Potential health impact of turf concerns town official

MANALAPAN - Township Committeeman Anthony Gennaro attended the Recreation Advisory Board meeting on Sept. 17 to let board members know about concerns he has with a synthetic turf field that the township is constructing as part of the expansion of the Manalapan Recreation Center, Route 522.

Gennaro said he has looked into the product and is concerned about the rubber infill that is used on turf fields.

Gennaro has told the News Transcript that his specific concern is with the rubber pellets that are rolled in between the blades of the synthetic grass. He said the the rubber pellets are mixed with sand. Gennaro said when the turf field heats up, the rubber pellets, which he said are ground up tires, can melt and emit a potentially toxic gas which can be inhaled by people who are playing on the field.

Several months ago a majority of the Township Committee voted to proceed with the synthetic turf field project at the recreation center.

Gennaro said he voiced his concerns about the turf field to the committee.

He said he recently read an opinion piece in The New York Times that detailed concerns regarding the use of synthetic turf.

The article, an opinion piece contributed by a professor of child psychology at the City College of New York, observed that although it is difficult for the toxic chemicals to get into the body through skin contact, ingestion or inhalation, there are worrisome levels of zinc, lead and other carcinogenic chemicals that merit further study.

The article referenced opinions from medical professionals, including a professor of environmental and occupational health at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Gennaro said that opinion piece, coupled with a study out of Missouri that raised the same concerns for him, and the fact that the state of Connecticut has commissioned a $200,000 study of the subject, meant that Manalapan officials should reconsider the $850,000 that is going to be spent installing the synthetic turf field at the recreation center.

"Are we going to get a report that says, 'hey guys, pull this out of the ground?' " he asked

Recreation advisory board member George Rothweiler is an Emmy winning sports cameraman who is familiar with artificial turf having covered numerous sporting events at professional and college venues that use synthetic turf.

Following Gennaro's presentation of the study and his view of the matter, Rothweiler said, "universities spend millions installing it (synthetic turf). Why is there not a bigger hue and cry regarding this?"

"I cannot account for that," Gennaro said, adding that "asbestos was thought of as a wonderful product until they found out what it can do to you."

Some officials in other communities who have constructed a turf field said the benefits of having a such a field are that unlike a grass field, games can be played in inclement weather without ruining the field, and that the field can be used constantly.

Another item that was discussed at the Sept. 17 meeting was reducing the size of the advisory board from 13 members to seven regular members and two alternates.

Board member Deputy Mayor Michelle Roth said she had been in contact with advisory board Chairman Michael Gross who, she said, told her that he favors the reconfiguration of the board.

Gross was absent from the Sept. 17 meeting.

Roth suggested that members have staggered three-year terms. According to Roth, Gross has said he believes a smaller board will operate more efficiently.

"We need the people who are stepping up to the plate in-between meetings, not just those who show up for meetings," Roth said.

Board member Butch Budai said he did not like the idea of cutting volunteers as it will discourage people from offering their time and services as volunteers.