lead? in AstroTurf?
Jul. 30th, 2008 11:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
walkitoutAre you _serious_? It's there for "color stabilization". _That's_ a worthy cause. Supposedly, newer fields have less lead in them. Do _you_ feel encouraged?
The CPSC has decided that this is A-OK and poses no risk to children, which as far as I'm concerned, is just further evidence that CPSC has sold itself so many times it long ago lost track.
It gets better: "cadmium, zinc and benzene" in the tire crumbs used to cushion the field.
Further investigations from other agencies to follow later in the year. Sensibly, at least some of these will look at a wide range of possibly dangerous chemicals, and look into the possibility that someone might not only inhale stuff out-gassing in the sun, but also face plant and therefore ingest, or fall and abrade and get some in through a cut in the skin. There are also water runoff concerns.
Very NY-centric coverage here:
http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-liturf0731,0,4643528.story
The CPSC has decided that this is A-OK and poses no risk to children, which as far as I'm concerned, is just further evidence that CPSC has sold itself so many times it long ago lost track.
It gets better: "cadmium, zinc and benzene" in the tire crumbs used to cushion the field.
Further investigations from other agencies to follow later in the year. Sensibly, at least some of these will look at a wide range of possibly dangerous chemicals, and look into the possibility that someone might not only inhale stuff out-gassing in the sun, but also face plant and therefore ingest, or fall and abrade and get some in through a cut in the skin. There are also water runoff concerns.
Very NY-centric coverage here:
http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-liturf0731,0,4643528.story
Re: come on. let the kids play.
Date: 2008-07-31 05:46 pm (UTC)When I used to go to the range a few times a month (which I don't do for a variety of reasons anymore, not least of which is all my guns are on the other side of the country), I saw a whole lot of people who didn't seem to have any awareness of the lead poisoning risks associated with indoor ranges. Whenever I brought a new friend with me to show them that, in fact, putting holes in paper was Pretty Damn Fun, I was emphatic about not eating or drinking or having food in a bag that went into the range proper. I also made sure they washed their hands and arms and face before we went out for beer after, and knew to wash their hair before going to bed, and put their clothes in the wash when they got home.
A lot of regular range-goers thought this was a little extreme. But the people who worked at the range and who had been diagnosed with lead poisoning (and I mean that seriously, not in the shot-themselves sense) and had to be treated for it thought it was quite sensible. They had strong opinions about which ranges in the area had adequate ventilation -- and which were threatening the health of their patrons and, more importantly, their employees by having inadequate ventilation.
YMMV, obviously. I'm certainly in favor of children playing.