
| being built seems duplicitous of Nancy Alderman, | | | | natural turf materials from the farm to the field |
| spokesperson and president of EHHI, Environment | | | | site and maintain it for the long-term, to insure |
| & Human Health, Inc.; the recipient, so far, of | | | | that the vehicles and maintenance equipment will |
| $2000 in grant monies for "studying" the possible | | | | emit the least amount of air pollutants, possible. |
| environmental and human health issues of the use | | | | Emissions from gas powered, 2 cycle engines, |
| of recycled crumb rubber infill. | | | | used for most lawn care maintenance, are major |
| The initial grant was invested in a 30 day study | | | | contributors to green house gasses; representing |
| conducted by EHHI. Their report yielded no new | | | | 8% of the air pollutants that effect global |
| evidence and merely stated the obvious, that | | | | warming. |
| there were no "smoking guns" found; with the | | | | Blumenthal Supports Alleviating the Apprehension |
| added caveat that something could have been | | | | of Parents |
| missed in their analysis and the matter would | | | | Connecticut Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal, |
| require more time and further funding for | | | | who has committed $200,000 of funding to |
| continued study. | | | | appease public requests for state support for |
| Existing Published Studies from Reputable, | | | | continued studies into the "questions of crumb |
| Recognized Sources | | | | rubber safety" raised by EHHI back in August |
| The wealth of existing studies published by globally | | | | 2007, has yet to locate public or private financial |
| known, reputable scientific and collegiate sources | | | | backing to support the "cause". |
| seems to elude EHHI researchers. A current list of | | | | On one hand Blumenthal supports the need to |
| published scientific, independent studies is located, | | | | alleviate the apprehension of parents with further |
| online at ASGi Environmental Impact Studies | | | | studies. On the other hand, a parent himself, |
| Index Pages . Artificial turf has been used | | | | Blumenthal may have the right answer at hand, |
| extensively in sports venues for over 40 years; | | | | settling the issue and saving the citizens of |
| crumbed rubber infill was added to the system in | | | | Connecticut $200,000, a lot of delays, added |
| late 1980s; this is not new science or engineering; | | | | expense and tons of missed games and fun by |
| it's a healthy, stabile, growing market with | | | | simply following his no-nonsense advice. |
| sustainable products. Crumbed rubber is also | | | | "My four children play on synthetic turf. I'm not |
| extensively used in the surfacing of natural grass | | | | panicking," says Blumenthal. "Simple measures |
| fields, to help extend their life and increase their | | | | such as washing after playing on artificial turf and |
| durability and resiliency. | | | | avoiding artificial turf when temperatures are high |
| EHHI - Okay to Use Known (but Regulated) | | | | could minimize whatever risk the rubber poses. |