Group calls for CPSC to regulate artificial turf fields

Washington – Advocacy group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility recently issued a petition (.pdf file) urging the Consumer Product Safety Commission to provide guidelines to help protect children from overheated artificial turf fields and playgrounds.

According to PEER, the artificial surfaces trap heat and regularly reach temperatures of 120-176° F. Exercising on overheated fields has been linked to heat stroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, burns and blisters, and the materials in the surface – such as shredded tires and plastic – may emit dangerous vapors, PEER claimed.

The group called on CPSC to adopt heat regulations and classify playgrounds and school sports fields as “children’s products” so they would fall under lead limits.

CPSC previously issued a fact sheet (.pdf file) on playground burns that referenced surfaces made from “dark-colored plastics and rubbers.”