W ED N ES DAY, D E C EM B ER 10, 2014
AVID and Terra Nova
The right to choose OPINIONS page 4
Mockingjay Review
FEATURES pages 6 & 7
VOLUME 56 NO. 3
Classic holdiay recipe how-to Lifestyles page 9
FLIP SIDE page 12
The Prospector
CHSPROSPECTOR.COM
Student Newspaper of Cupertino High School
10100 FINCH AVENUE, CUPERTINO, CA 95014
Synthetic turf linked to cancer An investigation into whether the turf is harmful to students DIANA KRUZMAN editor-in-chief
ALLAN WU lifestyles assistant
Since its introduction in the 1960s and widespread implementation in the 1980s, artificial turf has gained substantial attention as not only a potential substitute, but a superior alternative to natural grass. Over the decades, thousands of grass fields nationwide have been torn up and replaced with artificial turf, which blankets over 1,000 playing fields in California alone. Turf is used in schools, recreation areas and parks; however, research has suggested that the material can lead to numerous health problems, a discovery that is steadfastly denied by turf distributors. At first glance, one would easily miss the small black crumbs — the infill used for artificial fields — that seem to hide under the green synthetic fibers that mimic natural grass. However, these easily overlooked particles are the center of massive controversy. Many individuals have reported cancer — mainly lymphoma and leukemia — as the result of consistent contact with artificial turf. In one case, Amy Griffin, associate head coach for the
University of Washington, compiled a list of 38 soccer players in the United States who have been diagnosed with cancer — and found that 34 of them are goalies. Goalies find themselves constantly in contact with turf as they fall to deflect goals from the opposing team, and are thus the most exposed to turf infill, which lodges itself into their mouths and noses.
People seem to think [artificial turf fields] could be harmful. [However], [...] compared to most grass areas, they are less toxic. All articles I’ve read have been trying to find something and force something to show up when there isn’t. -Brad Metheany, FUHSD Coordinator of Athletic Facilities Cities and schools from Washington to New Jersey have decided to avoid the artificial material due to the potential health concerns. “We need to be sure we’re providing a safe environment for our student athletes,” said Mike Prato, principal of Ken-
nedy Catholic High School in Burien, Washington, in October. Turf crumb is composed entirely of scrap tires that have been ground up to use as infill. Studies examining the composition of this material — including several by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station — have identified the presence of carcinogenic elements. The EPA compiled a list of 30 compounds and materials, typically found in the tires decomposed for turf crumb, that range from butadiene to styrene. Butadiene is a known human carcinogen, and styrene is a neuro-toxic chemical. However, other studies — as well as the turf manufacturers themselves — maintain that no substantial evidence proves a definitive, causative relationship between turf crumbs and cancer. A study by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery acknowledges the presence of such chemicals, but states that the amount released by the turf is below the limit set by state safety standards. “All exposures were below health-based screening levels, suggesting that adverse health effects were unlikely to occur in persons using artificial turf,” the study stated in its abstract. continued on page 2 SERENA NGAN
A tragedy sparks discussion Running for Light City takes steps toward safety following bike accident
PETER MARTIN flip side assistant
Ethan Wong, a 15-year old Monta Vista High School student, was riding his bike to school on the morning of Oct. 27 when he was fatally struck by a passing vehicle on a stretch of McClellan Road. The vehicle in question was a large gravel truck, the driver of which was unaware of the accident and had to be flagged down by bystanders. This big rig belonged to Moonlight Express, a California based transport company. As of now, the driver has not been cited and there have been no charges against any party involved. In the wake of this tragedy, many have questioned the legality and safety of having these large vehicles driving in close proximity to schools. The Cupertino municipal code contains strict laws limiting the roads usable by commercial vehicles, but there are exceptions. Specific roads within the city are designated as commercial vehicle routes, and it is on these roads exclusively that commercial vehicles are allowed to drive. A commercial vehicle is “any vehicle “that exceeds a gross weight of three tons and has a total combination of motor truck, truck tractor and/or trailers of sixty feet or less in length.” However, vehicles may leave these roads when
taking the shortest possible route from these designated courses to a location for picking up or dropping off goods. McClellan road is not one of these designated commercial vehicle routes, but the driver in the accident was evidently picking up or dropping off at the time, allowing him to drive on McClellan road. The city of Cupertino has responded to this accident by investigating ways to increase safety for students biking to school. At a Public Safety Commision Meeting on Nov. 13, attendees discussed options for keeping young bikers out of the street. The commision discussed raising the maximum age of children who are allowed to ride bicycles on the sidewalk, citing the higher age limit in many other cities and states. Cupertino has a comparatively low age limit, with a maximum age of ten. Committee members considered adding specific criteria to when teenagers would be allowed to ride on the sidewalk, such as only when traveling to and from school. The enforcement complications of this type of constraint eventually caused the issue to be dropped. The city has yet to take any action regarding a change in municipal code surrounding commercial vehicles. On December 13th the public safety commission plans to discuss commercial vehicle traffic around schools and possible regulation of hours, traffic signage, and bike lane safety.
Students raise money for organization
SERENA NGAN
THE PROJECT’S INITIATOR| Sophomore Amal Mehta created Project Running for Light to provide solar lanterns to villagers in India.
ISABEL LIN features editor
In India, around 400 million people lack access to electricity. For these people, much-needed lighting can only be supplied by crude, dangerous kerosene lamps. In an effort to provide lighting for school children and adults in rural India, sophomore Amal Mehta founded Project Running for Light in 2011. Since its inception, Running for Light has raised around $14,000 and has provided lighting for an entire isolated village in India. Mehta was inspired to start the project when he visited his native village, Aina, in India three years ago and observed the plight of villagers who lacked
continued on page 2