We have two artificial turf fields in Manhasset, one at St. Mary's High School and one at Manhasset High School. We are about to get a third, the infield at the Manhasset Varsity Baseball "Field of Dreams." All these fields have been gifts to the schools, funded by generous parents and organizations interested in supporting the athletic endeavors of Manhasset's children. This is a wonderful thing--except that these artificial turf fields may be poisoning our children and our environment.

Artificial turf is comprised of plastic grass with lead in the dye that makes it green. The lead has been documented to leach from the plastic of older fields as they deteriorate with use. In response, manufacturers have lowered--but not eliminated--the amount of lead used in newer fields. We've banned lead in gasoline, in paint and in toys. Since when is any exposure to lead, even a "low" exposure, acceptable?

The fields get their cushioned playing surface from an infill made of ground-up used tires called "crumb rubber." These tires are prohibited from being disposed in landfills or oceans because they contain hazardous heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead) in addition to harmful chemicals and phthalates. All are known carcinogens.

Artificial turf makers "recycle" these tires into playing fields for our children. The "crumb rubber" absorbs heat and creates high temperatures that can significantly increase the volatility of the toxic substances present in the infill material.

Though the manufacturers claim the fields are safe, the potential health effects of exposure to these chemicals--hormone disruption, neurological impairment and cancer--can take years to manifest. Children and teens are uniquely vulnerable to these toxins because their bodies and immune systems are not fully developed. These chemicals can also leach into our community's ground water.

There have been many studies of artificial turf. Supporters interpret them as proof that turf is safe. But each study flashes major warning signals. Many caution that further testing is necessary before turf can be guaranteed as safe, especially for children. Others are severely limited in scope, unable to replicate actual field conditions. The upshot: Not one study can guarantee that children and their environment are safe from the presence of hazardous chemicals in artificial turf. Without long-term testing, how can anyone definitively claim the exposure is harmless?

"The Precautionary Principle" suggests that if an action might cause harm to the public, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause-and-effect relationships are not fully proven scientifically. Common sense dictates that we should proceed without further risk to our children's well-being.

Our Manhasset fields get heavy use. No one denies that maintenance is a challenge, particularly in bad weather. Proponents say artificial turf is more convenient and saves money. But at what cost to our children's health? More renovations are being planned. Now is the time to act!

There are safer alternatives. These include tough, pesticide-free grasses with proper drainage systems and synthetic turfs with infills made of coconut hulls and cork. There are expert consultants readily available for guidance on installation and maintenance. So let's ensure that our children and our environment are protected and ask the Manhasset Board of Education and the Manhasset school administration to require any more field renovations gifted to the school district or financed with taxpayer dollars to be completed without using toxic artificial turf.

Write: The Manhasset Board of Education and/or email: boe@manhasset.k12.ny.us or Superintendent Charles Cardillo, 200 Memorial Place, Manhasset, NY 10030. Telephone: 267-7700 email: ccardillo@manhasset.k12.ny.us

Lisa Manning Siconolfi