Kate Ryan, WTOP, March 22, 2016
EXCERPTS:
Recently, a turf industry representative testified at a Maryland House committee hearing and was asked point-blank by one delegate, “Is there lead in your products?”
The executive answered, “There’s lead in a lot of things in this world.”
The delegate questioned again, and this time got the following response: “Yes, there’s lead in our products.”
That admission stuck with Montgomery County Council member Marc Elrich, who during an Education Committee meeting Monday afternoon, told his colleagues he’d be sending a letter to County Executive Ike Leggett asking that the county test the six high school fields where artificial turf has been installed. In calling for the testing, Elrich said, “I don’t think there’s anybody that debates whether lead should be in contact with children.”
Elrich also moved that the county hold off on spending $11 million to expand the construction of artificial turf fields in the school system, instead suggesting that the money be put toward other construction. The committee voted in favor.