The recent discovery of lead on two older synthetic turf sports fields in New Jersey has prompted the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to look in into risks that could affect other synthetic fields.

The discovery also initiated a wave of unwelcome media publicity for the synthetic turf industry, which has attracted the attention of for-profit testing laboratories.

EMSL Analytical, which claims to be “the nation’s leading environmental testing laboratory, reported April 28, that it has been busy analyzing samples from a variety of clients including colleges, professional athletic teams, daycares and concerned parents.

The use of a pigment known as lead chromate, which is used to make the synthetic grass look green and resist fading from sunlight, is the culprit. “With close to 800 new synthetic fields being installed ever year this is a problem that needs to be addressed now,” reported Dr. Peter Frasca, President at EMSL Analytical Inc., headquartered in Westmont, NJ. “The possibility inhaling or ingesting contaminated materials is an unnecessary health hazard and EMSL is pleased to be providing a concerned public with quick answers,” added.

EMSL is able to detect lead in the less than 1 ppm range in synthetic grass samples. The samples are collected as a 2-in. by 2-in. square and can then be analyzed as a composite, or the blades and the mat analyzed as two separate samples. The latter option allows proper identification of which component contains the lead contaminant.

Lead is a metal that was commonly used for thousands of years. In most countries, lead is now banned or severely limited due to its link to developmental and blood disorders, especially in young children. In the most severe cases, children have died from consuming large amounts of lead.’

EMSL Analytical has 29 locations across the United States, according to its Web site.