Thank you for your input and work on this.From: John Bendel <jbendel@mtlebanon.org>Date: June 12, 2014 7:56:41 AM EDTTo: Charlotte StephensonCc: Stephen Feller <sfeller@mtlebanon.org>, Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>Subject: Re: Thursday evening forum - ToxicologistCharlotte,At this point, less than 12 hours from the field meeting, I do not feel there is enough time for the municipality to contact and prepare for a new speaker that you may refer for tonight's meeting. I appreciate your willingness to search for someone and I encourage you to refer names to Steve Feller. I have shared my views with the Commission and a recommendation that we bring someone in to the next Commission discussion session.
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Dear John,
So the question I would ask is whether studies have been done determining if any chemical constituents would be expected to leach out under usual outdoor conditions. I don't think this is likely, but it needs to be tested. If the turf would break up into small pieces that could be swallowed by a small child, then a legitimate question is whether any toxic chemicals might leach out and be absorbed in the acid pH of the child's stomach."
I am disheartened that you are unwilling to permit me the entire short window that I already was given to produce a credentialed and expert opinion on this issue. The audience that most likely will attend tonight's forum is the very audience that needs to hear credible feedback about this plan. Inviting an expert of caliber to a Commission meeting will have much less importance than what is necessary at tonight's forum. I made tremendous headway in a short period of time.
The Commission asked municipal staff, who have no scientific or public health background to my knowledge, to find an appropriate resource. As I understand it, Susan is a PIO, Laura works with her and Steve is our municipal manager. While they have honed their skills working in their capacities, they were not logical choices to research a speaker on this health and safety issue. Further, I don't believe that any of the Commissioners work in the public health arena as well.
John, I realize that service on the Commission is a time consuming effort and most of you are juggling day jobs. That, however, is absolutely no excuse for not serving the health and safety concerns of this community to the best of one's ability. This is one of the most important responsibilities that you are your associates have been given! The reality is that you passed this important matter off to staff unfairly given the late notice and their limited knowledge base so of course, no positive results were achieved.
That being said, since I left the Commission Chamber on Tuesday evening at 11:00 PM, I have obtained an opinion from Dr. Bernard Goldstein. He is a former Dean of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, an environmental toxicologist whose research interests have focused largely on the concept of biological markers in the field of risk assessment. He has published in the areas of blood toxicity, the formation of cancer-causing substances (free radicals) following exposure to inhalants and global issues in environmental medicine. He is a previous chair of the department of environmental and community medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School where he established the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute in addition to his service as an officer with the U.S. Public Health Service and as an administrator for research and development at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. His medical degree is from New York University. In his response to my inquiry late this morning, he wrote and I boldfaced the key points....
"Dear Ms Stephenson
Sorry not to have been responsive but am at a meeting related to the Gulf Oil spill and won't be back until next week...As I understand it, the concern is whether any of the components are able to leach out of the artificial turf or be torn up in small enough particles to be inhaled or eaten by a child. I was involved in a study of an artificial turf at Giants Stadium, but the concern ended up being due to something that had been inappropriately sprayed on to the turf rather than the turf itself which was judged to be harmless - and the turf we studied in the 1990s may well be different from the one being used in Mt Lebanon
So the question I would ask is whether studies have been done determining if any chemical constituents would be expected to leach out under usual outdoor conditions. I don't think this is likely, but it needs to be tested. If the turf would break up into small pieces that could be swallowed by a small child, then a legitimate question is whether any toxic chemicals might leach out and be absorbed in the acid pH of the child's stomach."
Additionally, in less than 24 hours I have connected with Dr. James Fabisiak, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Environmental & Occupational Health
University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public HealthHe wrote the following late this morning:
"Dear Ms. Stephenson,
I've seen your correspondence here with Dr. Goldstein regarding artificial turf. Attached I have provided a very brief synopsis of what I know about artificial turf which you may find helpful. It presents 3 research articles and 1 review article on the subject. I provided the reference, link to full text when available, abstract (with highlights I added) and my interpretation. It is clear that since artificial turf is rubber-derived in large part it will contain certain amounts of some chemicals with hazardous potential. Most notably organic hydrocarbons of great variety and metals. However, it appears that consensus is that overall systemic exposure to most to these will be very low and probably of little concern. Much is this is derived by looking at dissolution in various biological fluids like sweat or gastric juice which adds to strength to the conclusions and helps address Dr. Goldstein's point about stomach pH etc.. The one exception seems to be Lead which of course has toxic potential, especially in young children. Turf material seem to vary widely in lead content and also may reflect the use of paints or pigments in addition to the rubber itself. Modern products may be available that are certified to be low-lead or lead-free and maybe one can insist that these be used in your playground. Now you mentioned that you yourself suffer from asthma (as does my son). It is important that realize that much less work has been done in regarding the respiratory effects in these sensitive groups, so I think it prudent to at least acknowledge that potential risks in these individuals contains a little more uncertainty....I hope you find this helpful. It is far from comprehensive, but I only learned to your concerns a few hours ago. I'm sorry I cannot attend your meeting this evening (I have other plans and the notice is short)..."
I've seen your correspondence here with Dr. Goldstein regarding artificial turf. Attached I have provided a very brief synopsis of what I know about artificial turf which you may find helpful. It presents 3 research articles and 1 review article on the subject. I provided the reference, link to full text when available, abstract (with highlights I added) and my interpretation. It is clear that since artificial turf is rubber-derived in large part it will contain certain amounts of some chemicals with hazardous potential. Most notably organic hydrocarbons of great variety and metals. However, it appears that consensus is that overall systemic exposure to most to these will be very low and probably of little concern. Much is this is derived by looking at dissolution in various biological fluids like sweat or gastric juice which adds to strength to the conclusions and helps address Dr. Goldstein's point about stomach pH etc.. The one exception seems to be Lead which of course has toxic potential, especially in young children. Turf material seem to vary widely in lead content and also may reflect the use of paints or pigments in addition to the rubber itself. Modern products may be available that are certified to be low-lead or lead-free and maybe one can insist that these be used in your playground. Now you mentioned that you yourself suffer from asthma (as does my son). It is important that realize that much less work has been done in regarding the respiratory effects in these sensitive groups, so I think it prudent to at least acknowledge that potential risks in these individuals contains a little more uncertainty....I hope you find this helpful. It is far from comprehensive, but I only learned to your concerns a few hours ago. I'm sorry I cannot attend your meeting this evening (I have other plans and the notice is short)..."
I telephoned Dr. Fabisiak to clarify some points just a little while ago. He recommended sampling the product you are purchasing and having it evaluated in a laboratory for the chemical content, particularly the lead content. He mentioned having read some information last week about increased ACL injuries on artificial turf surfaces and that the products vary from supplier to supplier.
In summary, in the unfairly dictated short window of time you gave me, you now have on record two local and qualified experts who recommend laboratory testing evaluation of the product you are purchasing for our children. You simply cannot afford to ignore this recommendation. Please inform me as to your action plan so I understand that you are performing your duties responsibly.
Thank You,
Charlotte Stephenson