Artificial Turf: A Health-Based Consumer Guide

Transcription

1 Artificial Turf: A Health-Based Cnsumer Guide May 2017

2 Psitin Statement n the use f Recycled Tires in Artificial Turf Surfaces Psitin: Based upn the presence f knwn txic substances in tire rubber and the lack f cmprehensive safety studies, The Children s Envirnmental Health Center f the Icahn Schl f Medicine at Munt Sinai urges a mratrium n the use artificial turf generated frm recycled rubber tires. Backgrund: Recycled rubber artificial turf prducts were intrduced t athletic fields and playgrunds in the 1990s and have since been installed thrughut the wrld with n prir safety testing. Tires cntain heavy metals, carcingens, and ther txic substances. Grinding them int very small crumb rubber pellets, utilized n athletic fields, r mulch, utilized n playgrunds and gardens, furthers the risk f expsure by increasing the surface area and the likelihd f accidental ingestin. Children are expsed t harmful substances when pellets tuch their skin r are swallwed, and pssibly frm breathing chemicals released int the air frm the surface. In additin t crumb rubber infill, artificial athletic turf cnsists f synthetic grass blades and several layers f backing materials. T date, the safety f these materials has nt been prven. While manufacturers claim that a number f scientific studies indicate lw risk f harm frm recycled tiring playing surfaces, these studies were nt cnducted in a rigrus manner cmprehensive enugh t prve safety. Recmmendatins: Althugh we believe that the presence f cancer causing agents and ther knwn txins in recycled rubber playing surfaces is sufficient reasn t mandate the use f safer alternatives, we recgnize the need fr further scientific study. Prir t the installatin f artificial turf fields f any type, studies cnducted by independent, academic, r federal research institutins must prve the safety f these prducts. T be infrmative, cmprehensive studies shuld cnsider, at a minimum: Expsure assessment under realistic playing cnditins. All pssible rutes f expsure: inhalatin, ingestin and dermal absrptin (thrugh skin). Ptential health effects nt nly f individual chemicals, but als f mixtures f chemicals t determine their additive and synergistic effects. In additin t the abve scientific requirements, it is the respnsibility f municipalities and installers t assess the pinins and address all cncerns f the cmmunities that will be utilizing the fields. Given munting cncerns abut recycled rubber surfaces, several gvernmental agencies have recently mdified their stance n the safety f crumb rubber. On February 12, 2016, the Envirnmental Prtectin Agency (EPA), Centers fr Disease Cntrl and Preventin/Agency

3 fr Txic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC/ATSDR), and the Cnsumer Prduct Safety Cmmissin (CPSC) unveiled the Federal Research Actin Plan n Recycled Tire Crumb Used n Playing Fields and Playgrunds with the aim f addressing data gaps, characterizing crumb rubber cnstituents, and assessing expsure pathways. Accrding t the EPA annuncement f this cllabrative effrt, existing studies d nt cmprehensively evaluate the cncerns abut health risks frm expsure t tire crumb. The same cnclusin was reached by the Califrnia Office f Envirnmental Health Hazard Assessment in 2015, resulting in a cmmitment t cnduct extensive studies that will include expsure assessment and bimnitring. Based n these recent develpments we recmmend a mratrium n the installatin f crumb rubber playing surfaces pending results f these studies.

4 Artificial Turf: A Health-Based Cnsumer Guide If yur schl, cmmunity, r business is cnsidering installing an artificial turf field, it s imprtant t be an educated cnsumer. Many turf prducts are available and sme are even advertised as green r ec-friendly, but it can be difficult t assess their safety fr use by children because adequate risk assessment studies that assess all ptential rutes f expsure during realistic play cnditins have nt been cnducted. This guide will help yu dig deeper than the label n the packaging t learn what chemicals these prducts cntain, hw children may be expsed t these chemicals, and understand what the ptential health risks may be. This Guide will: (1) describe turf infill ptins and chemicals f cncern (2) identify hw children can be expsed t these chemicals (3) explain ptential health risks assciated with certain artificial turf prducts (4) suggest questins t ask manufacturers (and the answers yu want t hear) (5) prvide tips fr safer play n artificial turf TOP 7 TIPS TO BEING AN EDUCATED TURF CONSUMER 1. Research the varius infill ptins and turf cmpanies. 2. Understand the lng-term health cncerns, bth chemical and nn-chemical, assciated with artificial turf. 3. Ask the turf cmpanies fr detailed prduct infrmatin and envirnmental testing. 4. Request a prduct sample and the apprpriate testing that ensures that the prduct des nt cntain dangerus chemicals. 5. Fllw best practices fr play n artificial turf if ne is installed. 6. Cnsider all csts fr the full life cycle f the prduct. 7. Determine whether natural grass is a feasible alternative.

5 What is artificial turf? Synthetic r artificial turf is a multi-layer prduct used as a surface n athletic playing fields, playgrunds, glf curses, and residential lawns. It typically cnsists f: a tp layer f fibers usually made frm usually nyln, plyprpylene, plyethylene designed t mimic natural grass blades infill t prvide cushining and serve as a base fr the blades a backing layer t which the blades are sewn a drainage layer additinal padding layers in sme applicatins Figure 1. Anatmy f Artificial Turf Surce: Synthetic Turf Cuncil What health risks are assciated with play n artificial turf? (1) Chemical Expsures Chemicals that are knwn r suspected t be carcingenic r txic t the nervus r reprductive systems have been detected in turf infill and the surrunding air (Table 1). Expsures t chemicals frm turf ccurs thrugh: Inhalatin f Vlatile Organic Cmpunds (VOCs) and small particulates

6 Dermal cntact and absrptin thrugh the skin r pen wunds: Many f the cmpnents f turf may cntain chemicals and even leach ut f the prduct, increasing ptential fr dermal expsure upn cntact. Ingestin: Turf infill particles are very small and can be ingested as can chemicals that leach frm turf and accumulate n hands. Expsure levels are affected by weather cnditins, temperature, and type f activity (i.e. physical impact n the turf itself and ventilatin rate f the individual) Tire rubber cmpsitin is highly variable acrss manufacturers, and test results have identified numerus chemicals f cncern in turf cntaining crumb rubber infill. (2) Nn-chemical Expsures Heat: Because synthetic turf is typically dark and des nt vaprize water, surface temperatures can get up t 60 degrees higher than natural grass and have been measured as high as 160 degrees n a summer day. Latex allergy: synthetic rubber cntains latex in relatively lw cncentratin; individuals with latex allergy shuld be warned abut pssible allergic reactins. Cntact injuries: Athletes playing n turf fields have been shwn t have mre abrasins r turf burns, which in turn can harbr infectin. Artificial turf may increase the rate f cntact injuries such as knee injuries and cncussins, hwever data is cnflicting. What Chemicals Shuld I Be Cncerned Abut? Of all the turf cmpnents, the greatest cncern fr harmful expsures cmes frm the infill. There are currently several types f infill available, but t date we knw the mst abut crumb rubber infill. Crumb rubber is made frm recycled tires. The ec-friendly term smetimes used t advertise crumb rubber turf fields refers t the fact that by repurpsing the tires int turf fields, hazardus tire waste is nt ging t landfills. Hwever, because the lifespan f a turf field averages 10 years, the hazardus tire materials will eventually need t be safely dispsed f. Tire rubber cmpsitin is highly variable acrss manufacturers, making it difficult t knw cncentratins f individual chemicals. Belw is a partial list f chemicals f cncern knwn t present in artificial turf made frm recycled rubber. Sme f these chemicals may als present in artificial turf prducts that d nt cntain recycled crumb rubber, hwever manufacturers are nt required by law t disclse the

7 chemical cntent f their turf prducts, s this infrmatin is nt publicly available. We will cntinue t update this guide as mre infrmatin becmes available. Table 1. Partial list f chemicals f cncern present in crumb rubber artificial turf infill * Chemical Benzene Arsenic Styrene Plycyclic armatic hydrcarbns (PAHs) Lead Zinc Cadmium Chrmium VOCs and SVOCs (e.g. benzathiazle, hexane, tluene, frmaldehyde) Phthalates Crystalline Silica Latex Particulate matter Ptential Health Effect Knwn human carcingen Knwn human carcingen i Reasnably anticipated t be a human carcingen Reasnably anticipated t be a human carcingen ii Neurtxicant Neurtxicant Knwn human carcingen i Knwn human carcingen i Respiratry irritant Respiratry irritants r asthma triggers Neurtxicants Sme are knwn human carcingens i Reprductive txicant Knwn human carcingen i Respiratry irritant Allergen Respiratry irritant r asthma trigger * Fr a mre extensive list f chemicals f cncern identified in turf see

8 Digging Deeper As cncerns abut hazardus expsures frm crumb rubber infill have munted, several alternative fills have been develped. Belw is a table f sme f the ptins currently available. T date we knw very little abut the cmpsitin and cnsequences f playing n the newer generatins f crumb rubber infill alternatives. Table 2. Available Infill Types Type f Infill Infill Details Health Cncerns Crumb Rubber Mst cmmn type f infill, particularly n athletic fields Extreme heat Cntact injuries Made frm shredded recycled tires ( Ambient r Crygenic refers t the temperature at which the tires are shredded) Chemical expsures t carcingens and neurtxins (See Table 1) Cated Crumb Rubber Rubber r Fam Padding Crumbs are less than 3mm in diameter 200,000lbs f crumbs per average playing field (2-3lb per square ft, 2-3 inches deep) May be mixed with silica sand Crumb rubber may be cated with clrants, sealers, r anti- micrbial substances fr aesthetics, hygienic purpses, and t reduce dust generated during manufacturing Made frm recycled tires Often used as an alternative t crumb rubber n playgrunds and residential lawns Expsure can ccur by inhaling the ff- gases, by absrbing chemicals thrugh skin cntact and, pssibly, by ingesting particles that are airbrne r transprted int children s muths by hand cntact. Same as crumb rubber but pssible reductin in heat and dust Cating may cntain additinal chemicals f cncern Similar t crumb rubber but pssible reductin in expsure by ingestin in absence f tire crumbs Sand (Silica) One f the riginal infilling materials utilized in synthetic turf Natural prduct Often used in cnjunctin with ther infills such as crumb rubber r cated with elastmer r acrylic Acts as a shck absrber when cated Pssible respiratry irritatin if inhaled

9 EPDM (Ethylene Prpylene Diene Mnmer TPE (Thermplastic Elastmer) Nike Grind r Ec Grind A synthetic vulcanized rubber plymer elastmer resistant t abrasin and wear May be generated frm recycled r new ( virgin ) material Als cntains UV stabilizers, anti- xidants, chalk, pigments, flame retardants, and vulcanizing agents such as zinc xide Purprtedly free f heavy metals Few txiclgical and risk assessment studies exist Plymer f rubber and plastic resistant t abrasin and wear Cmpsed f ethylene, butadiene and styrene cplymers r plyurethane elastmers generated utilizing iscyanides May als cntain UV stabilizers, anti- xidants, chalk, pigments, and flame retardants Virgin material, nt made frm recycled materials Purprtedly free f heavy metals Can be reused r recycled Few txiclgical and risk assessment studies exist Rubber infill generated frm recycled athletic shes and leftver materials frm Nike manufacturing May be mixed with sand May cntain heavy metals Insufficient data n chemical expsures due t limited studies that assess cmpsitin, ff gassing, leaching, and assciated ptential health effects Insufficient data n chemical expsures due t limited studies that assess cmpsitin, ff- gassing, leaching, and assciated ptential health effects Styrene and butadiene are classified as carcingens by the Wrld Health Organizatin. The effects f human expsure t these substances frm turf infill are nt yet knwn as specific studies have nt yet been cnducted. Similar t crumb rubber frm recycled tires: Extreme heat expsure Cntact injuries Chemical expsures t carcingens and neurtxins (See Table 1)

10 Organic Infill Natural crk and/r grund fibers frm the utside shell f the ccnut (smetimes referred tes crknut, r rice husks) Can be recycled directly int the envirnment Purprted t absrb less heat and mre humidity than crumb rubber infill Pssible reduced heat expsure cmpared with rubber surfaces Insufficient data n chemical expsures due t limited studies that assess cmpsitin, ff- gassing, leaching, and assciated ptential health effects Be An Educated Artificial Turf Cnsumer Beware f greenwashing: the use f terms like rganic, green, and Ec d nt guarantee safety. In fact, thse terms are nt regulated fr turf prducts, s their meaning in this cntext is at best ambiguus. Chse cmpanies that are transparent and disclse all materials 1. Nte than an MSDS sheet des NOT disclse all chemicals used in the prduct. T btain cmplete disclsure, ask manufacturers t list all cmpnents in writing. Cntact the CEHC t discuss testing ptins and results. Cnsider the pssibility f maintaining a grass field with an undergrund drainage system ASK the turf cmpany: Are the infill materials new ( virgin ) r recycled? It s pssible t btain a full ingredients list fr new materials, versus recycled which vary frm lt t lt. 1 Txiclgical prfiles f ptential chemicals f cncern can be fund at: The Agency fr Txic Substances and Disease Registry, a federal public health agency f the U.S. Department f Health and Human Services, maintains a Txic Substances Prtal, a searchable database f chemicals that includes expsure risks and health effects. EPA s Integrated Risk Infrmatin System (IRIS) is a human health assessment prgram that evaluates infrmatin n health effects that may result frm expsure t envirnmental cntaminants. The searchable IRIS database cntains infrmatin n mre than 550 chemicals.

11 What additives and catings are used n the blades and infill such as clrants, sealants, antimicrbials, and flame retardants? Many f these may be chemicals f cncern and can leach frm the prduct. What is the cmpsitin f each layer including fiber blades, infill, and backing? Althugh much f the fcus is n infill, all cmpnents f a turf field cntain ptential chemicals f cncern. Are Safety Data Sheets (SDS r MSDS) available that discuss each cmpnent? SDS r MSDS sheets are dcuments that cntain infrmatin n ptential hazards (health, fire, reactivity, and envirnmental) f a chemical prduct as well as safe handling prcedures. Because manufacturers are nt required t disclse all ingredients n an MSDS sheet, nly thse they deem t be ptentially hazardus, these frms cannt be relied n as ingredient lists. Hwever any turf cmpany that yu chse shuld be able t prvide a cmplete list f chemical cmpnents fr their prduct. Has the turf been tested under realistic play cnditins fr heat generatin, ff-gassing, and particulate matter generatin? Ideally this testing has been cnducted by a third party that is nt a paid cnsultant t the turf cmpany. At a minimum the cmpany shuld be able t prvide yu with their wn test results r thse f a cnsultant they have hired. What prducts are required t sanitize (i.e. fungicides and antimicrbials) and clean the field and hw ften must they be applied? These prducts nt nly increase the likelihd f chemical expsures, they may increase maintenance csts. It s imprtant that manufacturers are upfrnt abut all maintenance requirements. In additin, antimicrbials and fungicides may pse health risks fr children chrnically expsed t them.

12 Other Cnsideratins The lifespan f varius turf ptins hw sn will it need t be replaced? Are there hidden csts such as thse required fr dispsal f crumb rubber? Will the turf be indrs r utdrs? Inhalatinal expsures are likely t be higher indrs withut prper ventilatin. Ectxicity Chemicals frm artificial turf may be txic t wildlife. Sme studies have shwn that new generatins f turf such as EPDM are mre txic t aquatic life than crumb rubber Siting f the field is it in clse prximity t water surces that may be cntaminated by runff? Tips fr Safer Play n artificial turf surfaces If yu select a turf field that des cntain chemicals f cncern, pst a safety warning n yur field t keep players and spectatrs safe Avid use n very ht days Avid use fr passive activities (i.e. sitting, lunging, picnicking) Ensure gd ventilatin f indr fields by pening drs and windws and utilizing fans Mnitr yung children t prevent accidental ingestin Always wear shes n artificial turf Wash hands befre eating, drinking, r adjusting muth guard Clean cuts and abrasins immediately Brush hair thrughly after play Remve and clean shes and gear utside befre getting in car At hme, take ff shes and shake ut yur children s equipment and clthes utside r ver the garbage Shwer immediately after playing n artificial turf Vacuum any infill that cmes int yur hme

13 Additinal Resurces CA reprt vs EPDM vs SBR and quality.pdf Ginsberg G, Tal B, Kurland T.M. (2011) Benzthiazle txicity assessment in supprt f synthetic turf field human health risk assessment. J Txicl Envirn Health A. 74(17): di: / Cheng H, Hu Y, Reinhard M. (2014) Envirnmental and health impacts f artificial turf: a review.envirn Sci Technl. Feb 18;48(4): di: /es