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A Scoping-Level Field Monitoring Study of Synthetic Turf Fields and Playgrounds
Citation:
HIGHSMITH, R., K. W. THOMAS, AND R. W. WILLIAMS. A Scoping-Level Field Monitoring Study of Synthetic Turf Fields and Playgrounds. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-09/135, 2009.
Impact/Purpose:
This report provides the EPA scoping study results. The EPA scoping study results, along with results from other studies conducted by Federal, State, and local organizations, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry; States including New Jersey, Connecticut, California, and New York; and New York City, will be considered by EPA to identify possible next steps to address questions from the public regarding the safety of tire crumb infill in ball fields and playgrounds.
Description:
Recycled tire material, or "tire crumb," is used as a component in many recreational fields, including synthetic turf fields and playgrounds. The use of tire crumbs in these applications provides several benefits, including reduced sports injury. The public recently has raised concerns regarding potential human health and environmental risks associated with the presence of and potential exposures to tire crumb constituents in recreational fields, especially with regard to children's exposures. In early 2008, U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 requested that the Agency.consider this issue. A cross-EPA workgroup inventoried and considered the limited available scientific information: some laboratory studies of tire material content, off-gassing, and leaching characteristics and a few European studies describing the extent and availability of tire crumb constituents for potential human exposure. The workgroup recommended that research be conducted to generate additional field monitoring data for potential U.S. environmental conditions and potential exposures.