California Taking on Artificial Turf Companies

Sacramento, CA, Sept. 3, 2008--The California attorney general says six artificial-turf companies are breaking state law by not warning the public of exposure to dangerous amounts of lead from artificial turf, according to a story in the San Francisco Chronicle.

The suits, filed along with an environmental group, are designed to stop the sale of any new turf manufactured with lead. It contends the toxic metal gets on the hands and bodies of children and adults who play on synthetic grass found at athletic fields, public schools, parks, day care centers and residences.

Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, requires warning of exposure to an unsafe level of a chemical that can cause cancer or birth defects. Lead is a carcinogen and can cause neurological damage, says the lawsuit filed in Alameda Superior Court.

"The goal is to get the lead out of the California pipeline so it's not being sold in the state," Dennis Ragen, the deputy attorney general handling the case for the state, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

The companies have already expressed a willingness to make turf without lead, Ragen said.

The state attorney general - joined by the city attorney of Los Angeles and the district attorney of Solano County - filed against Astro Turf, the first branded distributor of synthetic grass; Beaulieu Group, which sells to Home Depot, Ace Hardware and Lowe's, and Field Turf USA, a leading manufacturer and installer of football fields.

The Center for Environmental Health, an Oakland nonprofit, sued Shaw Industries as well as Synthetic Turf International and Turf Headquarters, name-brand vendors.

In May, the center sued Beaulieu, and sent letters of intent to sue 15 other manufacturers, distributors and retailers. On Tuesday, the center also filed additional intent-to-sue letters.

According to Ragen, there have been very productive settlement negotiations with Astroturf and Beaulieu. He hasn't yet been able to talk to Field Turf, he said.

Annie Costa, executive director of the Association of Synthetic Grass Installers, said the trade group is looking forward to receiving clear direction on how to handle existing inventories, including what kinds of warnings or health advisories would be appropriate. The industry is already beginning to reformulate the products because of California's concerns, she said.

In 2007, 20 million square feet of artificial turf was installed in landscapes, lawns, putting greens, day care centers and kennels, among other locations in California; 35 million square feet were installed in sport fields, including football, lacrosse, soccer and field hockey.

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