What the state's report on synthetic turf says

In response to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's and Department of Health's May report on synthetic turf, Environment and Human Health Inc., a nonprofit group based in North Haven, Conn., issued a rebuttal listing its concerns with the state's findings.

Environment and Human Health describes itself as "an organization dedicated to protecting human health from environmental harms through research, education and the promotion of sound public policy." The group comprises "doctors, public health professionals and policy experts committed to the reduction of environmental health risks to individuals."

The following is the group's response:

"1. The New York study sampled just two fields and on days of moderate temperatures. ... The study does not specify how old the fields are.

"2. We know from Field Turf itself that there are 40,000 tires [from which rubber crumb infill is derived] in each field. How does this study reflect the enormous variation in product and toxins? Do two fields adequately represent the enormous variation in products and consequences of aging?

"3. The study found a myriad of toxic chemicals in both fields and then called [its] findings 'insignificant.'

"4. They did a risk assessment on each chemical, and yet the exposures from these fields are in multiples. Studies have shown that often multiple toxic exposures are far more dangerous to health than individual small toxic exposures.

"5. As for heavy metals, there is a ton of zinc in rubber tires. With respect to lead, the report says that lead levels are below the federal safety standards. However, many medical researchers consider these standards too lax."