Artificial Turf Yarn Fibers | Artificial Grass & Synthetic Lawn Industry INFO

You’d Never Know It’s A Fake

Image via Wikipedia – monofilament fibers with
superfill an alternative infill to crumb rubber

Pick any suburb, any Sunday afternoon, and the sound you’ll mostly likely hear is the irritating buzz of lawn mowers, blowers and other gardening power tools. Yesterday I watched the guy across the street use a blower to blow every leaf in front of his house over to a stretch of curb in front of his neighbor’s house–an unbelievable waste of time and energy–polluting the air with a cacophony of the most grating buzzes and whirring. Who can enjoy a quiet afternoon when every dad on the block is competing to have the most manicured lawn?

And that’s just the noise. All of our lawns should be brown. We are under severe water restrictions here in Southern California and in many other parts of the country. Don’t even get me started on the weed killer. I’ve reached the point where Astroturf is actually starting to look good. And I’m not alone.

With water emergencies and mandatory restrictions in place in southern California, Texas, Florida, Georgia and other water-starved areas, fake grass is starting to look a lot more attractive to homeowners than it once was. In fact, it’s starting to look more attractive–period. Suburbanites are increasingly opting for synthetic grass, rather than resign themselves to a dull brown lawn (although the dandelions seem to able to survive no matter what) of the real stuff.

Synthetic turf came on the scene much fanfare in the 1960s, but it wasn’t until the 1980s, when the industry introduced a vastly improved second-generation product, that it gained more widespread popularity. According to the Association of Synthetic Grass Installers, a trade association based in Sacramento, sales of artificial turf for landscapes and putting greens–a category that includes residential lawns– landscape use has grown 35% annually for the past five years. [overall market growth (which would include sports fields) has been a steady 20% per year] States where sales are highest are Georgia, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Washington, Oregon and, of course, California. Environmentalists were in favor of the water savings resulting from a lawn of artificial grass, but worried about toxic chemicals contained in it, like lead. (In April, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission looked into the possible health hazards of lead in artificial turf installed at schools, parks and stadiums across the country.) But the industry insists synthetic turf is safe and as demand for the stuff grows, the more stylish it becomes.

Manufacturers have heard consumers and are working to make artificial grass far more real looking and esthetically pleasing. They now offer complimentary colors for the natural grasses of different regions. In Southern California, for example, a lighter, Kelly green sells well; in Florida and Georgia, a dusty green-gray is popular. The grass is less shiny than what you’re used to seeing on the sports field and now there’s even a new product–called “thatch”–to help the blades stand up straighter.

Written by:

Eilene Zimmerman – Selling Science

Original post:

http://trueslant.com/eilenezimmerman/2009/08/30/youd-never-know-its-a-fake/

Get-The-Lead-Out.Org – Industry Website for Artificial Turf Grass Products that Meet or Exceed National and State Standards

Go up and visit and find companies and products that meet or exceed national and state standards for lead (Pb) in artificial grass and synthetic turf yarns and fibers:
GET-THE-LEAD-OUT.org

ASGi August 14, 2009 Artificial Turf Yarn Fibers, CPSC, Lead & Heavy Metals, Prop 65, cpsia No Comments

Calif AG Strikes Agreement To Limit Lead (Pb) in Artificial Turf Grass Yarn From Crystal Products, AstroTurf & SynLawn

Brown Creates Nation’s First Enforceable Lead Standards for Artificial Turf Grass Yarns

OAKLAND-Fighting to ensure the safety of children’s playgrounds and ball fields, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed off on an agreement requiring Georgia-based AstroTurf, LLC, [Crystal Products Co., Inc. d/b/a SYNLawn, UGTH Equipment, LLC, General Sports Venue, LLC, and Synthetic Turf Resources, LLC (“Settling Defendants”), among the Defendants named in the complaint,] to virtually eliminate lead from its artificial grass, creating the country’s first enforceable lead standards for artificial turf products.

“As schools and daycare centers replace grass with artificial turf, extreme care must be taken to minimize lead exposure,” Brown said. “This agreement is the first of its kind and will help make playgrounds and ball fields safe for our children.”

In 2008, Brown filed suit against AstroTurf, Crystal Products, and SynLawn for excessive lead levels after testing by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) found high levels in artificial turf products. Brown’s office independently tested AstroTurf and other artificial turf products and confirmed CEH’s findings. AstroTurf immediately took steps to begin reformulating its products.

Today’s consent judgment requires AstroTurf to reformulate its products so that they contain less than 100 parts per million (ppm), and to further reduce lead levels to 50 ppm by June 2010. Lab results found that some AstroTurf products contained more than 5,000 ppm lead. Lead was added to keep the colors vibrant over time. AstroTurf will be prohibited from selling any existing stock that doesn’t meet these standards.

AstroTurf will also provide a grant of $60,000 to the Public Health Trust to fund “wipe testing” of dislodgeable lead on artificial turf fields at daycare centers, schools and public playing fields in California. If the level of dislodgeable lead exceeds the specified replacement level, AstroTurf will provide replacement turf to the daycare center, school or public field at no cost.

AstroTurf will also provide a mailed warning to all customers who purchased its products in California in the past five years. The warning will (1) inform customers that the turf products contain lead; (2) explain “good maintenance practices” that can effectively reduce exposures to lead; and (3) advise the customers of the availability of the program to test and replace old turf products. AstroTurf will also establish a website to provide information to the public on lead content in its products.

The Los Angeles City Attorney and Solano County District Attorney joined Brown in the case against AstroTurf. In addition to its obligation to replace products that exceed acceptable lead levels, the company will pay $170,000 in civil penalties, grants and attorney fees.

“Today’s agreement with AstroTurf sets a strong standard for other companies who have not yet agreed to eliminate lead risks to children from turf,” said CEH Executive Director Michael Green. “Lead is a stunningly toxic chemical that has no place in playing fields for children. We applaud the Attorney General, the LA City Attorney, the Solano County DA and AstroTurf for this accord to protect California’s children.”

For More Information Please Contact Calif AG’s office at:
(916) 324-5500

Download a copy of the PROP 65 Consent Judgment HERE

ASGi August 14, 2009 ASTM, Artificial Turf Yarn Fibers, Bans of Turf, CDC Info, CPSC, Calif State, Crumb Rubber, EPA, Health & Environment, Infill Solutions, Lead & Heavy Metals, OSHA, PE & PP Yarn Fibers, PP Yarn Fibers, Parks & Rec, Prop 65, Testing, cpsia, lawsuits, standards Add new tag, Artificial Grass, Artificial Grass Association, Artificial Grass Fields, artificial grass install guide, artificial turf, Artificial Turf Georgia, artificial turf information, Artificial Turf Market, california, Field Related Info, hazards, heavy metals, Prop 65 Artificial Turf Settlement, synthetic grass, synthetic turf, Synthetic Turf Council, Testing No Comments

Concerns On Crumb Rubber Use for Synthetic Turf-Artificial Grass Fields Countered by New York State DEC Study Released May 29, 2009

To those that felt the news would be NEGATIVE …
the findings of this just released study may be a “surprise” ….

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Study Finds Crumb Rubber Turf Poses No Significant Threat To Air or Water Quality – Tests Show No Health Concerns at Synthetic Turf Fields

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Albany NY (May 29, 2009)

Led by New York State – Dept of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials and the Division of Air Resources, the state pursued a comprehensive evaluation of potential chemical releases from crumb rubber. It involved an interdisciplinary approach, drawing upon expertise in DEC’s and DOH’s other programs including water resources, remediation, laboratory, chemistry and fish and wildlife.

A new study released today (May 29, 2009) by the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Department of Health (DOH) concludes that crumb rubber material used in synthetic turf fields poses no significant environmental threat to air or water quality and poses no significant health concerns.

The study assessed the potential release of chemicals in crumb rubber to the environment. Crumb rubber, produced by grinding scrap tires, is a common “infill” material for synthetic turf fields. It provides cushioning and helps to hold the carpet down and keep synthetic grass fibers upright.

The study found:

– No significant threat from chemicals leaching into surface water and groundwater. While some chemicals can be released from crumb rubber over time, they are in small concentrations and are reduced by absorption, degradation and dilution — resulting in no significant impact on groundwater or surface water.

– Lead concentrations in crumb rubber are well below federal hazard standards for lead in soil and do not represent a significant source of lead exposure.

– Levels of chemicals in the air at synthetic turf fields do not raise a
significant health concern.

– Synthetic turf fields can have significantly higher surface
temperatures compared to nearby grass and sand fields, although factors of heat stress did not differ noticeably among surfaces. Still, the study notes that prolonged contact with hotter surfaces has the potential to create discomfort, cause thermal injury and contribute to heat-related illness.

To carry out the study, state scientists conducted lab tests on crumb rubber samples obtained from manufacturers and conducted tests at synthetic fields. They tested for leaching, exposure to acid rain and acid digestion, exposed samples to a range of temperatures to observe impacts, assessed chemical particle sizes for their potential to move through soil and air, collected soil samples at wells down-gradient from existing synthetic turf fields and measured air samples upwind and downwind of such fields. DEC will continue groundwater and surface water testing related to this issue.

Led by DEC’s Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials and the Division of Air Resources, the state pursued a comprehensive evaluation of potential chemical releases from crumb rubber. It involved an interdisciplinary approach, drawing upon expertise in DEC’s and DOH’s other programs including water resources, remediation, laboratory, chemistry and fish and wildlife.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

New York Dept of Environmental Conservation

Roy Yancey, 518-402-8000

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A copy of this report is now on file, in the ASGi Archives and
Public Download Library for our members’ and subscribers’
convenience, here:

NY_DEC_May2009_crumb_rubber_air_water_study.pdf

Never Registered? Go Here to Register for the ASGi FREE Public Download Library Pass:

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ASGi May 29, 2009 Artificial Turf Yarn Fibers, Bans of Turf, Crumb Rubber, Field Related Info, GREEN, Health & Environment, Heat, Lead & Heavy Metals, NY Legislation, NYC, Prop 65, Testing, standards Add new tag, Artificial Grass, artificial turf, crumb rubber hazards, crumb rubber infill, New York Study, synthetic grass, synthetic turf, Testing No Comments

Building Green Includes Artificial Grass Turf

Building Green in California Entering New Era

As the trend toward Building Green gains momentum, California – with its eye on harmful carbon dioxide emissions as well as recurring drought conditions and other environmental woes – remains ahead of the curve in encouraging businesses and individuals to reduce overall energy usage, which is a common measurement of green building. The state’s Green Building Regulations that go into effect on July 1 require a gradual 15% reduction in overall energy use, the equivalent of achieving the LEED® silver rating for new construction for the entire state. Construction and landscaping alternatives that are as varied as Energy Star-certified home appliances, elevators that move only when passengers are present, and artificial grass for water-saving landscaping are all part of the building green movement in California. Before California adopted its Green Building Regulations, the standard for green and sustainable buildings in California and nationwide was and still is set by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a nonprofit organization. The California Sustainability Alliance says the state’s Green Building Regulations are the most aggressive energy and environmental goals in the nation. “The good news,” the Alliance says, “is that many different types of resources and support are now available to help us achieve these ambitious goals.” Developers have gradually taken advantage of those “resources and support” to erect more green projects The first systematic study of the green building market in California – by the Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate at the University of San Diego as reported by the online edition of the San Diego Tribune – found that a growing number of developers are putting up buildings meeting stringent environmental standards, and that tenants have been willing to pay top dollar to rent space in them. A study for the American Solar Energy Society determined that under an “aggressive deployment forecast scenario” more t …

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ASGi May 13, 2009 Artificial Grass, Artificial Turf Yarn Fibers, GREEN, Grass Surface Info, GreenScapes-EPA, GreenValleyInitative, HOAs, Health & Environment, Heat, MWD - Efforts, Water Savings, WaterSense - EPA Artificial Grass, Artificial Grass Association, artificial grass turf, artificial turf, Artificial Turf Georgia, Artificial Turf Market, GREEN, green building, hazards, synthetic grass, synthetic turf, Testing, united states, Water Savings, water use, watersense, waterwise No Comments

Canadian Community Uses Artificial Turf to Dress Up Medians and Reduce Water Use

The city has installed artificial turf in the medians separating the north and south traffic on Dougall Avenue near the E.C. Row Expressway. Photograph by: Scott Webster, The Windsor Star

Windsor, Ontario, Canada:

Artificial turf has just been installed on Dougall Avenue medians; in the city of Windsor, Ontario, as part of a $1-million gateway beautification program and is considering laying down the bright green turf near other key arteries.

“We put [the artificial turf] there as an experiment just to see the reaction of everybody in the community and what we’re getting right now is rave reviews,” said city parks and facilities director Don Sadler. “Everybody loves [the artificial grass].”

The [synthetic] turf, which is soft and spongy and features individual blades of synthetic grass about an inch in length, was installed last week on a dozen centre medians on Dougall near E.C. Row Expressway.

The installation was part of an ongoing effort to spruce up the corridors leading into Windsor. Rocks have already been placed and trees planted on the embankment lining the roadway.

The surface is considerably smoother and greener than the real grass struggling to grow on the side of the road and Sadler said [the artificial grass] will look far better than the patchy scrub usually associated with roadway medians.

“Anywhere where we have centre islands that are natural grass, they end up being weed infested because you get an awful lot of salt and sand on them and the only thing that will grow is weeds,” said Sadler.

“It gets a little scruffy looking in the summertime because you get an awful lot of salt leeching into the soil and it’s hard for the natural grass to grow.”

The city is expected to save money on maintenance costs because the surface won’t have to be watered and will only have to be broomed off once or twice per year, said Sadler.

“You don’t have to cut it, that’s one good thing,” he said. “Overall, the maintenance is a lot less costly.”

Sadler said the parks department will likely seek funding in the upcoming capital budget to install [synthetic turf] in other areas of the city, notably the gateway corridors.