Study looks at lead levels in synthetic fields (1/2ページ)

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has begun investigating potential hazards from lead in some artificial turf sports fields across the country.

California State Sen. Abel Maldonado says the scrutiny of federal watchdogs could help his bill calling for a state study comparing the public health and environmental impacts of synthetic and natural turf.

"These fields are a problem," Maldonado said Wednesday, also pointing to the possible risk of infection from turf burns. "Having (the CPSC) come up with a study is huge for me."

Gil Lemmon, associate commissioner of the California Interscholastic Federation's North Coast Section, said a CPSC study could spark "huge concern. Anything that our children play on, we want to make sure it's safe for them."

Synthetic playing surfaces are increasingly popular because they are durable and easy to maintain. But two fields in New Jersey, The College of New Jersey's Lions' Stadium Field in Ewing and Frank Sinatra Park in Hoboken, were closed this week after state health regulators said they found high levels of lead in turf fiber samples.

The CPSC said Wednesday that it is "looking into the use of lead in outdoor synthetic field surfaces."