CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., April 23, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Mondo, a global leader in the sports flooring market, is pleased to confirm that its artificial turf fibers only use color pigments that are free of the lead, toxins and other heavy metals that recently have become a growing concern as a potential health or environmental risk.
Mondo makes this announcement in the wake of the recent closing of two New Jersey sports fields by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services after it apparently detected high levels of lead in another manufacturer's synthetic turf, and concerns were raised over athletes' health.
The fibers at issue in the closed fields were not manufactured by Mondo. In both of those fields, the fibers were made from nylon, which is different from the polyethylene material used by Mondo. New Jersey also tested approximately 10 other fields that utilized polyethylene fibers and confirmed that they had "very low or undetectable levels of lead."
The Synthetic Turf Council, a non-profit organization that serves as a synthetic turf information resource, has reported that the issue New Jersey raised with the other manufacturer's nylon fibers stems from its use of color pigments that contain lead chromate, a component used to extend the yarn color lifespan. Mondo, however, does not use those types of pigments for its turf fibers. Instead, Mondo's turf fibers use only pigments that are free from lead, toxins or heavy metals and pose no health or environmental issues.
"At Mondo, we are committed to the safety and well-being of athletes and the environment, and to that end, we thoroughly research and develop products with environmentally friendly components," said Federico Stroppiana, president of Mondo North and South America. "We are pleased to reassure our customers that Mondo only uses color pigments that do not contain lead, toxins or heavy metals, so our turf fibers are safe for athletes and the environment."
About Mondo
Mondo is the global leader in the sports flooring market, manufacturing floor surfaces for virtually every sport. The official supplier of the athletic track and basketball and handball courts of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Mondo also is the official supplier or official sponsor of more than 100 sports federations and associations, including FIBA, IAAF, Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, NIRSA, U.S. Track Coaches Association and YMCA.
The company also supplies a wide variety of commercial flooring and is the world's largest producer of sports and toy balls with an average daily production of 450,000 units. In addition, it manufactures large luxury yachts under its Mondo Marine division.
Mondo invests heavily in research and development to ensure its products meet the highest quality standards in the industry, deliver optimal athletic performance, are durable, require minimal maintenance and are environmentally safe.
A family-owned business since its founding in 1948, Mondo's global headquarters are in Italy. The company has manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia and sells its products in more than 196 countries. More information about Mondo is available at www.mondousa.com.
Mondo is a registered trademark of Mondo.
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