Environmental group: Obama play area toxic

CHICAGO — An environmental-health group is contending that the ground-up tire mulch used in the new White House playground for Sasha, Malia Obama and friends poses a health risk.

"This is not a material that children should be playing on," wrote Nancy Alderman, president of Environment and Human Health, which calls itself a "nonprofit organization composed of doctors, public-health professionals and policy experts."

The group said an analysis of ground-up tires done by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station found a carcinogen, butylated hydroxyanisole; skin and eye irritants; material that destroys mucous membranes; and zinc.

The fields' tendency to get very hot, documented outbreaks of MRSA skin infections among children playing on the fields, and the potential for ingesting toxins and carcinogens are concerns, according to a review by Sinai Hospital in New York.

First lady Michelle Obama's communications director, Camille Johnston, said that the White House had followed the recommendations of the National Recreation and Park Association.