CRUMB RUBBER —QUESTIONS IN SEARCH OF ANSWERS

Health Concerns Escalate as Artificial Turf’s Crumb Rubber Comes Under Greater Scrutiny

By Jim Novak

When Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI), released a study several months ago that was done at Yale Univer- sity showing there were 96 chemicals in crumb rubber used as surfacing in toddler

percent are probable carcinogens and 40 percent of the chemicals in that group were found to be irritants; 24 percent are respiratory irritants—some causing asthma symptoms; 37 percent are skin irritants; and 27 percent are eye irritants.

The researchers made a point of not- ing that the study did not analyze for the carbon black that makes up to 30 percent of each tire, nor did it analyze the carbon black nanoparticles or the

additional substances add to the toxic- ity of the shredded rubber tires that are presently used in both synthetic turf fields and toddler playgrounds, thus a study that does not test for these metals will provide an incomplete ac- count of the toxicity of the material.

The following comments by individu- als associated with the study are worth noting:

“Not surprisingly, the shredded tires contain a veritable witches’ brew of toxic substances. It seems irresponsible to market a hazardous waste as a consumer product.” - Gaboury Benoit, Ph.D., Yale Profes- sor of Environmental Chemistry and Engineering

“From the data of this new study, it is rea- sonable to assume that persons playing on synthetic turf fields with rubber tire infill or toddler playgrounds surfaced with rubber tire mulch are being exposed concurrently to multiple chemicals.” - David Brown, Sc.D. Public Health Toxicologist

playgrounds and on sports fields, more than a few people weren’t surprised. But what was surprising was that, of the 96 chemicals detected, nearly half had no previous toxicity assessments done on them for their health effects—therefore nothing is known about them. The other half had some toxicity testing done on them but many of those chemicals had incomplete toxicity testing and therefore all health effects are not fully known.

The researchers noted that, of the half that had toxicity assessments, 20

nanotubes that are now used in the manufacture of tires. It’s likely the EHHI addressed this issue because numerous carbon black nanoparticle- related studies (Refer to Related Stud- ies at conclusion) have suggested a link between carbon black nanoparticles and human health risks.

The EHHI also reported the study did not test for heavy metals. It’s known from other studies that rubber tires contain large amounts of zinc. These

“This study should give pause to all those schools, towns, and government agen- cies that have told the public these fields are safe. Exposing toddlers, students and athletes to this many chemicals, many at the same time, seems like an incredibly irre- sponsible experiment in people’s health and needs to come to an abrupt end.” - Nancy Alderman, President of Environment and Human Health, Inc.

Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI), is a non-profit organization composed of physicians, public health professionals and policy experts, dedicated to protecting human health from environ- mental harms. EHHI does not receive any funds from businesses or corporations.

The EHHI-funded study conducted by Yale University suggests the concern

TPI TURF NEWS • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

27