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Sunday, April 22, 2018

Kitty Litter will be Infill for Whitman HS Artificial Turf Football Field #Zeolite

MCPS Chief Operating Officer Andrew Zuckerman has announced in a letter to Councilmember Hans Riemer that Whitman High School is getting an artificial turf football field this summer and the infill for the plastic grass will be a mineral.

Zuckerman says this is the same mineral infill that has just been installed at the SoccerPlex.  The SoccerPlex website says the infill they are using this year is Zeofill.  Zeofill is a brand name for a type of zeolite.

Zeolite, it is one of the substances often used in kitty litter to absorb odors. 

According to the Memorial Sloan Ketting Cancer Center website:  Zeolites are minerals that contain mainly aluminum and silicon compounds. They are used as drying agents, in detergents, and in water and air purifiers. Zeolites are also marketed as dietary supplements to treat cancer, diarrhea, autism, herpes, and hangover, and to balance pH and remove heavy metals in the body. However, there are no published human data to support these uses. Further, the FDA has issued several warning letters to distributors for misleading claims about zeolite products. Erionite, a type of fibrous zeolite, can cause certain types of lung cancer when inhaled.

Potential Health Effects 
Inhalation May be harmful if inhaled. Causes respiratory tract irritation.
Skin May be harmful if absorbed through skin. Causes skin irritation.
Eyes Causes eye irritation.
Ingestion May be harmful if swallowed.

MCPS COO Zuckerman has decreed that zeolite will be used as the infill in 8 MCPS artificial turf fields.  There has been no public input into this proclamation, in fact, the public has no confirmation as to what the "mineral" is that Zuckerman is referring to, and has no idea who will be supplying this "mineral."  

The Board of Education is voting to approve Zuckerman's pronouncement on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, with the installation of the Whitman High School plastic grass field.  

Good luck MCPS athletes and Montgomery County children who will be using these 8 plastic grass fields!


3 comments:

  1. CAUTION: Growing up in Montgomery County may be hazardous to your health.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is what the parents want. They are fine with this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Is that true or they have no clue?

      Delete

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