Back in April federal authorities expressed concern over artificial turf and now their suspicions have been confirmed.
Excess lead has been found in artificial turf. The
Associated Press reports:
The report from the Center for Environmental Health comes after New Jersey officials found unacceptably high lead levels in some synthetic surfaces and federal authorities recommended lead testing on fraying sports fields.
The center's tests, which it hired an independent lab to verify, went beyond sports fields. They found excessive lead in indoor/outdoor carpeting, artificial lawns and playground grass made with nylon and polyethylene, said Charles Margulis, a spokesman for the group.
The group classified the amount of lead as excessive if it exceeded 600 parts per million, which is the maximum allowable in paint. About 50 products were tested, and at least 15 were found to have high lead levels.
In one test, the lead was so accessible it could be wiped away with a cloth, according to the Oakland, California-based group that focuses on identifying toxins in everyday consumer products.
Yeah, I stick to running on pavement.
Synthetic turf is most visible in the design of professional and collegiate athletic fields, but the products have evolved dramatically in the past several years.
While that article maybe true about certain turf companies, especially decades ago, there has been advancements in technology and improvements in turf. One of them being that turf is a lot more eco-friendly now than it was ages ago. Most turf companies offer artificial turf that is lead free, non-hazardous, and does not contain any contaminants that can harm pets or families. There has been major improvements, and on-going research in the artificial turf industry.