Louisiana State University, a perennial NCAA football power, has chosen Sportexe Momentum as the synthetic turf product for its outdoor practice facility. The Tigers already practice indoors on a Sportexe Momentum field.
LSU has won two national championships in this decade, and Coach Les Miles will be gunning for another title next season. Inside or outside, the Tigers will have a comfortable and resilient practice surface to get ready for the always difficult SEC competition.
Sportexe is excited about its new relationship with E&I (Educational and Institutional Cooperative Purchasing). Sportexe joins a list of impressive E&I suppliers such as FEDEX, Xerox, Hewlett Packard/Cisco, OfficeMax, etc.
E&I is a not-for-profit buying cooperative, which was established by members of the National Association of Educational Procurement (NAEP) to provide quality goods and services to its members with excellent pricing.
The E&I Cooperative is owned by is membership of more than 1600 colleges, universities, k-12 schools, hospitals, medical research institutions and hospital purchasing organizations throughout the United States.
Castleton State College, located majestically in the rolling mountains of Vermont, was founded in 1787 making it the 18th oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.
Lately, though, this NCAA Division III school is all about the future. Castleton is rolling out a new football program this fall, and the Spartans will play on a brand new Sportexe PowerBlade HP field. When head football coach Rich Alercio sends his troops into action, they will perform on a Sportexe monofilament field that offers excellent footing, optimum shock absorbency and the durability to withstand years of heavy use.
Football is not the only sport that will be played on the new field, which is scheduled to be completed this summer. The nearly 102,000 square foot field will also be used for soccer, field hockey and men’s and women’s lacrosse
The Pittsburgh Steelers captured its unprecedented 6th NFL championship with an exciting victory over the Arizona Cardinals and Sportexe was along for the ride. While the Steelers play their home games on natural grass, they practice occasionally on the Sportexe Momentum field at The University of Pittsburgh.
This season, due to months of inclement weather, the Steelers were forced to practice inside, but when they practice outdoors, the Sportexe field is waiting for them. The Steelers, in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh, chose Sportexe for the practice facility.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Validates Safety of Lead Chromate in Synthetic Turf and STC Announces Voluntary Reduction Standards
Atlanta, GA - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that synthetic turf fields are okay to install and play on for children and people of all ages. The CPSC evaluation of old and newer synthetic turf fields concludes that "young children are not at risk from exposure to lead in these fields." Their full statement is accessible at: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08348.html
Immediately following the CPSC's call for the development of voluntary standards to eventually eliminate lead from synthetic turf, the Synthetic Turf Council announced its proactive plans to achieve that goal.
"The Synthetic Turf Council fully supports the efforts by the CPSC, EPA, and CDC to eliminate lead in all products where feasible," says Rick Doyle, President of the Association. "With this commitment, we are voluntarily agreeing to reduce lead levels in accordance with the proposed Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, and to the same strict standards Congress is likely to impose on the children's toy industry."
STC's Voluntary Commitment
Throughout the years, the synthetic turf industry has developed and tested new pigment formulations to enable the removal of all or most of the lead from over 90% of the pigments used to color synthetic turf. Now the STC plans to reduce lead levels in the remaining 10% of all colored fibers that still require lead chromate to meet the consumer's demand for long-term colorfastness.
The STC voluntarily agrees to comply with the revised lead restrictions currently proposed for children's products in H.R. 4040. Specifically, the level of lead will be reduced in all pigments used to color synthetic turf to 300 ppm or less by no later than January 1, 2010, and to 100 ppm or less by no later than January 1, 2012.
About the Synthetic Turf Council
Based in Atlanta, the Synthetic Turf Council was founded in 2003 to promote the industry and to assist buyers and end users with the selection, use and maintenance of synthetic turf systems in sports field, golf and landscape applications. The organization is also a resource for current, credible, and independent research on the safety and environmental impact of synthetic turf. STC members produce and install most of the synthetic turf sports fields in North America. Membership includes builders, landscape architects, testing labs, maintenance providers, installation contractors, infill material suppliers and other specialty service companies. For more information, visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org .
Click here for additional News Coverage at USToday, "Feds: Synthetic turf OK, kids 'not at risk' from lead exposure".
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff today released its evaluation of various synthetic athletic fields. The evaluation concludes that young children are not at risk from exposure to lead in these fields.
CPSC staff evaluation showed that newer fields had no lead or generally had the lowest lead levels. Although small amounts of lead were detected on the surface of some older fields, none of these tested fields released amounts of lead that would be harmful to children.
Lead is present in the pigments of some synthetic turf products to give the turf its various colors. Staff recognizes that some conditions such as age, weathering, exposure to sunlight, and wear and tear might change the amount of lead that could be released from the turf. As turf is used during athletics or play and exposed over time to sunlight, heat and other weather conditions, the surface of the turf may start to become worn and small particles of the lead-containing synthetic grass fibers might be released. The staff considered in the evaluation that particles on a child's hand transferred to his/her mouth would be the most likely route of exposure and determined young children would not be at risk.
Although this evaluation found no harmful lead levels, CPSC staff is asking that voluntary standards be developed for synthetic turf to preclude the use of lead in future products. This action is being taken proactively to address any future production of synthetic turf and to set a standard for any new entrants to the market to follow.
As an overall guideline, CPSC staff recommends young children wash their hands after playing outside, especially before eating.
Click here for additional News Coverage at USToday, "Feds: Synthetic turf OK, kids 'not at risk' from lead exposure".
IRVING, TEXAS: June 11, 2008 -- Sportexe Construction Services, Inc., one of the nation's largest synthetic turf companies, was recently awarded a contract to install two full-sized practice fields for The New York Jets of the National Football League.
Both of the fields will be installed at the Jets' Florham Park, NJ training facility. Approximately 77,000 square feet of Sportexe Momentum will be installed at the indoor practice facility, and approximately 103,000 square feet of Sportexe Momentum will be installed on an outdoor practice field. The fields will feature polyethylene fibers that will be in-filled with a combination of rounded silica sand and SBR rubber
The fields will be installed with tufted-in and inlaid NFL-specified lines, hash marks, inbound markers and numbers. The new Jets logo will be installed on both fields.
"We are very happy with our decision to use Sportexe at our new Atlantic Health Jets Training Center," said Bill Senn, Senior Vice President, Practice Facility. "Creating the best learning and practice environment is critical to the success of our team and these fields will contribute to making this facility top-notch."
Sportexe is no newcomer to NFL fields. The Irving, TX based company has installed Sportexe Momentum game fields for the Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints. The San Francisco 49'ers and Buffalo Bills practice on Sportexe Momentum synthetic turf as well.
Sportexe President and CEO, Stephen P. Noe, is elated by the Jets' decision. "We are very excited to be part of the partnership developing this world class practice facility for the New York Jets," he said. "I am very pleased with the endorsements from the Jets regarding not only the performance of our products, but the confidence that they have shown in our organization to provide them with an artificial turf surface."
ALCO Sports Construction, Inc. of Lawrenceville, NJ is the general contractor for the project, and will be providing the sub base construction, drainage, etc. Frank Taylor, Executive Vice President of ALCO, is equally excited about the project. "We are extremely proud to be working on the New York Jets Facility," he said.
To all of our existing and future customers,
As many of you may be aware, there has been a great deal of information in the press lately regarding the health and safety of artificial turf playing surfaces. This flurry of information results from the fact that New Jersey health officials found what they consider to be high lead levels in two fields that were located near a remediation site. We understand these two fields were nylon fields installed in the late 1990's. Other newer polyethylene fields tested in the area were not found to contain high levels of lead. The New Jersey health officials are quoted in the initial articles as saying they believed the lead levels in the old nylon fields represented a "very low health risk", but they suggested further study was warranted. As a result of this initial study, the New Jersey health official contacted the Consumer Product Safety Commission to suggest they investigate this matter further.
Not surprisingly this situation has created a tremendous amount of concern among parents, school officials and others, (including Sportexe), regarding artificial turf fields. As opposed to putting out a quick response to this issue we have chosen to gather the facts and work with our industry association to develop a clear and thorough response to these concerns. Sportexe has always been diligent regarding product safety and integrity and will continue to apply the same commitment to reaffirm the safety of our turf products. One thing I have found very refreshing so far is that the individuals who have contacted us regarding this matter are very interested in "the facts not just the buzz". With that in mind, the following are the facts, as we know them, regarding this situation.
Background on the New Jersey Situation
In New Jersey, the concern started with an old synthetic nylon turf field in Newark located in an industrial section known as Ironbound. The field is bordered on three sides by an abandoned industrial complex of the former Tidewater Bailing Company, a facility that reclaimed and recycled various types of scrap metals. The EPA found the Tidewater property was contaminated with heavy metals. The contamination also was found in an adjacent natural grass field, after which the EPA tested the synthetic field and detected levels of lead chromate. The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services then checked 12 more fields, 10 of which were fine. When they tested fibers from two of the fields, in Ewing and Hoboken, they found the fibers had lead chromate levels in the 3400 to 4100 mg/kg range.
The state then compared these findings to the soil threshold for lead cleanup and that's where the confusion initially began. Since the cleanup standard is 400 mg/kg, they concluded the fibers containing lead chromate were 10 times that threshold, sounding the cause for alarm. However, New Jersey's test doesn't compare apples to apples. The soil threshold for lead does not apply to lead chromate in synthetic turf, which is encapsulated in plastic to prevent it from being absorbed by the body, or migrating into the environment.
Science substantiates these findings. Two independent labs using EPA-approved protocol tested the ability of lead chromate to be released from turf fibers into the air or the environment. Both tests concluded that the lead chromate was contained within its plastic shell. Concerning the question whether lead chromate in synthetic turf presents a risk to humans who play on it, Dr. David Black, a toxicologist at Aegis Sciences Corporation, and Dr. Davis Lee, a chemist from the Georgia Institute of Technology, issued this joint statement on April 21, 2008 "There is no scientific evidence of a health risk for children or adults based on recent test results and current knowledge of the chemical structure of aged synthetic turf products." Even the New Jersey DHSS report itself acknowledges, "Available evidence suggests that there are no acute health risks due to use of artificial turf fields, and risks due to chronic and repeated exposure are unlikely."
The pigment used to color the nylon fiber in these older fields in New Jersey contains lead chromate, a component used to extend the yarn color lifespan. Lead chromate is a highly insoluble compound with extremely low bioavailability, which is diluted, extruded with resins, and microencapsulated within the nylon fiber. In fact, OSHA requires no protective measures when handling the turf fibers. Extremely low bioavailability means that even if the compound were to be ingested, it is very difficult for the compound to be absorbed within the body.
Specific Sportexe Situation
The following information is intended to answer questions about the products that you have purchased or may be considering purchasing from Sportexe.
- Sportexe provides a variety of polyethylene based products; specifically our PowerBlade®, BladeMaster®, Momentum®, OmniGrass® and OmegaTurf® products. The vast majority of the yarns in these products have been produced with non-heavy metal based products, for example the various green and white yarns. There are a few colors that were produced using low levels of lead chromate based pigments. Please contact a Sportexe representative if you have questions about the exact colors that are on your field. Again, the science indicates that no health issue exists, however we intend to be open with our disclosure.
- Going forward Sportexe will not be offering these heavy metal based color choices. We intend to substitute alternative colors based on non-heavy metal based pigments. Although we don't believe the current products represent a health issue, we believe that it is a prudent move from a public relations concern to remove these products from our product offerings so all of us associated with these products can present them as non heavy metal based system.
- Sportexe provides a variety of nylon based products; specifically our Dieter Turf®, Hockey Turf Elite®, Hockey Turf Club®, Victory Turf® and Mega Putt® products. Again, some of the product colors were produced using trace amounts of lead based pigments that are completely encapsulated in the polymer. The science, as highlighted above indicates that this does not represent an issue. However, please contact a Sportexe representative if you require specific information about your particular field.
- At the current time we are in discussions with our nylon yarn suppliers to evaluate alternative products, for the yarns that contain trace elements of lead that can be used in these applications. Where technically and economically feasible we intend to move away from the lead based pigments for the same reasons as highlighted above. We will keep you informed as we develop additional information on this subject.
In summary, all of the evidence indicates that the existing products as produced in the past are very safe for use. Going forward we need to be concerned with and address both the public perception and the scientific facts concerning the safety of our turf products. Due to this we will discontinue the use of lead based pigments within our polyethylene product line and we are investigating the potential to do that with our nylon supplier. Although we do not see a health risk in the current products we believe that this is the best decision for all of our constituents over the long run.
In addition to this letter, we have posted a Synthetic Turf Council press release regarding a scientific evaluation of these products on our web site. We will continue to provide information to our stakeholders as it becomes available. We appreciate the trust you have placed in Sportexe in the past and it is our goal to maintain that trust by not only providing you with the best products but also the most factual and straight-forward discussion of issues and concerns that we possibly can. Please do not hesitate to contact me or anyone else in the Sportexe organization if you have further questions.
Sincerely,Stephen P. NoePresident and CEOSportexe Construction Services, Inc.
EXPERTS AGREE THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OF HEALTH RISKS IN NEW JERSEY SYNTHETIC TURF FIELDS
ATLANTA, GEORGIA: April 21, 2008 -- Committed to the safety and well-being of the public, the Synthetic Turf Council turned to scientists to evaluate the recent concerns of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) that resulted in their closing of three playing fields over suspected high lead levels.
Dr. David Black (Ph.D. Forensic Toxicology) and Dr. Davis Lee (Ph.D. Synthetic Organic Chemistry) assert that there is no scientific evidence of health risks related to the three older synthetic turf fields in New Jersey, particularly the Ironbound B-Field on St. Charles Ave. in Newark. In addition, the NJDHSS concedes in their report that "available evidence suggests that there are no acute health risks due to use of artificial turf fields, and risks due to chronic and repeated exposure are unlikely."
"We care very much about the community," said Rick Doyle, President of the Synthetic Turf Council. "People deserve to know the science behind the situation, so our association turned to recognized industry experts to assess the issues."
Joint Statement from Dr. Black and Dr. Lee:
"There is no scientific evidence of a health risk for children or adults based on recent test results and current knowledge of the chemical structure of aged synthetic turf products.
Concerns over potential harm related to the three older fields in use in New Jersey have not addressed fundamental questions regarding potential toxicity including route of exposure, dose of any potential chemicals, and how such chemicals may be introduced into the body by being in contact with synthetic turf products (referred to as bioavailability).
Reports of health concerns have not been supported by any laboratory analysis on the products or humans that indicate any risk of harm due to potential exposure to chemicals.
Studies that have been conducted and made available for our review have not documented that aged synthetic turf products may be a source of lead exposure to anyone in contact with the product."
Concerning Absorption of Lead Chromate by the Body (Bioavailability):
Trace amounts of lead exist in everyday products. The key issue is ensuring that quantities of lead that might be harmful to health cannot be absorbed into the body. Used to extend the yarn color lifespan in some synthetic turf products, lead chromate is encapsulated in plastic to prevent any health risks.
The Synthetic Turf Council continues to gather additional scientific and medical data about the issue, sharing that information with the public in press releases and postings on its website, www.syntheticturfcouncil.org .
About Dr. David Black:
Dr. Black, founder and CEO of Aegis Sciences Corporation, earned his undergraduate degree from Loyola College in Baltimore and doctorate degree in Legal Medicine (Forensic Toxicology) from the University of Maryland at Baltimore (1982). Dr. Black is a Diplomat of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (DABFT), Diplomat of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry (DABCC), and is a Certified Professional Chemist by the American Institute of Chemists (CPC/AIC). Dr. Black was Toxicology Department Head and Director of Toxicology for Maryland Medical Laboratory, Inc. from 1982-1986. He joined Vanderbilt University in 1986 as Assistant Professor with appointments on Pathology and Pharmacology. In 1990 Dr. Black founded Aegis Sciences Corporation where he serves as Chairman, President and Laboratory Director.
About Dr. Davis Lee:
Dr. Lee, a principal and senior consultant with InnovaNet, LLC, is currently Executive in Residence at the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Polymer, Textile, and Fiber Engineering. He earned his Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from Emory University and spent 20 years with E.I. DuPont DeNemours and Co., Inc., as a research and development specialist in fiber, plastics and chemical technologies.
About the Synthetic Turf Council:
Based in Atlanta, the Synthetic Turf Council was founded in 2003 to serve as an objective resource assisting buyers and end users with the selection, use, and maintenance of synthetic turf systems in sports field, golf, and landscape applications. The organization actively collects reputable studies and research, as well as official statements by governmental agencies and sports organizations, which address the impact of synthetic turf sports fields. STC members produce and install most of the synthetic turf sports fields in North America. Membership includes builders, landscape architects, testing labs, maintenance providers, installation contractors and other specialty service companies. For more information, visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org .
Media Contacts:
Shira Miller: 678-392-1785
Charles Upchurch: 919-277-1147
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CALHOUN, GEORGIA: March 11, 2008-- Sportexe Construction Services, Inc. and ACT Global Sports announced the formation of a partnership for synthetic turf production. Each company will be contributing equipment and technology to the partnership. Capital improvements are also being made to house these new manufacturing operations within the existing Sportexe operations center. Sportexe's equipment contributions are being financed through its recently announced banking relationship with Wells Fargo.
"We are very pleased to continue to expand our investments in the synthetic turf market. Through our partnership with ACT Global Sports, we are creating a state-of-the-art manufacturing and research center," Stephen Noe, CEO of Sportexe said. "While pleased with our current tufting provider, this new partnership will provide us with greater flexibility in our product development and allow us to interact more closely with all our vendors in the supply chain. With this move, we see tremendous opportunity to be more strategically positioned as one of only a few turf installation companies that have control over their turf production. Additionally, this demonstrates our continued commitment to deliver a superior sporting experience and tangible value to our customers."
ACT Global Sports Managing Director John Baize is equally happy with the agreement. "We are pleased to enter into a strategic partnership with Sportexe," Baize said. "We are making significant manufacturing investments in the North American market, so it is valuable to find a partner with such a high reputation for building excellent sports fields."
Sportexe is one of North America's largest installers of artificial turf surfaces for recreational and athletic facilities. Sportexe fields are used by The Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49'ers and Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. More than 200 Sportexe fields have been installed at NCAA, NAIA and high school facilities from coast-to-coast. Sportexe is owned by Insight Equity, a Dallas based private equity firm.
ACT Global Sports brings its international reputation and manufacturing expertise to the partnership. While ACT Global Sports is headquartered in Austin, TX, it has regional locations in The Netherlands, Cyprus, Hong Kong and China. The company is one of the largest international artificial turf manufacturers and has ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 quality-certifications.
