Replace Oak Bay Highschool's Planned 'Crumb Rubber" Turf with a Healthy, Non-Toxic Option
- by: Kathryn Vallance
- recipient: PAC President Jennifer Hill, Oak Bay Parks and Rec. Ray Herman, Bays United President, Howard McElderry
- Recent studies are raising health concerns for children playing sports on "crumb rubber" artificial turf.
- 11 known carcinogens, including Mercury, Lead, Benzene and Acetone are present in the pellets along with 20 known skin, eye and breathing irritants. This chemicals have been linked to Blood Cancers such as Lymphoma and Leukemia as wells as Endocrine Disruptions, Neurodevelopmental Defects and Asthma.
- 30% of crumb rubber is comprised of a substance called Carbon Black. Its Nano-particles are being referred to as the "New Asbestos" by toxicologists.
- Pediatricians and toxicologists are particularly concerned about the health risks for children playing, rolling, inhaling and ingesting dust and particles from the crumb rubber because children's bodies are smaller in continually developing and are more susceptible to the effects of toxins.
- Sweden, Norway, Italy, Los Angeles School District, New York City Parks and many American Municipalities are banning the use of crumb rubber turfs.
- There is a cost-effective, cork based, non-toxic artificial turf available that these responsible communities are putting in.
- The turf at Oak Bay High School will also be the Home Turf for Bays United Soccer Club starting Fall 2016
- We are also concerned about the impact on our water, wildlife and vegetation because the turf is to go in right beside the Multimillion-Dollar Bowker Creek Water Shed Project where run off from the field will collect.
- An estimated 6000-7000 pounds of the crumb rubber is expected to "migrate" off the field each year into our homes, our community and of course our water.
- We need to be proactive. We implore decision makers to review the implementation of the crumb rubber field. What could be more important to a community than the health of our children and the sustainability of our environment?
- For further information, please go to www.synturf.org/crumbrubber.html
