The Board of Health is crafting its stance on the turf field project.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Board of Health has determined that it will take a limited position on the proposed turf field project at Berkshire Community College.

 

A group of volunteers headed an effort to secure $2.1 million in funding from the state, private donations, and the city to build artificial turf playing fields at Berkshire Community College.

 

The sports complex will feature new lighting, seating, concessions and a press box for youth and high school sports teams.

 

However, a group of nearby residents have appealed the project to the state and are fighting it over health and environmental concerns.

 

Particularly, the group says the crumb rubber used as a foundation for the turf is made of truck tires and are loaded with carcinogenic chemicals.

 

Carol Zullo went to the Board of Health on Wednesday asking for its support in rejecting the field.

 

"These are all nasty carcinogens," Zullo said after listing a variety of chemicals that are found in the rubber. "It gets all over the place."

 

Besides the carcinogenic properties, many chemicals are irritants to eyes, skin, respiratory systems, and other senses, Zullo said, and the field will be used by children.

 

"With all the allergies out there, kids are so sensitive to everything," Zullo said.

 

She said some 40,000 to 65,000 truck tires are used to make one field. Pieces of the rubber get tracked home and migrate into wetlands areas, she said.

 

The Board of Health, however, couldn't find enough evidence to support Zullo's claims. In the members' own research, they couldn't find conclusive evidence that there is any health hazard. Nor could they find evidence saying there isn't a hazard.

 

"I think you can find science on both sides," said Chairwoman Roberta Orsi. 

 

Board member Dominica D'Avella said all of the studies on turf fields have been based on short-term exposure and there is no data on long-term impacts. Data becomes even more limiting when looking for the Nike grind rubber, which is a newer product made form shoe soles instead of truck tires. Concerns there would be less of chemical exposure but rather bacterial exposure.

 

"There is scant evidence on both sides," D'Avella said.

 

For Orsi, the lack of evidence on any negative health impacts is cause for concern. She said when General Electric used PCBs, there was no evidence that the polychlorinated biphenyls were detrimental to health. The same goes for tobacco.

 

"If we don't know, then we err on the side of caution," Orsi said.

 

Board member Jay Green, however, said it would be unreasonable to make recommendations on the types of materials or on the project as a whole with no evidence. But, he does believe that the Board of Health has a responsibility to let the public know about the unknowns.

 

"We have to act reasonably based on what we have," Green said. "I don't think I am comfortable writing a recommendation to not install it."

 

Green's plan is to simply ask for signs to be posted at the facility outlining what the board knows and doesn't know about health concerns related to crumb rubber. People will have to make the decision to use the field at their own risk. He added he would like to look into a way to test or inspect the field in subsequent years to find out firsthand the information they lack now.

 

D'Avella added that should something in the future show a health issue, the college could be held accountable. That scenario would likely be played out in the legal system.

 

The project was appealed to the state Department of Environmental Protection by Zullo and others in opposition. The state will ultimately render a decision on the environmental impacts, which could include provisions for testing. The local Conservation Commission implemented a requirement of water testing but the DEP's determination will override that.

 

The Board of Health will craft its recommendations at its next meeting.