IV. Summary of Findings. his report was written to inform the public about studies that industry says prove fields are safe.

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1 I N D U S T R Y S C L A I M S IV. Summary of Fidigs Careful readig of the 22 studies o idustry s list shows that may of them had serious testig flaws ad limitatios. T his report was writte to iform the public about studies that idustry says prove fields are safe. This report was writte so that the public ca uderstad what is actually i the studies that idustry cotiually claims prove the safety of sythetic turf fields. Careful readig of the 22 studies o idustry s list shows that may of them had serious testig flaws ad limitatios. These studies do ot serve as proof that sythetic turf fields are safe. Whe a research study foud that sythetic turf fields cotaied umerous toxic chemicals, icludig carcioges, idustry ofte aswered these fidigs with statemets that admitted there were may chemicals i sythetic turf, but claimed that their presece did ot mea that those who played o the fields were exposed or harmed by those chemicals. This reasoig by idustry does ot stad up to scietific scrutiy. 82

2 V E R S U S T H E S C I E N C E The studies, so far, do ot take ito accout the syergistic health effects of exposures to may toxic chemicals at the same time. I additio, studies ofte have ot take ito accout all routes of exposures whe comig to their coclusios. Noe of the studies ivestigated how the higher surface temp er atures foud o sythetic turf fields may icrease chemical exposures that ca affect athletes ad childre who use these fields durig warmer moths. These ivestigatory gaps, ad may more, alog with idustry s claims that the studies proved the sythetic turf fields were safe, made it clear that careful readig ad aalysis of idustry s list was crucial. A umber of fidigs from the studies: Highly varied cocetratios of chemicals ad metals were foud i samples from withi each artificial turf field tested. These fidigs are importat for future studies. The air above a idoor field had very high levels of toxic chemicals eve though the idoor field was oly tested for 25 miutes. This study recommeded adequate vetilatio for all idoor artificial turf fields i order to protect the public s health. Lead that was foud i oe field was 500 to 1,000 times the lead cocetratio of other fields sampled withi the same study. May chemicals ad metals were foud i a umber of studies. Some of these were at low cocetratios, but some of them exceed air ad water safety stadards. Lead was foud i umerous samples of sythetic turf fields eve after idustry promised to stop usig lead to dye the plastic grass for artificial fields. Zic was foud at levels above the EPA Fresh Water Stadards. Sythetic turf fields were foud to pose a toxic threat to biological orgaisms. As shredded rubber particles decreased i size, the leachig of orgaic compouds icreased. Lead that was foud i oe field was 500 to 1,000 times the lead cocetratio of other fields sampled withi the same study. 83

3 I N D U S T R Y S C L A I M S Because of the variability of the fields, oe study called for the testig of every artificial field to measure its risk to players, especially childre. I order to protect the public s health, it was recommeded that sufficiet distace ad soil barriers be placed betwee artificial turf fields ad groudwater. Bezothiazole (BZT), a irritat, was emitted i air samples ad was foud leachig from crumb rubber samples. May studies metioed limitatios to the testig methods ad may had limitatios ot metioed: Because of the variability of the fields, oe study called for the testig of every artificial field to measure its risk to players, especially childre. May did ot adequately list the study s testig methods. May did ot assess harm to huma health as part of their research. May did ot cosider all routes of exposure: ihalatio, dermal (ski), ad igestio. May did ot have a adequate umber of testig samples or testig fields. Some cocluded that more research was eeded to ivestigate the potetial health effects of usig crumb rubber o fields ad playgrouds. Because of the variability of the fields, oe study called for the testig of every artificial field to measure its risk to players, especially childre. Some did ot look for chemicals that have previously bee foud i crumb rubber. Some cautioed that more research was eeded before ay coclusios could be made about the safety or harmful effects of crumb rubber or artificial turf. Noe of the studies cosidered the followig: Noe examied the syergy of beig exposed to may chemicals at the same time ad what this may mea for the health of those who play o artificial fields. 84

4 V E R S U S T H E S C I E N C E Noe cosidered the cacer risk to players from dermal exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbos (PAHs) foud i crumb rubber. Noe examied whether players are exposed to latex whe they play o artificial turf fields or rubber mulch playgrouds. Noe measured the health impact for childre with asthma or allergies whe they play o artificial turf fields or playgrouds with rubber tire mulch surfacig. Noe examied additioal exposures whe people sit ext to the sythetic turf fields as they watch athletic matches. Ofte those o the sidelies are small childre who ca pick up rubber crumbs ad put them i their mouths. Noe cosidered the additioal exposures to crumb rubber as the tiy pellets migrate from the fields ito cars, schoolrooms, ad homes. Noe performed a epidemiological survey of players or others who have bee exposed to artificial turf fields or rubber mulch playgrouds for the Ofte those o the sidelies are small childre who ca pick up rubber crumbs ad put them i their mouths. 85

5 I N D U S T R Y S C L A I M S last decade or loger. Maiteace workers would be very vulerable to health effects. Despite idustry s claims that sythetic turf fields with crumb rubber are safe, may tows ad schools have become skeptical of these claims. Despite idustry s claims that sythetic turf fields with crumb rubber are safe, may tows ad schools have become skeptical of these claims. Because of this skepticism, may are optig for alterative ifills, eve though most of the alterative ifills are more expesive. May of the alterative ifills have a umber of the same issues as the crumb rubber, but the largest problem is that oe of the alteratives have udergoe idepedet testig. Some alterative ifills are either sad (silica) or crumb rubber coated with a plastic polymer. Idustry claims the coatig makes the products safer ad cooler i the summer moths. To make them safer, idustry has imbedded the plastic coatig with a atibacterial called Microba, which is a trade ame for triclosa. EPA has baed triclosa from soaps because it has bee associated with hormoe disruptio ad atibiotic resistace. With costat play ad weather exposures, the plastic coatig ca break dow ad the ecapsulated material ca the be exposed as the plastic coatig wears away. Aother alterative ifill touted by idustry as safer tha crumb rubber is EPDM, which stads for ethylee propylee diee moomer rubber. EPDM is ofte called by idustry virgi rubber. EPDM is a type of sythetic rubber that like waste tires i crumb rubber also cotais may toxic chemicals ad heavy metals, as well as carbo black. The Safety Data Sheet for EPDM reveals that the product is a possible cacer hazard ad that it ca be a irritat to lugs, eyes ad ski. I additio, the Iteratioal Agecy for Research o Cacer (IARC) classi fied carbo black as possibly carciogeic to humas. Studies have show that short-term exposure to high cocetratio of carbo black dust is a respiratory irritat. 86

6 V E R S U S T H E S C I E N C E This report reveals that idustry cited a group of studies of varyig scietific quality, as it tried to prove that sythetic turf fields were safe. The studies, at the very least, establish a certaity of exposures to orgaic chemicals ad metals that have bee kow to be toxic for may decades, if ot for ceturies. Cacer data collected by the Uiversity of Washigto wome s soccer coach Amy Griffi should be the focus of additioal research. The data show that although soccer goalkeepers costitute oly 10% of soccer players, goalkeepers represet 60% of those soccer players who have gotte cacer ad played o sythetic turf. Sice soccer goalkeepers are the most heavily exposed to the crumb rubber, these umbers are importat ad should be studied further. Eviromet ad Huma Health, Ic. maitais that there is o safer surface for athletic play tha atural grass. If tows ad schools would ivest half the moey they put ito sythetic turf fields ad put it ito state-of-the-art atural grass fields, the health of our childre, athletes ad our plaet would be far better protected. Eviromet ad Huma Health, Ic. maitais that there is o safer surface for athletic play tha atural grass. 87