Tuesday: School board to consider further research of artificial turf fields

As much as, of course, I care about the health and safety of our kids, spending more money on this is not just appropriate for the district. We have so many more pressing budget issues. If the study were to show it needs replacement sooner than the 8 years, the district isn't in a position to spend nearly a million dollars more on a new field. Where would that money possibly come from, not to mention the ill will it could seed in the community after we recently got Measure X passed.

I think the cost of another study should be paid for my those asking for it, not the district. Enough is enough. Put your money where your mouth is.

“SNAFU”

I'm with Steve J, To those whiny parents that are worried about their children; pay for the testing yourself. If it's found to be a problem then the board should pay for the cost of testing. Otherwise, if it's that important to you, put your money where your mouth is. Or, if you don't want to pay for it and are truly that concerned, DON'T LET YOUR CHILDREN PLAY ON THE FIELDS YOUR CONCERNED ABOUT! The rest of us aren't concerned and are tired of dealing with whiners.

Been working out on a turf field for 18 years. What a joke.

They are GREAT.

Much safer and a *lot* less injuries than grass.

What a waste of money. There are thousands of these fields all over. The EPA is already looking into it.

"Concerns have been raised by the public about the safety of recycled rubber tire crumb used in synthetic turf fields and playgrounds in the United States. We know people are concerned and players and their families want answers. Limited studies have not shown an elevated health risk from playing on fields with tire crumb, but the existing studies do not comprehensively evaluate the concerns about health risks from exposure to tire crumb. We are committed to supporting more comprehensive efforts to assess risks from tire crumb.

That’s why on February 12, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) launched a multi-agency Federal Research Action Plan on Recycled Tire Crumb Used on Playing Fields and Playgrounds to study key environmental and human health questions."

Web Link

Web Link

The State of Washington looked at this issue and found:

“As a result of our investigation, we found that the number of players … was less than expected, given rates of cancer given Washington residents of similar ages,” said Dr. Cathy Wasserman, state epidemiologist for noninfectious conditions.

This article Web Link does offer some simple steps that players can take to reduce exposure:

• Wash hands after playing on the field and before eating.

• Take off cleats, sports equipment and soiled uniforms outside or in the garage to prevent tracking crumb rubber in the house.

• Shower after play and quickly clean any cuts or scrapes to help prevent infection.

• Athletes who accidentally get crumb rubber in their mouths should not swallow it.

Given that this issue is not unique to these fields and has been throughly investigated, I agree that the parents should pay for additional studies if they feel them necessary

I cannot believe the District is taking this seriously. Oh, Oh, I have an idea. How about we spend a few hundred thousand on the following:

- health effects for riding in a diesel powered school bus
- impacts for sitting too close to a dry erase markers
- risks for contracting rare diseases from working in the school garden
- study for eliminating grapes on campus -- choking hazard.