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ASTM
F2765 Sets NEW
Voluntary Standards for
Lead (Pb) Content in Synthetic Turf
and Artificial Grass Yarns
ASTM was requested by the CPSC, in 2008, to help provide a guideline under which consumers could determine the proper methods of testing for lead content in artificial grass and synthetic turf YARN fibers for use for landscape, lawns, putting greens, sports fields and other projects.
Published in July 2009 - ASTM F2765 is now available for download- ASTM Voluntary Standards for Lead (Pb) in artificial grass and synthetic turf yarns can be purchased from the ASTM Site - visit ASTM and review currently published standards at their website at http://www.ASTM.org.
Click following link to go to ASTM Order Page for Copy of Standards:
Prop 65 & Artificial Grass & Synthetic Turf Yarns
Prop 65 & The Artificial Turf Market
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Products ship to and sold in California
(Pending Court Approval, per Named Defendant)
Click the following text link to read more:
CONSENT JUDGEMENT FILED BY CALIFORNIA AG - RE: Prop 65 Legal Action & Artificial Turf and Synthetic Grass Lead (Pb) Limits and Guidelines - This consent judgement is not an admission of guilt, it is an agreement, between the People and the Defendants on specific actions to be taken to remedy past, current and future claims. Each legal action filed by the Calif AGs office last year, will be settled separately and may have different remedies; however, the lead (Pb) limits, set by this consent judgement are expected to be a part of all settlements and become the standard by which all market partners develop products and solutions for the artificial grass and synthetic turf market, now and into the future.
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Calif AG Brown Creates Nation's
First Enforceable
Lead Limit
for Artificial Turf & Synthetic Grass
* August 14, 2009
News Release August 14, 2009 For Immediate Release Contact: (916) 324-5500
Copy of Consent Judgement filed: Print Version AttachmentsOAKLAND - Fighting to ensure the safety of children's playgrounds and ball fields, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed off on an agreement requiring Georgia-based AstroTurf, LLC, [Crystal Products Co., Inc. d/b/a SYNLawn, UGTH Equipment, LLC, General Sports Venue, LLC, and Synthetic Turf Resources, LLC (“Settling Defendants”), among the Defendants named in the complaint,] to virtually eliminate lead from its artificial grass, creating the country's first enforceable lead standards for artificial turf products.
“As schools and daycare centers replace grass with artificial turf, extreme care must be taken to minimize lead exposure,” Brown said. “This agreement is the first of its kind and will help make playgrounds and ball fields safe for our children.”
In 2008, Brown filed suit against AstroTurf, [Crystal Products, and SynLawn, et al] for excessive lead levels after testing by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) found high levels in artificial turf products. Brown's office independently tested AstroTurf and other artificial turf products and confirmed CEH's findings. AstroTurf immediately took steps to begin reformulating its products.
Today's consent judgment requires AstroTurf to reformulate its products so that they contain less than 100 parts per million (ppm), and to further reduce lead levels to 50 ppm by June 2010. Lab results found that some AstroTurf products contained more than 5,000 ppm lead. Lead was added to keep the colors vibrant over time. AstroTurf will be prohibited from selling any existing stock that doesn't meet these standards.
AstroTurf will also provide a grant of $60,000 to the Public Health Trust to fund "wipe testing" of dislodgeable lead on artificial turf fields at daycare centers, schools and public playing fields in California. If the level of dislodgeable lead exceeds the specified replacement level, AstroTurf will provide replacement turf to the daycare center, school or public field at no cost.
AstroTurf will also provide a mailed warning to all customers who purchased its products in California in the past five years. The warning will (1) inform customers that the turf products contain lead; (2) explain "good maintenance practices" that can effectively reduce exposures to lead; and (3) advise the customers of the availability of the program to test and replace old turf products. AstroTurf will also establish a website to provide information to the public on lead content in its products.
The Los Angeles City Attorney and Solano County District Attorney joined Brown in the case against AstroTurf. In addition to its obligation to replace products that exceed acceptable lead levels, the company will pay $170,000 in civil penalties, grants and attorney fees.
"Today's agreement with AstroTurf sets a strong standard for other companies who have not yet agreed to eliminate lead risks to children from turf," said CEH Executive Director Michael Green. "Lead is a stunningly toxic chemical that has no place in playing fields for children. We applaud the Attorney General, the LA City Attorney, the Solano County DA and AstroTurf for this accord to protect California's children."
A copy of the consent judgment is available here.
TESTING ARTIFICIAL GRASS AND SYNTHETIC TURF FOR LEAD (Pb)
TYPES OF TESTS
to Determine Total Lead (Pb) Content
Total Lead Content (”Digestive”) Tests are performed on a small sample of finished fibers. Approximately 1 to 3 ounces of yarn fibers are needed of each type of blade represented in the finished goods sample.
The fibers are “digested” in specific acids and other chelating agents - results are analyzed and the total amount of lead present in the materials is the stated finding. Results can vary from non-detectable levels (>10ppm) to results that are stated in the thousands of parts per million.
Results are generally cited by the following:
- parts per million
- micrograms per kilo gram
- % of weight
Results of common NIOSH test protocols to determine total lead content contained within the materials being tested will include all encapsulated lead chromate and other lead compounds, regardless of their type - it doesn't tell you if the lead is “available”, “accessible” or “absorbable”, just that it is there.
Chart of commonly used terms in stating test results:
Parts Per Million (ppm) to milograms per kilogram (mg/Kg) to % of weight
- 6000 ppm = 6000 mg/Kg = 0.60 % by weight
- 600 ppm = 600 mg/Kg = 0.06% by weight
- 60 ppm = 60 mg/Kg = 0.006% by weight
- 6 ppm = 6 mg/Kg = 0.0006 % by weight
ASTM F2765 - Voluntary Lead Limits in Artificial Grass & Synthetic Turf Yarns
More Details
ASTM Standards for Artificial Grass
WHY NELAP Certified?
*What is NELAP & why is it
important that your lab is certified?
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Why Do You Want to Hire a NELAP Certified Lab?
NELAP is the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program housed within The NELAC Institute (TNI), a 501c3 non-profit organization.
NELAP adopts standards (e.g. rules) that are based on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and are developed through a consensus process.
Oversight is provided by the NELAP Board which consists of one representative and one alternate from each of the 13 currently recognized accreditation bodies.
What is an Accreditation Body (AB)?
Accreditation body is an ISO term that refers to organizations that have the responsibility for granting accreditations. Under NELAP, accreditation bodies must be offices within a territory, state or federal agency.
The independent US state environmental laboratory accreditation programs and their counterparts in other state or federal agencies are all accreditation bodies; however, not all accreditation bodies are NELAP-recognized.
In order to gain recognition from NELAP, an organization must apply and must demonstrate compliance with the approved standard.
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