Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 16, 2019 SABATINO INSURANCE AGENCY Call for a Quote 617-387-7466 Or email Rocco@sabatino-ins.com We cover: * Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available Turf studies offer some answers, more questions By Barbara Taormina T he long-awaited federal report on the safety of artifihttp://www.sabatino-ins.com SABATINO 564 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 617-387-7466 Hours of Operation are: Mondays - Fridays 9am to 5pm Saturdays by appointment only cial turf fields did not offer much to the debate over how the city should resurface the field at Roosevelt Park. It turns out that the report, which is the work of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Agency of Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, is only part one of two. The big takeaway from the 800-plus page document released late last month is that the emissions from chemicals in crumb rubber fields are very low and human exposure appears to be limited. But the report acknowledges there has been no determination on the health effects of limited exposure and research on the safety of crumb rubber fields is inconclusive. Those are questions that will be addressed in part two of the study, and it’s not clear when that will be released. Those lackluster results have led residents advocating for a natural grass field at Roosevelt Park to turn to a report on athletic fields released by the Toxic Use Reduction Institute (TURI) SKATING CENTER www.Roller-World.com | 781-231-1111 ATM on site Sunday Located Adjacent to Rite Aid Pharmacy in Saugus Plaza, South Bound Route 1 MBTA Bus Route 429 FREE WI-FI - 2 WIDE SCREEN TV’S FULLY AIR CONDITIONED SUMMER SKATING SCHEDULE ATTENTION! 12-6 p.m. $7.50 Monday Closed Tuesday School & PTO GROUPS 7:30-10:30 p.m. Wednesday Thursday 12-4 p.m. $7.50 Friday Saturday Adults 18y + over $8.50 Private Parties Admission after 6 p.m. $8.50 11 a.m.-11 p.m. $7.50 Admission after 6 p.m. $8.50 12-11 p.m. $7.50 Admission after 6 p.m. $8.50 Skates included in price/Blades $3 Bowling Alleys, 2 snack bars, video games. Ice cream shop, 2 skating floors (group rates call ahead) Private parties every day. BIRTHDAY PARTIES $11.50/Person, min. of 10 kids. Price includes Adm. + Roller Skates. Cake, soda, paper goods, 20 tokens for birthday person plus 100 Redemption Tickets and a gift from Roller World in one of our private BP Rooms. Win a trip for 2 to Las Vegas Bellagio Hotel Jet Blue Air 5 days / 4 nights Your school PTO can raffle the trip to make substantial money for your group. Call for details. at UMASS Lowell, which was updated last April. Like the federal study, the TURI study reports that health information and studies on the components of artificial turf fields, including alternative fills such as cork, coconut and plant fibers, are limited, and it urges municipalities that are opting for artificial fields to make careful choices. The turf industry is continually introducing new types of infills, and the jury is still out on the safety for many products. According to the TURI study, artificial turf fields have raised concerns about impacts to the surrounding environment. In addition to chemicals in stormwater runoff, the study raises the problem of particles and synthetic fibers being introduced to the surrounding environment. While recycling artificial turf is a possibility, that end of the turf industry is still relatively new. The disposal of infill and shock pads, which have a life cycle of about 10 years, and the concern that they may end up in landfills is another general environmental concern. “A natural grass field can also provide a number of ecosystem services, such as providing habitat for invertebrates and microorganisms, reducing the heat island effect in urban areas, and helping to control flooding, among others,” explains the TURI study. Heat stress is also a concern with artificial turf, and the TURI study cites several reports that have recorded field temperatures as high as 174 and 200 degrees. Turf burns and subsequent infections are also a worry highlighted in the report. Proponents of artificial turf have cited lower costs for installation and maintenance and more play time on a field that can stand up to continual use. The city’s engineering consultant, Hayner/Swanson, Inc., has estimated that the cost of an artificial turf field at Roosevelt Park is around $610,000. The cost of a natural grass field at Roosevelt Park would be significant because of the need to remove and dispose of three feet of urban fill at the site. The Sports Turf Managers Association estimates the cost of maintenance for an artificial turf field runs between $5,000 and $8,000 for equipment and 300 to 500 hours of labor. Maintaining a natural grass field might cost between $4,000 and $14,000 a year and require between 250 to 750 hours of labor. The TURI study cites Springfield’s program of organically managed athletic fields where maintenance costs have dropped from $1,740 an acre to $1,100 an acre over three years. The cost decreased as the health of the soil and grass improved. According to a consultant who works with Springfield, one of the city’s fields has 650 hours of play scheduled each year. Physical education classes and about 100 hours of non-programmed use bring the total time the field is used to about 1,000 hours a year. Considering all the available information, unknown factors and cost estimates, the TURI study comes out in favor of organic natural grass over artificial turf. “From an environmental and health standpoint, organically managed natural grass is a safer choice for sports fields. When the full product life cycle is considered, organically managed natural grass also offers lower costs over time,” the study concludes. We Carry... * Lifetime Waterproof Warranty * Ceramic, Porcelain & Stone Tile * Hardwood Prefinished and Unfinished, Do-it-Yourselfer Products! 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