Suit sparks turf testing

Not accurately warning communities about the levels of lead in fake grass is the center of a lawsuits filed against three artificial-turf companies — one of which installed three fields at local high schools this year.

Fields recently installed at Burlingame, Hillsdale and Aragon high schools were furnished by Field Turf USA, a Florida-based company named in a lawsuit filed by the California Attorney General in the Alameda Superior Court this week. Field Turf USA is one of a number of companies selling fake turf in California without adequately noticing the public of potential exposure to lead — a chemical known to cause reproductive toxicity and cancer. Although the company provided tests showing safe levels of chemicals prior to installation, leaders in the San Mateo Union High School District plan to test all artificial turf fields to ensure safety.

After hearing about the lawsuit, Superintendent David Miller decided all artificial fields in the district will be tested. Safety information was provided before the most recent installations. Older fields, however, were installed prior to the current administration. Thus all fields will be tested to ensure safety in the next week.

Four different samples — from the backing, turf itself, line striping paint and rubber fill — will be taken from each field, said Construction Manager Todd Lee, of Greystone West.

Six artificial turf fields are in the San Mateo Union High School District: football and baseball fields at Hillsdale; football field at Aragon; lacrosse/practice field and football field at Burlingame; and the football field at San Mateo.

Results should be returned by Friday or Monday, said Lee who plans to put a 24-hour rush on the testing. The timing will be determined by the laboratory, which notified Lee it was backlogged.

The safety testing was sparked after two lawsuits were filed in the East Bay on Tuesday.

The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, Proposition 65, requires warning of exposure to unsafe level of chemicals that can cause cancer or birth defects. Field Turf USA, Beaulieu Group and Astro Turf failed to warn Californians about lead levels in artificial grass, according to a lawsuit filed by the Attorney General.

These fields are not the only locations with fake grass in San Mateo County.

Field Turf USA also installed fields at Jefferson and Terra Nova high schools in the past year, according to the company Web site.

Most athletic fields in the Sequoia Union High School district are synthetic.

A few months ago, the district tested all the fields. All tested well, with the exception of the field used for football, lacrosse and soccer at Sequoia High School, said district spokeswoman Bettylu Smith.

"The yellow line used for soccer boundaries tested just slightly above the standard. Although this doesn’t represent a serious health hazard, we are replacing the line,” she said via e-mail.

The city of Burlingame began considering installing artificial turf at Bayside Park. None of the companies named in the lawsuit are the ones currently in talks with the city, said Parks and Recreation Director Randy Schwartz.

A representative from Field Turf USA did not return request for comment.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.