SLATE

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More information: CPSC Public Affairs, 301-504-7908

See CPSC's complete artificial turf press release at www.cpsc.gov

BACKGROUND

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff today released its evaluation (pdf) of various synthetic athletic fields. The evaluation concludes that young children are not at risk from exposure to lead in these fields.

DEMONSTRATIONS

Kids playing lacrosse

Close-up of an artificial turf field

Kids throwing a football

Kid kicking a soccer ball

View of an artificial turf field

BACKGROUND

CPSC staff evaluation showed that newer fields had no lead or generally had the lowest lead levels. Although small amounts of lead were detected on the surface of some older fields, none of these tested fields released amounts of lead that would be harmful to children.

DEMONSTRATIONS

Men test an artifical turf field

Researcher tests an artifical turf field in a laboratory

BACKGROUND

Lead is present in the pigments of some synthetic turf products to give the turf its various colors. Staff recognizes that some conditions such as age, weathering, exposure to sunlight, and wear and tear might change the amount of lead that could be released from the turf.

As turf is used during athletics or play and exposed over time to sunlight, heat and other weather conditions, the surface of the turf may start to become worn and small particles of the lead-containing synthetic grass fibers might be released. The staff considered in the evaluation that particles on a child’s hand transferred to his/her mouth would be the most likely route of exposure and determined young children would not be at risk.

DEMONSTRATIONS

Kid kicking a soccer ball

View of an artificial turf field

Kids playing lacrosse

BACKGROUND

Although this evaluation found no harmful lead levels, CPSC staff is asking that voluntary standards be developed for synthetic turf to preclude the use of lead in future products. This action is being taken proactively to address any future production of synthetic turf and to set a standard for any new entrants to the market to follow. As an overall guideline, CPSC staff recommends young children wash their hands after playing outside, especially before eating.

SOUNDBITES

Julie Vallese, Director
Office of Information and Public Affairs
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Julie Vallese: "We evaluated a variety of synthetic turf products for lead and found children are not at risk. Based on the testing we did, consumers should not be concerned about using these fields."

Dr. Joel Recht, Director
Chemistry Division
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Dr. Joel Recht: "We examined samples to determine the presence of lead and to test for hand-to-mouth exposure by simulating repeated skin contact. The synthetic turf either had no detectable lead or would not expose hands to levels of lead which would present a risk to children."

SPANISH SOUNDBITES

Arlene Flecha: "Nosotros evaluamos una variedad de productos de césped artificial para determinar si contenían plomo y determinamos que los niños no están en riesgo. Basado en nuestras pruebas, los consumidores no deben preocuparse por el uso de estos parques."

Arlene Flecha: "Nosotros examinamos muestras para determinar si contenían plomo y para evaluar la exposición al plomo cuando los niños se llevan las manos a la boca. Encontramos que el césped artificial o no contenía plomo o no expondría las manos a niveles de plomo que fueran un riesgo para los niños."

ADDITIONAL B-ROLL

Researcher tests an artifical turf field in a laboratory

Men test an artifical turf field

Kids throwing a football

End