An Otaki safety surface company yesterday denied that its product had exposed anyone to harm after a playground was closed amid claims that it contained dangerous levels of lead.
Children in Missouri, in the United States, are being offered free testing for lead poisoning after playing on the New Zealand-made
playground surface.
The St Louis County parks department closed a playground on Wednesday after tests showed it contained dangerous levels of lead.
Workmen were sent in to rip out the play surface, only 20 days after it had been opened, the local television channel KSDK reported.
Matta Products managing director Paul Harris said the material was undergoing rigorous scientific testing to establish if there was a risk.
"At this point we do not believe that anyone has been exposed to any significant risk or harm."
The county parks department was trying out a new type of playground surface marketed in the US as Play Matta.
The surface material was colourful, padded, and seemingly perfect, department staff member Lindsey Swanick told the television channel.
KSDK said tests found apparent high levels of lead in the surface material.
Matta provided the county with some initial test results, then the county ran its own tests.
"We got the results back yesterday morning," Mr Swanick said. "My staff told me, and we contacted the company that installed it and said we'd like this removed immediately."
Mr Harris said Matta used large amounts of recycled plastics and rubber for the surface.
- NZPA
