Archived studies and news reports that expand the scope of Environment & Human Health, Inc.'s (EHHI) research reports about health and the environment.
Artificial Turf: Exposures to Ground Up Rubber Tires on Athletic Fields and Playgrounds
Turf Wars: How Safe Are The Fields Where We Play?
Former U.S. women's national team goalkeeper and coach Amy Griffin has gathered a list of athletes who had played on crumb-rubber synthetic turf and had been diagnosed with cancer. Julie Foudy of espnW investigates the health risks related to playing on synthetic fields. Read the article here.
EHHI's Op-Ed in response to the Washington Examiner article of December 27, 2012
"Prince Georges County bill would require turf fields at all high schools"
Environment and Human Health Inc. (EHHI) remains concerned about the health effects of ground-up rubber tires that are being used both for children's playgrounds and as the in-fill on synthetic turf fields. (See news article below.) Although recycling is a good thing, certain materials should never be recycled. Click here for OpEd.
Prince Georges County bill would require turf fields at all high schools
A new bill before Prince George's County lawmakers would require all public high schools in the county to install artificial fields by the end of 2018, according to an article in the Washington Examiner. Click here for story.
NFL Says Grass Playing Fields Safer than Turf A new, exhaustive 10-year study of injuries throughout the NFL planned for release showw that most severe injuries to the knee and ankle occur on artificial turf. The Pittsburgh Steelers are re-sodding the 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. 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.
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 OpEd.
EHHI's Op-Ed in response to Kentucky's policy of collecting a dollar from every new tire sold — and then giving out grants to be used for ground-up tire uses
Environment and Human Health Inc. (EHHI) remains concerned about the health effects of ground-up rubber tires that are being used both for children's playgrounds and as the in-fill on synthetic turf fields. In some states, used tires are considered a "hazardous" waste, and in other states they are considered a "special" waste. The Kentucky Post reports that the State of Kentucky is accepting grant proposals for projects that promote the use of recycled waste tires for athletic fields, playgrounds, and other crumb rubber or mulch applications. Although recycling is a good thing, certain materials should never be recycled. Click here for OpEd.
Wood smoke is more than a nuisance–it's illegal in Elmira, New York
Wood smoke is not just a nuisance, but can be a health hazard for people with medical problems like asthma, bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In Elmira, free-standing outdoor fire pits and chimneys, whether front-loading fireplaces or ovens with a bulbous body and vertical smoke vent or chimney, are illegal if they are wood-burning. Those that are fueled by natural gas, propane or charcoal are allowed because they are smoke-free.
