Editorial voices from elsewhere
Editorial voices from newspapers around the United States as compiled by the Associated Press:
Whether a manmade material used for athletic fields and playgrounds is safe for athletes and children is under the microscope after being targeting by critics for years.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is calling on the federal government to conduct an independent study on the use of crumb rubber on athletic fields and playgrounds after a series of reports and complaints called into question whether the material was a pathway to exposure to one or more carcinogens.
Many argue the health effects of crumb rubber, which currently is used in more than 11,000 synthetic turf sports fields in the U.S. and in children’s playgrounds across the country, have not been adequately tested to ensure that it is safe for long-term exposure. One soccer coach has documented 69 cases of former soccer players diagnosed with cancer.
But without a definitive scientific study determining its safety, experts are divided on its use and concerned parents rightfully are worried.
No study links crumb rubber to cancer, but a study by Yale University found crumb rubber pieces contain 96 different chemicals, and 20 percent of the toxic chemicals present were carcinogens. And that is spreading fear through parents who say the tiny rubber crumbs get everywhere – in player’s uniforms, hair and cleats. And every time a player slams onto the turf, a black cloud of tire pellets shoot into the air and the granules get into their cuts and scrapes, and into their mouths.
The Synthetic Turf Council argues on its website there is no evidence to support claims that synthetic turf is unsafe. But an in-depth study free from special interests is needed to ensure athletes and children are not playing now to pay later. When the head of EPA refuses to go on record and validate a product’s safety to the American people, that should make everyone sit up and take notice. We certainly did – and so should the federal government.
It’s awfully good news that the number of vaccination waivers in the state of Michigan have dropped nearly 40 percent in the year since the state began requiring that people who don’t want their kids to get disease-preventing shots hear from health department officials about the dangers.
For starters, it shows how education about an issue matters and can work. Presumably, a number of families changed their minds after sitting through health department explanations about the dangers of sitting out vaccinations.
And even for those the rule dissuaded from even thinking about not having their kids vaccinated, the drop shows the strength of government in protecting public health – a lesson not remotely lost in the wake of the Flint water crisis.
A widow may answer the phone and learn that she’s won a major sweepstakes. But there are fees she must send first. She might listen for awhile. Perhaps she is lonely enough that it’s comforting to hear a pleasant salesman who offers her a caring ear.
Or maybe a recent retiree agrees to send money because he wants to show his children that he can take care of his financial needs.
Neither will likely see any return.
Thieves call and use a variety of ploys to get unsuspecting seniors to send cash in untraceable manners.
The word is getting out about these phone scams.
Anyone can fall victim to the crimes, simply by sending money to the con artists. But many of the con artists live out of the United States, making it impossible for law enforcement to capture them.
And they use devious methods to lure their victims. They may say they’re representing a local court, police department or sheriff’s agency. They may claim that they have been assigned by the IRS to collect fees.
There are ways to fight back. Avoid being a victim of a phone scam and follow two simple words: Hang up.