Artificial turf poses lead risk, California attorney general says
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There’s more to artificial turf than meets the eye, according to California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown. The A.G. has sued several manufacturers of the ersatz grass, saying they failed to disclose lead hazards, as staffer Marc Lifsher reports.
The lawsuit, which has been joined by Los Angeles City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo and the Solano County Dist. Atty. David W. Paulson, names Beaulieu Group of Georgia, AstroTurf of Georgia and FieldTurf USA Inc. of Florida. All three companies said they were working with California officials to settle the lawsuit and stressed that their products were safe. AstroTurf, an artificial turf pioneer, said in a statement that it ‘has demonstrated its industry leadership by proactively developing new products that are below the most stringent standards for lead in consumer products.’
The turf is less dangerous when new, according to the A.G. But as it ages, it breaks down to dust that contains lead.
-- Geoffrey Mohan