Syracuse) in New York and New Jersey have been closed recently due to concern over lead levels.
"EPA is aware of a number of studies regarding the health concerns posed by synthetic turf. But there is still considerable uncertainty over the possible exposure to hazardous substances including lead from synthetic turf," Kemery told USA Today. "EPA recommends that anyone who believes they may have been exposed to hazardous levels of lead should consult with their physician."
The EPA is likely to play a supporting role to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which said last month it would investigate artificial turf. The Synthetic Turf Council trade group estimates there are about 3,500 full-size artificial turf fields in the country and that they're being installed at a rate of 900 to 1,000 per year.
Series wraps up: The Times Herald-Record wrapped up four days of reporting on youth sports with another pair of interesting reads.
On Tuesday, a doctor told Kevin Gleason that he sees a connection between overuse injuries and the number of athletes who choose to specialize in a single sport.
Additionally, the story reported there are 125,000 NCAA athletes on full or partial scholarship but there are 7.2 million high school students playing sports; only about one in 58 athletes will get some kind of scholarship money.
Wednesday's story by Justin Rodriguez was all I had hoped for and more, delivering horror stories of out-of-control parents confronting referees or coaches. Rodriguez spoke with David Czesniuk, director of operations at Boston's Center for the Study of Sport in Society.
Today's youth sports environment is more pressurized, Czesniuk said, as parents associate specialization in one sport with scholarship money.
"Years ago, sports were about community," Czesniuk said. "Now, a lot of times, it's different. Some of these sports runs peoples lives."
Czesniuk says leagues should be enforcing codes of conduct that are signed by players, coaches and parents. Such codes spell out penalties for inappropriate behavior, up to and including long-term suspensions.
