The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), Washington, has released a letter that it sent in mid-October to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy calling for a response to growing public concern over the safety of synthetic turf made with crumb rubber. This public fear has grown out of a number of media reports attempting to draw a correlation between recycled rubber in turf and adverse health effects, despite more than 75 studies that indicate otherwise, ISRI says. The letter, signed by ISRI President Robin Wiener, is aimed easing such concerns.
In the letter, ISRI writes, “Recently, there have been a number of confusing stories in the press regarding synthetic turf fields that utilize crumb rubber infill material and the concerns that some of these fields may expose players and the environment to harmful constituents.”
The association goes on to state, “Contrary to many of these ambiguous stories, there has been extensive research over the past 22 years and more than 75 independent, peer-reviewed studies focusing on the health effects of synthetic turf fields and playgrounds containing crumb rubber from recycled tires, and, the fact is, these fields are safe. These studies have pointed to the conclusion there is no indication of negative health effects tied to crumb rubber’s use in artificial turf.”
The letter mentions research by EPA in 2009 on the subject, which complemented an earlier 2008 Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) study and statements on safety. “EPA reported that the levels of particulate matter, metals and volatile organic compound concentrations in wire sample above synthetic turf were similar to background levels, and all concentrations of particulate matter, zinc and lead were below levels of concern,” ISRI writes.
“Similarly, according to the New York State Department of Health, based on the available information, chemical exposures from crumb rubber in synthetic turf do not pose a public health hazard. To put this in perspective, the U.S. toxicity limits for children's toys are the lowest in the world in an effort to protect children at their earliest formative years. The exposure limits for synthetic turf fields consisting of crumb rubber are even lower,” according to the association.
In the letter, ISRI describes tire recycling as “an economically sound and environmentally friendly activity,” noting that in 2014 103 million scrap tires were recycled in the U.S. and used in the creation of new products, such as rubberized asphalt, agricultural products and synthetic turf.
“Recycling scrap tires into new innovative and safe products is an important economic and environmental success story that should be shared,” the association writes. “Synthetic turf is one of those success stories. We respectfully ask EPA to respond to the concerned parents and the public at large highlighting the extensive research, including EPA’s own studies, which establishes no connection between synthetic fields containing crumb rubber from recycled tires and public health hazards, including cancer.”