The BISD Superintendent of Schools responded Thursday to an Associated Press report released on Wednesday about high lead levels found on some high school football fields.
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December 18, 2008
Dear BISD Families,
This week, many media outlets began reporting a story of high levels of lead found in the AstroPlay field turf at the Fine Arts/Athletics Complex (FAAC). Though the basis of the story is true, I want to take this opportunity to share with you additional information the media did not report.
I want to begin by assuring you that individuals who have played on the field at the FAAC are not and have not been in danger of lead poisoning.
In recent laboratory tests, the district learned a portion of the field under the main playing surface contained lead levels above those set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) based on a child ingesting soil. Unfortunately, the EPA has not established any regulations or guidelines for artificial turf, so the testing company, TraceAnalysis, Inc., had to speculate on the levels. The report said, “Ingestion of a turf field does not occur at the rate of soil ingestion …”
“Synthetic turf is, and has always been safe,” Dr. Blair Leftwich, TraceAnalysis, Inc. director, shared with BISD. “In over 40 years of EPA oversight and OSHA regulated manufacturing, there is no scientific or medical evidence that synthetic turf poses a human health or environmental risk from lead.” He also stated that with no EPA standards for synthetic turf, any conclusions on health risks are merely speculative.
Dr. David Black, forensic toxicologist with Aegis Sciences Corp., said, “a 50 pound child would have to ingest over 100 pounds of synthetic turf to be at risk of absorbing enough lead to equal the minimum threshold of elevated blood lead.”
Dr. Davis Lee, Ph.D., Executive in Residence at the Georgia, Institute of Technology School of Polymer, Textile, and Fiber Engineering, said, “If a green synthetic turf field containing lead chromate is still green, then the lead chromate is still in the yarn. If the Chrome Yellow pigment had leached out, the field would likely be blue.'
We take this matter very seriously, and the safety of our students is our number one priority. Based on the information provided to the district, we do not believe there is any current risk since the lead levels in the uppermost fibers, the portion of the field that individuals are in contact, are well within acceptable range.
“Studies to date are insufficient to make a determination of human health effects,” TraceAnalysis reported. In addition, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission said, “There is no indication that exposure to the turf could pose any harm. We are not recommending at all, communities shut down their playing fields.”
BISD will continue to monitor the turf and will be proactive in addressing any issues associated with the continued safety for our students.
Sincerely,
Dr. Stephen F. Waddell
Superintendent of Schools
