Asbestos worries cause some Ottawa tennis clubs to close clay courts
The Elmdale Tennis Club and Tennis Centre West Ottawa (TCWO) have both closed their Har-Tru clay courts until the results return, while the Ottawa Tennis Club and the Rideau Sports Centre are keeping their clay courts open.
Last week, some Quebec municipalities shut their clay courts down after an analysis found above-standard asbestos concentrations in the products used to maintain them.
Saint-Sauveur, Que., found samples taken from clay produced by an American company, Har-Tru, had an asbestos concentration of at least one per cent — 10 times the concentration allowed by Quebec standards.
Samples taken from an actual municipal court surface, however, had no traces of asbestos.
Tennis clubs in Ottawa became aware of the issue during the week.
Chris Cobb, the secretary and spokesperson for Elmdale Tennis Club, said they spoke with other clubs before calling an emergency board meeting Friday night.
They then decided to close their courts around 7:30 p.m.
"Obviously we hope that the results are negative. But we do have children's camps, summer camps. And we have staff to consider — they're there for long shifts, and they maintain the courts," Cobb said.
"It just all made sense to close down, just for a few days."
Elmdale, which only has Har-Tru clay courts, told members by email that "out of an abundance of caution" they were closing so they could have their bagged clay supply and the court surfaces tested.
"The clay testing company took samples from the club [Saturday] morning," another email said. "The company tells us they should have the testing results back to us by Monday or Tuesday."
CBC reached the front desk at TCWO and the Rideau Sports Centre on Saturday, both of which confirmed they were aware of a potential asbestos contamination.
The TCWO said their Har-Tru courts were closed but their indoor red clay courts, which have not been recently linked with asbestos contamination, remain open.
Elmdale also said it was told by their Canadian supplier that Har-Tru anticipates a temporary hold on the import, sale, and use of its materials in Quebec and possibly other parts of Canada.
Made from natural green stone
Unlike red-clay, Har-Tru is made from a natural green stone that's extremely hard and angular. It's then crushed, screened, and mixed in the precise proportions necessary to produce a consistent playing surface, according to the company's website.
CBC emailed both clubs for an official statement but did not get one in time for publication.
The Ottawa Tennis Club declined to comment but sent CBC the statement club members got Friday. It said they'd been in daily contact with Ottawa Public Health (OPS) and there is no evidence that materials on their Har-Tru court are "non-compliant."
It also said stored and surface clay was sampled and sent for testing Wednesday morning, with results expected early this week.
"According to the information available we have currently, the reported non-compliant test results from the tennis club in Quebec pertained to raw product samples prior to application, not from material already installed on courts," the statement said.
"If at any time new information comes to light that may influence our decision to remain open we will immediately re-evaluate."
The club has also taken precautionary measures like watering more and adding extra calcium to the court, which can act as a binding agent for asbestos.
No reason to panic, says expert
The risk of contracting mesothelioma — a form of cancer linked to the inhalation of asbestos fibres — increases tenfold after even the slightest exposure to the fibres, according to Norman King, epidemiologist and scientific advisor for the Quebec Association for Asbestos Victims.
He told CBC the closures are no reason to panic.
"If we say that the risk is 10 times greater in someone slightly exposed, it is still a rare disease, it is one case per 100,000 people exposed," he said.
In its own statement Saturday, OPH said they'd been in touch with local tennis clubs for consultations about clay courts.
The health unit said they were working with the clubs and "other provincial bodies" to investigate the situation further, and had no additional information as of late Saturday afternoon to share.
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