High lead levels found in two Texas prep fields
18 Dec, 2008 Athletic Turf NewsDALLAS -- The presence of unsafe levels of lead in synthetic turf playing fields has raised its head in Texas. In fact, one of the two fields where lead exceeded the U.S. EPA's standard was the Odessa High School's Ratliff Stadium, the football field made famous in the book and movie "Friday Night Lights," reported the Dallas News Dec. 18.
Testing commissioned by the Ector County school district on the turf at Odessa's Ratliff Stadium found lead at roughly 14 times the EPA standard. Similar testing by the Birdville school district in the Fort Worth suburb of North Richland Hills discovered a lead level nearly 10 times the EPA standard at that district's stadium, the Fine Arts/Athletics Complex. Both of the stadiums have the same brand of turf -- AstroPlay, the News reported.
The results of the testing were obtained by The Associated Press.
"Lead found in artificial turf at 2 prep stadiums," by Danny Robbins, The Dallas News, Dec. 18
"Birdsville ISD Super addresses high lead in stadium's turf," Pegasus News, Dec. 18
"Concern raised about stadium turf," by Greg Wille, Temple Daily Telegram, Dec. 18
"Birdville stadium's turf is safe, district says," by Matt Frazier, Fort Worth Star Telegram, Dec. 19
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