1 Concerns and Risks Related to Synthetic Turf and Crumb Rubber and Alternative Infills Dianne Woelke, MSN 3 Jan 2019© “Whether we and our politicians know it or not, Nature is party to all our deals and decisions, and she has more votes, a longer memory, and a sterner sense of justice than we do.” Wendell Barry 2 History: The use of crumb for rubber backing of synthetic turf, infill under synthetic turf and pour in place playground surfaces began in the early 1990s as way of dealing with the mounting problem of 1 billion stockpiled scrap tires growing at a rate 242/year. Of those, 188 million/year were discarded in land fills, illegally dumped, stockpiled or exported. Other than a reference to scrap tires harboring mosquitoes, thereby transmitting disease, and being a source for fires (which take days to extinguish), there was no acknowledgment whatsoever about health related concerns in the US EPA 1991 report: MARKETS FOR SCRAP TIRES.(1,2) Vested in reducing these stockpiles, their judgement was clouded according to retired US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)Toxicologist Suzanne Wuerthele: “The EPA made a mistake in promoting this. That’s my personal view. This was a serious no-brainer. You take something with all kinds of hazardous materials and make it something kids play on? It seems like a dumb idea.”(1) Ongoing Research: On 22 June 2016, President B. Obama signed into law the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act in order to reform the the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) from 1976. In Dec. 2016, US EPA, The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSP), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the National Center for Health Research began research into crumb rubber. These initial studies provide a gap analysis of research to date, assesses how humans interact with the environment and addresses exposure. They do not provide a risk analysis,(12) these studies are expected to follow. However, a change in the federal administration, funding cuts and a general lack of interest in scientific research by the present administration have brought federally funded research to a crawl.(3,34) The US EPA has had a net loss of 126 scientists under the new administration. In 2019, funding was cut to 13 children’s health centers it jointly funded with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, which many years to studied childhood diseases such as leukemia, asthma and developmental effects of pollution.(34,35) In a study published in 2017, the US EPA identified 50 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, and thiazoles plus 40 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in crumb rubber.(4) In an August 2019 webinar, the agency revealed that 70% of synthetic turf fields it tested were positive for Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus, posing a significant health risk, up to and including death, for athletes and others.(12) In June 2017, Acting Chairman Ann Marie Buerkle, CPSP, released a statement calling for turf infill to be tested to the same standards as for toys.(5) In Dec. 2017, the CPSP issued a warning to consumers, athletes, coaches and others stating: “Our approach to playing surfaces should be very simple – no one should be exposed to harmful chemicals. Period”(6) In Sept. 2019, the same agency reported results of a phone survey of 1896 households across the US to determine type of crumb rubber surfaces, frequency, duration and exposure routes experienced by children. The study reveals children living in the West have higher rates of 3 dermal and oral exposure to loose playground materials.(7) A South Korean study showed that children who play on poured rubber surface playgrounds have a 10 times higher risk of developing cancer than those who play on uncovered natural soil.(50) In a 2019 meta analysis of studies conducted by the US EPA and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) related to crumb rubber infill identified a total of 306 chemicals. Of these, 52 are classified as known carcinogens and another 6 are considered suspected or presumed carcinogenic by both agencies. An additional 197 are considered carcinogenic a priori.(8) It should be noted that of some 80,000 identified chemicals, the EPA has only studied 0.27%. The CDC issued a Health Advisory in 2008 concerning the potential for lead exposure to aging synthetic grass blades.(9). The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health branch of the CDC has identified an increased rate of (hepatobiliary and bladder) cancers among workers exposed to Carbon Disulfide, a chemical found in tires.(10). Current research focuses on current exposures to tire crumb rubber, not long term exposure. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR; US Department of Health and Human Services) is calling for long term exposure studies as well as the impact of aging and climate change on synthetic turf fields.(11) In May 2019, Diana Zuckerman, PHD, President of the National Center for Health Research warned that false claims of safety of synthetic turf and playground surfaces based on poorly done and special interest based research is used to mislead the public, local and state governments. Ms. Zuckerman implored the CPSC to consider synthetic turf, playground surfaces, organohalogen flame retardants and recreational/sport helmets as priorities for research in 2020/2021.(16,42) Twenty-two industry sponsored studies of synthetic turf were analyzed for adherence to scientific methods by the Environmental & Human Health, Inc. (EHHI) of North Haven, CT. All fell short. The analysis, published in 2017,(42) led to the following recommendations for cities/towns (pg 89): Town Planning and Zoning Commissions should no longer approve synthetic turf fields with crumb rubber. Towns should not allow toddler and children’s playgrounds to have ground-up rubber tire mulch as surfacing material in their playgrounds. Rubber mulch made from waste tires contains the same carcinogens and heavy metals as crumb rubber. Towns should do more to support and recommend that schools and towns install state- of-the-art natural grass fields instead of plastic synthetic turf fields. Putting trust in synthetic turf industry claims about cost, safety and/or longevity is like putting the fox in charge of the hen house! Failed synthetic turf: https://youtu.be/iV-Mh_q0gMI (2018). 4 Chemical Composition & Toxicity of Chemicals in Crumb Rubber (abbreviated list): Benzene- known carcinogen (#6 on ATSDR Priority List, 2017) (13, 16) Benzidine- known carcinogen. Hepatic/ Immunological/Neurological damage(14) benzo(a)pyrene-a PAH; probable carcinogen (#8 on ATSDR Priority List, 2017)(16, 17) trichloroethylene- known carcinogen (#16 on ATSDR Priority List, 2017)(16, 19) vinyl chloride- known carcinogen (#4 on ATSDR Priority List, 2017)(16, 20) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)- known/suspected carcinogens (#9 on ATSDR Priority List, 2017)(16,21,43); developmental toxicant(29) benzothiazole (PAH)- Acute toxicity; respiratory irritant; dermal sensitizer. Known/Suspected carcinogen(17,20) VOCs (volatile organic compounds)- neurotoxicants; respiratory irritants/asthma triggers; some are known carcinogens Micro-plastics- contain Dioxin, Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), PAHs; Multiple human health and environmental risks(26) Silica- potentiality carcinogenic: respiratory, renal and autoimmune effects. Silicosis (can be fatal)(27) Carbon Black- potential carcinogen(27,29); carcinogenic (California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment). 20-40% volume of crumb rubber; development of asthma,(28, 29)decreased respiratory function, myocardial dystrophy, induction of skin cancer(33) Latex- allergen; “severe latex allergy can result in anaphylaxis”(31,32) Styrene- suspected carcinogen; neurotoxicity; hepatotoxicity(23,24) Cadmium- known carcinogen, nephrotoxicity, lung cancer(25) Heavy Metals- 21 metals found in EPA survey (including lead, zinc, chromium, cadmium, cobalt)(12) Microban (brand name for Triclosan); used in synthetic turf to reduce bacteria. Can be found in footwear. Discontinued as a surgical scrub in hospitals many years ago. Implicated as a thyroid toxicant; dermal carcinogenic(32) Initially registered with EPA as a pesticide. Lead- Neurotoxicant (#2 on ATSDR Priority List, 2017, )(15, 16) developmental intellectual disability, hypertensive and ischemic heart diseases, stroke(34) Carbon Disulfide-known carcinogen(10) Alternative infills also present health and environmental concerns and have not been tested. Coated/encapsulated infills have a plastic polymer coating to reduce temperature. With use and time, the coating breaks down releasing contaminants into the water table. Ethelyne propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM), or virgin rubber infill, also contains toxic chemicals, carbon black and heavy metals.(53) Corkonut (cork and coconut mix) floats! In rain, it creates a risk to “…waterways with suspended solids (TSS) and nutrients, plus any binders/adhesives and biocides/antifungals, etc., used on the field, and increasing maintenance costs.” It is estimated that 7,000 pounds of this infill migrates out per year, necessitating refill.(54) 5 ECHA restrictions on PAHs will go into effect in the European Union in 2020. The regulation disallows crumb rubber products from entering the market if they contain greater than 17mg/kg (0.00017 by weight) total of specific PAHs (Benzo[a]pyrene, Benzo[e]pyrene, Benzo[a]anthracene, Chrysen, Benzo[e]fluoranthene, Benzo[j]fluoranthene, Benzo[k]fluoranthene, Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene). The new law will also place restrictions on size of granules and will apply to synthetic turf infill and other sporting venues (childrens’ playgrounds, golf courses, sporting arenas, horse arena footings, shooting ranges, nature trails).(52) Even when chemicals are found at low levels in synthetic grass blades or infill, the synergistic effect of exposure to multiple chemicals/carcinogens can cause cancer.(42) When tires are broken down into crumb rubber, they degrade at a faster rate, releasing these toxins and leaching them into ground water and oceans as well. Synthetic turf also creates heat islands and adds to carbon emissions.