Studies and news reports that expand the scope of Environment & Human Health, Inc.'s (EHHI) research reports about health and the environment. Click here for full reports at www.ehhi.org.
Artificial Turf: Exposures to Ground Up Rubber Tires on Athletic Fields and Playgrounds
NFL Legends Say Grass Playing Fields Safer than Turf The Pittsburgh Steelers are re-sodding a field that was converted to artificial turf. Dan and Art Rooney have long maintained they prefer grass at Heinz Field instead of artificial turf because they believed it to be safer for players. A new, exhaustive 10-year study of injuries throughout the NFL, slated to be released soon, concludes that most severe injuries to the knee and ankle occur on artificial turf. Click here for story.
Voters defeat turf referendum in Redding, Connecticut Voters turned down a plan to spend up to $500,000 to convert a playing field at the Redding Community Center from an undersized natural grass field into a full size artificial turf field. The vote went a referendum because of a petition from residents who opposed the field from a timing, cost and location standpoint. Click here for story.Similar voting pattwerns have been seen in Montville, NJ and Park Ridge, NJ.
Artificial turf fields pose safety issues
Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc, professor of pediatrics and director of the Children's Environmental Health Center at New York's Mount Sinai School of Medicine, outlines health risks posed by artificial turf athletic fields. Dr. Landrigan urges citizens and school boards to put off installing synthetic turf until a credible independent study has been conducted and published. Click here for more.
EHHI's Op-Ed in response to ground-up used rubber tires in toddler playgrounds Environment and Human Health Inc. (EHHI) remains remains extremely concerned about the ground-up rubber tire mulch that is being placed in our youngest children's environment––their playscapes. Some government scientists worry about the safety of using recycled tires for playgrounds. Click here for OpEd.
EHHI's Op-Ed in response to schools and towns installing artificial turf fields containing ground-up rubber tire in-fill
Environment and Human Health Inc. (EHHI) is concerned about synthetic turf fields that are being installed by schools and towns all over the United States. Many newspaper articles are reporting an increase of MRSA infections among football players playing on synthetic turf fields. According to a company website, "installation of a FieldTurf field eliminates the use of harmful pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides, while at the same time, removes over 40,000 tires from landfill sites." Because small crumbs of rubber tire are loosely spread over dyed green grass-like blades, they can be easily picked up by shoes, socks and even ears and hair. Click here for health risks.
