On many playgrounds and sports fields nationwide, artificial turf has replaced natural grass turf. It’s easier to maintain, requires no water, and it may reduce the blunt force of a fall. But some people have begun to wonder if artificial turf poses health risks.

The turf combines green fibers with infill – bits of loose material interspersed in the fibers that make the surface resilient. The most widely used infill is crumb rubber made from recycled tires, and tires contain toxic chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the effects of which are not fully understood.

So, what does the Consumer Product Safety Commission have to say about this product? Not much, presently. It’s providing technical assistance for California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, which is planning a thorough study of crumb rubber to measure its effects on health.

In …

National Farm Safety & Health Week is Sept. 20-26. Since 1944, this annual event has aimed to raise awareness of how safety on farms and ranches can be improved. This year, the theme is, “Ag safety is not just a slogan, it’s a lifestyle.”

For people outside the profession, farming may seem like an occupation with few hazards. But in 2013, there were 500 farming fatalities – about 23 deaths per 100,000 workers.

Unlike most industries in the U.S., about 87 percent of farms are family-owned and operated, sometimes with multiple generations working alongside each other every day. Migrant families also account for a large number of seasonal farm workers. So for many farmers and ranchers, workplace safety and family safety are interchangeable terms.

Texas and Tractors

Texas is home to more farms and ranches than any other state in …

For parents, sending children off to college can be an anxiety-inducing experience. They hope their children will be happy, make friends, excel in school, and be safe. But violent crime on campuses – especially violence against women – is raising concerns about just how safe students are when they leave home for college.

September is National Campus Safety Awareness Month, an initiative launched by the Clery Center for Security on Campus. The center is named for Jeanne Clery, who in 1986 was raped and murdered in her Lehigh University dorm room. After her death, Clery’s parents learned campus authorities failed to warn students about crimes on campus, and there was no law requiring them to do so. Because of the Clery family’s efforts, the Jeanne Clery Act went into effect in 1991, requiring colleges that receive federal funding to …

In December 2015, Sony Pictures will debut its film, “Concussion,” about the doctor who first identified a degenerative brain disease in professional football players, brought on by repeated head trauma. The disease – Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy – had long been known to affect amateur and professional boxers, but not until 2002 was it diagnosed in a pro football player.

In news stories about the long-term dangers of concussion, much of the focus has been on professional football. But pro athletes have a long history of playing the game, and it’s possible for a player to suffer one or more head injuries before even reaching adulthood.

How Brain Injury Affects Young People

The human brain isn’t fully developed until a person is about 25 years old, and investigators theorize concussion may affect growing brains differently than it affects mature brains.…