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Update on the Federal Research Action Plan on Recycled Tire Crumb Used on Playing Fields and Playgrounds
Citation:
Zambrana, J., K. Thomas, A. Guiseppi-Elie, E. Irvin-Barnwell, AND A. Ragin-Wilson. Update on the Federal Research Action Plan on Recycled Tire Crumb Used on Playing Fields and Playgrounds. Synthetic Turf Council Spring 2018 Membership Meeting, Rancho Mirage, CA, March 12 - 14, 2018.
Impact/Purpose:
The presentation for this stakeholder group provides an overview and status update of the Federal Research Action Plan (FRAP) on Recycled Tire Crumb Used on Playing Fields and Playgrounds. The presentation includes information on Federal research activities including efforts to characterize recycled tire crumb rubber and exposure, stakeholder engagement, and the current timeline.
Description:
Concerns have been raised by the public about the safety of recycled tire crumb rubber used in synthetic turf fields and playgrounds in the United States. Several studies have been identified that examine exposure to tire crumb rubber infill in these settings. While, in general, these studies have not provided evidence for health concerns, the existing studies do not comprehensively evaluate all aspects of exposure associated with these use scenarios. Additional research is needed to help fill important data gaps that will lead to improved exposure assessment and risk evaluation for children and adults using synthetic turf fields and playgrounds with tire crumb rubber. In response, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) launched a multi-agency federal action plan to study key environmental human health questions associated with tire crumb rubber on synthetic turf fields and playgrounds. The “Federal Research Action Plan on Recycled Tire Crumb Used on Playing Fields and Playgrounds” (referred to as the Federal Research Action Plan or FRAP) was finalized in February 2016. The U.S. EPA and CDC/ATSDR prepared a research protocol to implement portions of the research activities outlined under the FRAP including 1) conduct a literature review and data gaps analysis; 2) perform tire crumb rubber characterization research, and 3) perform human exposure characterization research for synthetic turf field users. CPSC is conducting research for assessing the potential risks to children associated with the use of recycled tire crumb rubber in playground surfaces. The overall aim of these efforts to be presented will be to improve our understanding of child and adult exposures at fields and playgrounds with recycled tire crumb rubber.
