Public Comment - Banning Moratorium/Precautionary Principle

Page 1 of 1

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/4/16 10:00 AM
Received: February 27, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: March 02, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8o78-t209
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0006
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Anonymous Anonymous

General Comment
Crumb rubber is used in more play items than 12,000 playing fields! My child's preschool has
crumb rubber safety mats under all the outdoor play gyms. In the summer heat, it smells. A
local museum has the same crumb rubber matting under an indoor play space. It stinks up the
building. This affects more than just athletes who bear the brunt of the burden. Just test the
materials already! If they are carcinogenic, BAN THIS SUBSTANCE for use in anything
involving regular human contact. Especially ban carcinogenic materials when they might be
used regularly by children. This is such a no brainer.

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481e8d968&format=xml&showo... 5/4/2016

Page 1 of 1

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 4/14/16 1:42 PM
Received: April 06, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: April 11, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8ox6-5g5r
Comments Due: April 18, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0016
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Melissa Pruess
Address: 92117
Email: mpruess2@gmail.com

General Comment
I am a concerned parent and am happy to see our government agencies taking a closer look at
crumb rubber infill and its potential effects on children. Small children play on these fields and
there needs to be a comprehensive look at their exposure in particular, based on the prevalence
of "hand to mouth" behaviors in small children... not just the risks of inhaled exposure or
accidental ingestion. Smaller children have a totally different absorption rate that older kids and
adults and if there is even a chance that this material can be hazardous in any way, it should be
banned completely from the elementary school levels and replaced with one of the several
available alternatives to crumb rubber.

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f385d2&format=xml&show... 4/14/2016

Page 1 of 1

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 4/28/16 11:23 AM
Received: April 16, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: April 22, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8p3s-rk80
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0025
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Clover Hackett
Address: 55424
Email: Clovergraham@hotmail.com

General Comment
I am a concerned parent in Edina, MN. We are currently trying to get our school board to pause
their plans to install crumb rubber in 5 athletic fields until more conclusive research is
completed. This study and its deliverable of initial results by the end of the year has been a
crucial part of our argument, that not enough is known about short and long term health effects
of this material. As of now they are moving forward, citing the current studies as their
reasoning. Thank you for researching this further and trying to make the public understand that
the current studies are LIMITED.
We need someone to take a stand for our children! I look forward to following your progress,
and sharing the updates with my school board.
I did have a question as to why, when the study was launched, it was not accompanied with a
passage of a moratorium on installation of this material? If we do not know enough about this
and we have REAL health concerns, why is it not out of the stream of commerce?
That would have helped us in Edina.

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f6f28e&format=xml&showo... 4/28/2016

Page 1 of 1

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 4/28/16 11:24 AM
Received: April 16, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: April 22, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8p3s-6b2y
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0026
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Jerry Kickenson
Address: 20902
Email: Jerry.Kickenson@gmail.com

General Comment
The CPSC already has the authority to apply the Child protection guidelines for lead, cadmium
and Phthalates to every consumer use of this product which as you know is marketed to and for
children and adolescents primarily (see the filings to the EPA and CPSC from Public
Employees for Environmental Responsibility. PLEASE APPLY THESE REGULATIONS!
REQUIRE TESTING AND MONITORING of every individual bag of tire crumb to be used on
each playground or field and every component of the artificial turf system to which humans are
exposed. While you study, please send out warnings and impose a moratorium on the
recreational use of tire-derived products including tire crumb given all that is already known
about the myriad toxic (and untested) ingredients of tires to which humans and especially
children which were never meant to and should not be exposed.

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f6f290&format=xml&showo... 4/28/2016

Page 1 of 1

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 4/28/16 11:28 AM
Received: April 16, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: April 22, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8p3w-a68h
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0029
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Clover Hackett
Address: 55424
Email: Clovergraham@hotmail.com

General Comment
I am very concerned about recycled tire crumb rubber being used where our children play.
I am a part of a group of parents trying to get our school board in Edina MN to stop moving
forward with their plans to replace 4 natural grass fields with artificial turf with crumb rubber,
this summer.
I was wondering why, when it was determined that not enough was known about crumb rubbers
effect on the health of our children in the short and long term and this study was launched,
WHY was no moratorium issued on installation of crumb rubber until the initial results and/or
final results were established.
That would have really helped us over here in Edina.
Thank you so much for looking into this further.

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f6f2f1&format=xml&showo... 4/28/2016

Page 1 of 1

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 4/28/16 11:31 AM
Received: April 18, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: April 22, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8p54-tyhf
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0032
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Meghan Tierney-Knight
Address: 98008
Email: gogomegs@hotmail.com

General Comment
Knowing the composition of tires I am very uncomfortable have my kids play amongst such
small bits every day. They get in your hair, socks, shoes, stuck to your clothes, in your ears, and
even mouth. The degradation of such small pieces are bound to happen allowing a release of
chemicals and heavy metals, which cannot be good for the body and or environment. As an
advocate for the environment I am supportive of recycling of tires, but not at the expense of our
children in their playgrounds and sports fields. I hope the ban of crumb rubber fill becomes the
norm for the sake of our children and the environment.

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f710b3&format=xml&show... 4/28/2016

Page 1 of 2

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 4/28/16 11:32 AM
Received: April 18, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: April 22, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8p55-a6g4
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0033
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Kevin McKeon

General Comment
Lacking conclusive scientific evidence regarding crumb rubber, we must accept that the
growing discussion is about RISK assessment, RISK mitigation, and RISK level acceptance.
These risks include heat stresses and injuries and, according to a recent Yale study, exposure to
99 chemicals variously listed as irritating, harmful, and suspected/known carcinogens.
Government Exposure Limits are not health-based, they are risk-based...a compromise of many
factors: environmental, scientific, financial, political, and business-friendly issues. All credible
studies prove the presence and probable exposure to these chemicals. Turf manufacturers and
installers recognize this and require users to release them from health and safety liability claims.
Studies and satellite imagery prove the creation of "heat islands" on and over crumb rubber
fields. The surface is monitored and watered when overly hot. Vigorous play in these conditions
results in burns, dehydration, heat stress, or heat stroke. Kids bodies, being closer to the heat
source, with a higher surface-area/body-mass ratio, producing more body heat per unit mass,
and sweating less than adults, are particularly susceptible to heat stresses.
Over time, crumb rubber reacts with light, heat, air, seasonal temperature fluctuations,
mechanical agitation from play and maintenance operations, etc., becoming hard, brittle,
cracked, discolored, and powdered; this hardening and cracking can be noticed on old sneakers.
The CDC's 2008 advisory says that as turf ages and weathers, "lead is released in dust that
could then be ingested or inhaled." This rubber erosion happens down to the molecular level,
resulting in a persistent atmospheric chemical contamination over the playing fields and their

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f7155d&format=xml&show... 4/28/2016

Page 2 of 2

immediate areas. (More on this later).
The most dangerous item of this disintegration process could prove to be carbon nanotubes.
About 30% of a tire is composed of carbon black; puff out a candle...that black, wispy stuff is
carbon black. Engineered carbon nanotubes (and other engineered nanoparticles...zinc, titanium,
etc.) are made in specific shapes to give strength and durability to tires. It is the long thin nature
of engineered carbon nanotubes that has scientists comparing them with asbestos; studies
suggest that inhaling carbon nanotubes could lead to the same cancer and breathing problems
that prompted a ban on asbestos, and carbon nanotube exposure tests on mice result in the
formation of lesions known as granulomas. From Dr. Kathleen Michels, Neuroscientist,
Administrator, National Institute of Health: "...it has the potential to wreck everything in its
path. First, it has been declared a possible carcinogen by the US government and by the World
Health Organization. Then, carbon black used in tires consists of the purest, smallest (ultra-fine)
nanoparticles giving them a unique potential toxicity throughout the body. ...when you
pulverize tires for use in children's playing fields, they become more available to interact with
the environment and people with weathering and the impact of each child's footfall and
body...When children's life-long health is at stake, the precautionary principle should apply."
Toxicologist Dr. David Brown, Emeritus, (Public Health Toxicologist and Director of Public
Health Toxicology for Environment and Human Health, Inc.) says that tire crumb off-gases 24
harmful materials, and that the amount of off-gassing increases as the tire crumb heats. Carbon
black, which makes up 30% of black tires, is carcinogenic and breaks down into very small
particles called nano-particles. Those small carbon black particles attach onto the surface of the
gases, which then penetrate into the deep lung as the child breathes. These gas/particle mixtures
are 10-20 times more toxic than the materials alone. We know from air pollution studies that
looked at these mixtures that they cause serious disease." These nanoparticles are known to pass
the blood/brain barrier, attacking at the molecular level; some scientists state the need for
studying the effects of nanotubes on DNA function.
During heat mitigation operations, water is sprayed over the field causing evaporative cooling.
The rising water vapor picks up these nanotubes and atmospheric contamination mentioned
earlier, causing an unseen but dangerous "fog of chemicals" within which the kids are playing.
The resultant risk to our kids safety and health is intuitively obvious, and as part of their
decision process, the decision makers should apply The Precautionary Principle: "When an
activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures
should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established
scientifically." Examples of the essence of the Precautionary Principe are: "an ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure", "better safe than sorry", "look before you leap", and the
well known medical oath "First, Do No Harm".

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f7155d&format=xml&show... 4/28/2016

Page 1 of 2

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:18 PM
Received: April 29, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: April 29, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8pcg-82s1
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0045
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Maya van Rossum
Address: 19007
Email: keepermaya@delawareriverkeeper.org

General Comment
The Delaware Riverkeeper Network submits the attached comment for your consideration.
In addition to the attached comment we would like to request that Maya van Rossum, the
Delaware Riverkeeper, on behalf of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, be identified as a
stakeholder for participation in your process. Ms. van Rossum has engaged in a significant
amount of research and community education and advocacy around the issue of synthetic turf
fields, particularly those with crumb rubber infill, and would bring an important environmental
and community perspective to your deliberations. Ms. van Rossum is the primary author on the
documents we are submitting today.
Ms. van Rossum can be reached at:
keepermaya@delawareriverkeeper.org
or by phone at 215 369 1188 ext 102
Respectfully submitted and requested.

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f99f37&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 2 of 2

(p.s. the action alert document submitted previously was submitted in error and need not be
entered for the record.)

Attachments
Comment 4.29.16 ATSDR & EPA re Art Turf study

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f99f37&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

April 29, 2016

Leroy A. Richardson, Information Collection Review Office
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE., MS-D74
Atlanta, Georgia 30329.

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Regulation.gov

Re: Docket No. ATSDR-2016-0002

Dear Mr. Richardson,

Conducting additional research into the health and environmental impacts synthetic turf fields with
crumb rubber infill is essential. Crumb Rubber turf fields are proliferating quickly through
communities with schools and municipalities constructing crumb rubber fields to accommodate kids
playing sports of all ages from elementary level on up. In every instance school district and town
officials cite industry funded research as a primary demonstration of safety. Inadequate Government
documents are of little help in countering such assertions or information the decisionmaking process
as, to the degree they exist, they are very limited in scope, they often rely on industry-provided
information, and they often rely on an absence of information as somehow supporting a
demonstration of no harm. A thorough and independent investigation is essential if we are to protect
children, adults and the environment from the harms of crumb rubber artificial turf.

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network would also like to suggest that research into the impacts of other
artificial turf infill materials is important given that they too are the subject of a multitude of claims of
safety backed by little but industry marketing materials and industry funded research.

I believe it will be important to include an organization like the Delaware Riverkeeper Network
among your stakeholders. We have had to engage in significant research into, and advocacy about,
artificial turf, its environmental and health impacts on a number of occasions over the past 8+ years.
As a result we have a significant and healthy understanding of the science and the issues that have
been and need to be evaluated.

I include with this comment a series of fact sheets and informational materials created by my
organization to help inform local debates regarding the construction or expansion of artificial turf
DELAWARE RIVERKEEPER NETWORK
925 Canal Street, Suite 3701
Bristol, PA 19007
Office: (215) 369-1188
fax: (215)369-1181
drn@delawareriverkeeper.org
www.delawareriverkeeper.org

fields. In these materials we cite a number of scientific and government materials that assess the
environmental and health impacts of crumb rubber artificial turf. We would like to submit them for
the record and your consideration.

Synthetic turf is generally made with rubber from waste tires. Recycled rubber varies considerably in
its chemical composition, even when from the same manufacturer.1 Hazardous substances found in
tires may persist in the environment including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates
and certain metals. These substances may be bioaccumulative, carcinogenic, reprotoxic, mutagenic
and/or endocrine disrupting.2

• Most PAHs are persistent, bioaccumulative and carcinogenic.3
• Phthalates are generally used as solvents and plasticisers in plastics. Phthalates are not
chemically bound to the rubber and as a result can leach from the infill material.4
• Phenols likewise are not chemically bound to the rubber and so can leach. Phenols too are
persistent and bioaccumulative and can have long-term effects on the environment.5
• Among the metals found in tires that may be of concern are zinc, lead, copper, chromium and
cadmium. While zinc and copper are essential for living organisms, when absorbed at high
levels they become harmful. Lead can affect reproduction, development of the nervous system
leading to poor cognitive development, and is a particular threat to fetuses and young children.
Chromium is carcinogenic and mutagenic. Cadmium is toxic to humans and if taken in can
contribute to poor liver and kidney function, as well as osteoporosis. 6

Playing on Artificial Turf brings threats of exposure to hazardous substances through a variety
of pathways.
Direct human exposure to the hazardous substances contained in the rubber in-fill of artificial turf is
believed to occur via three pathways: inhalation, skin contact, and/or ingestion including by children
who come into contact with the material.7

A 2012 study focused on the threat of lead ingestion from artificial turf noted that lead, in the “case of
chronic exposure in early childhood, can induce cell necrosis, nerve behavioral abnormalities and
developmental disability, and in the case of long-term exposure it can induce cell necrosis, blood
pressure, cancer, and kidney tumor.”8 In this study researchers considered the impacts for lead
exposure from children who ingest rubber powder resulting from exposure to crumb rubber infill
artificial turf. The research showed elementary school children had a hazard index that exceeded 0.1,

1 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,

December 2005, p. 7.
2 KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
3 KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
4 KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
5 KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
6 KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
7 Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
8 Kim, S., Yang, J.-Y., Kim, H.-H., Yeo, I.-Y., Shin, D.-C., & Lim, Y.-W. (2012). Health Risk Assessment of Lead Ingestion
Exposure by Particle Sizes in Crumb Rubber on Artificial Turf Considering Bioavailability. Environmental Health and
Toxicology, 27, e2012005. http://doi.org/10.5620/eht.2012.27.e2012005.

Page 2 of 12

a level that is considered a “potential for hazard”. 9 Middle and high school children were also found
to have exposure levels.

In 2011, research conducted for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection began
investigation into the potential for players on artificial turf fields to be exposed to lead, chromium,
arsenic and cadmium as a respirable/inhalable aerosol.10 In air samples collected from the turf
during various levels of activity, researchers detected arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead, all
metals with known human toxicity. 11 “The findings of this study, although limited in scope, raise
some concerns with regard to the potential hazards that may exist for individuals and in particular
children who engage in sports activities on artificial turf fields.” 12 The research demonstrated that
activity by players on the fields could suspend contaminated particulates into the air that could be
inhaled. “The findings show that both inhalable PM [particulate matter], as well as inhalable lead
(when present) are resuspended from even minor physical activity on an artificial surface. These data
therefore indicates that human exposure from lead-containing artificial turf fields is not just limited to
dermal, but also to inhalation route of exposure.” 13 The three potential avenues for lead from
artificial turf are the blades of artificial grass, the pigment used for the field markings and lines, and
the infill material. Even studies that have not found exposure levels to lead high enough to be of
concern in the context of the study conducted are careful to point out: “some health scientists believe
that any Pb [lead] is harmful to children’s neurocognitive development, and that no new Pb should be
added to their surroundings”14 and that “…physicians should be aware of synthetic turf as pone
potential source of exposure for young children. Health officials investigating elevated blood lead in
children should also be aware of synthetic turf as a potential source of lead exposure.”15

Furthermore, a 2008 study that looked at a variety of contaminants associated with artificial turf did
find that the lead present in the rubber granules, while at low levels, was “highly bioaccessible” to
synthetic gastric fluid used in their research. This study also found a “slightly worrisome” level of
chromium in an artificial turf fiber sample and “high bioaccessible fractions of lead in both synthetic
gastric and intestinal fluids.16

9 Kim, S., Yang, J.-Y., Kim, H.-H., Yeo, I.-Y., Shin, D.-C., & Lim, Y.-W. (2012). Health Risk Assessment of Lead Ingestion

Exposure by Particle Sizes in Crumb Rubber on Artificial Turf Considering Bioavailability. Environmental Health and
Toxicology, 27, e2012005. http://doi.org/10.5620/eht.2012.27.e2012005.
10 S.L. Shalat, Sc.D., “An Evaluation of Potential Exposures to Lead and Other Metals as the Result of Aerosolized Particulate
Matter from Artificial Turf Playing Fields, Final Report”, submitted to NJ Department of Environmental Protection, July 14,
2011.
11 S.L. Shalat, Sc.D., “An Evaluation of Potential Exposures to Lead and Other Metals as the Result of Aerosolized Particulate
Matter from Artificial Turf Playing Fields, Final Report”, submitted to NJ Department of Environmental Protection, July 14,
2011.
12 S.L. Shalat, Sc.D., “An Evaluation of Potential Exposures to Lead and Other Metals as the Result of Aerosolized Particulate
Matter from Artificial Turf Playing Fields, Final Report”, submitted to NJ Department of Environmental Protection, July 14,
2011.
13 S.L. Shalat, Sc.D., “An Evaluation of Potential Exposures to Lead and Other Metals as the Result of Aerosolized Particulate
Matter from Artificial Turf Playing Fields, Final Report”, submitted to NJ Department of Environmental Protection, July 14,
2011.
14
J. Zhang, I. Han, L. Zhang, W. Crain, “Hazardous Chemicals in synthetic turf materials and their bioaccessibility in
digestive fluids,” Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology (2008)
15 G. Van Ulirsch et. al, Evaluating and Regulating Lead in Synthetic Turf, Commentary, Environmental Health Perspectives,
Vol 118, No. 10, Oct. 2010.
16
J. Zhang, I. Han, L. Zhang, W. Crain, “Hazardous Chemicals in synthetic turf materials and their bioaccessibility in
digestive fluids,” Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology (2008)

Page 3 of 12

In October 2006 and January 2007, respectively, two sites in New York where synthetic turf has been
used (a large, then 3 year old, Parade Ground in Brooklyn; a relatively small then 5 month old Sara D.
Roosevelt Park in Manhattan) were analyzed. This testing found PAHs at hazardous levels (as per
New York standards) at each of the sites. At both sites dibenzo (a.h)anthracene, a probable human
carcinogen, was found at hazardous levels, with two other PAH forms, both possible human
carcinogens, found at hazardous levels at the Parade Ground site. A 2008 study also found that the
rubber granules found in artificial turf fields had PAH levels above health-based soil standards, that
there was “low” but not “no” bioaccessibility, and that while levels appear to decline over time this
can be altered by the fact that new rubber can be added periodically to compensate for the loss of
infill material.17 Additional research is needed into the pathways by which these substances may be
absorbed into the bodies of children and athletes via skin contact, ingestion or other pathways18 - but
the need for additional research does not displace the concerns raised by these findings.

Analyses conducted at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of Rutgers
University found the crumb rubber from artificial turf to contain high levels of PAHs, as well as zinc
and arsenic.19 PAHs found to be contained in the crumb rubber “were above the concentration levels
that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) considers sufficiently
hazardous to public health to require their removal from contaminated soil sites. It is highly likely
that all six PAHs are carcinogenic to humans.” 20 “The analyses also revealed levels of zinc in both
samples that exceed the DEC's tolerable levels.” 21 The researchers associated with these findings
were careful to state “We want to emphasize that the findings are preliminary. PAHs in rubber might
not act the same way as in soil, and we do not yet have information on the ease with which the PAHs
in these rubber particles might be absorbed by children or adults -- by ingestion, inhalation, or
absorption through the skin. However, the findings are worrisome. Until more is known, it wouldn't
be prudent to install the synthetic turf in any more parks.” 22

J. Zhang, I. Han, L. Zhang, W. Crain, “Hazardous Chemicals in synthetic turf materials and their bioaccessibility in
digestive fluids,” Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology (2008)
18 Rachel’s’ Democracy & Health News #992, Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, Follow-up Analyses, April 12, 2007.
19 Junfeng Zhang, professor and acting chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health,
the School of Public Health, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers University & William
Crain, professor of psychology at The City College of New York, president of Citizens for a Green Riverside Park,
Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, 2006, analyses conducted at at the Environmental and Occupational Health
Sciences Institute of Rutgers.
20 Junfeng Zhang, professor and acting chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health,
the School of Public Health, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers University & William
Crain, professor of psychology at The City College of New York, president of Citizens for a Green Riverside Park,
Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, 2006, analyses conducted at at the Environmental and Occupational Health
Sciences Institute of Rutgers.
21 Junfeng Zhang, professor and acting chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health,
the School of Public Health, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers University & William
Crain, professor of psychology at The City College of New York, president of Citizens for a Green Riverside Park,
Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, 2006, analyses conducted at at the Environmental and Occupational Health
Sciences Institute of Rutgers.
22 Junfeng Zhang, professor and acting chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health,
the School of Public Health, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers University & William
Crain, professor of psychology at The City College of New York, president of Citizens for a Green Riverside Park,
Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, 2006, analyses conducted at at the Environmental and Occupational Health
Sciences Institute of Rutgers.
17

Page 4 of 12

A study by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) summarized
46 studies that identified 49 chemicals which are released from tire crumb. Of the 49, “seven of the
chemicals leached from tire shreds were carcinogens. OEHHA calculated a cancer risk of 1.2 in 10
million based on a one-time ingestion of the tire crumb rubber over a lifetime.”23 While there are
limited studies which assert that recycled tire crumb are stable in the gastrointestinal tract and that
therefore this is not a pathway for exposure, there are other studies which contradict these findings.24

Concerns have been raised about the potential implications of recycled tire in-fill for individuals with
latex allergies and that inhalation could result in a systemic response, as opposed to a contact
response.25

Asserted one analysis, while, “the status of the information about human exposures to recycled tire
crumb rubber in-fill … is not sufficient to determine the safety of the use of the product in situations
that involve continuous episodes of human exposure;” 26 “the available information is sufficient and
strong enough to raise plausible questions with respect to acute toxicity for susceptible persons, and
for cancer risks.”27

Chrysene, a PAH and carcinogen, was found to be ingested as the result of hand-to-surface-to-mouth
transfer from playground surfaces made with recycled tires. Assuming playground use for an 11 year
period (from age 1 to 12) there was found to be an increased cancer risk of 2.9 in one million
(2.9 X 10-6). This risk is greater than the general cancer risk gauge of one in one million (1X10-6).28
This research would seem to suggest that repeat exposure over time to the chemicals released from
artificial turf increases the associated increase in cancer risk.

The hot temperatures create additional concern for exposing players to dangerous toxins. As well
explained by a well cited petition to the Consumer Product Safety Commission for rulemaking: “When
tires are shredded and pulverized, their surface area increases exponentially, as does the particulate
and gas yield from the tire material. Since tires are made of very harmful materials, including 24
gases found to be harmful to humans, carbon black, (a carcinogen which makes up 30% of tires), latex,
benzothiazoles, phthalates, lead, mercury, cadmium, zinc and many other known toxins, when the
fields heat up, they become increasingly dynamic. Of primary concern is the interaction of particles
and gases, ‘because when particles adsorb onto the surface of gases, they become 10-20 times more
toxic than the materials themselves.’ The fields yield continuously, but become more dynamic and
more toxic as they heat up.”29

A Case Study conducted by a group of “physicians and public health professionals working with the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit” found
23 Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007 citing California Office of

Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), Evaluation of Health Effects of Recycled Waste Tires in Playground
and Track Products, January, 2007.
24 Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
25 Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
26 Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
27 Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
28 Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Evaluation of Health Effects of Recycled Waste Tires in Playground
and Track Products, January 2007. Note -- the 1.2 in 10 million cancer risk found in the OEHHA study was considered by
the authors to be an acceptable level of risk as it falls below the general cancer risk gauge of one in one million (1X10-6).
29 Petition for a Rulemaking on Surface Heat from Artificial Turf, Submitted by PEER to Consumer Product Safety
Commission, Sept 6, 2012.

Page 5 of 12

that they could not secure the research and information necessary to establish the safety in use with
children of tire crumb used as playground surface.30 “The use of recycled tire crumb products on
playgrounds has had little health investigation. The major unresolved concern is the potential for
latex allergy with short-term dermal exposure.” 31 “No published information is available specifically
regarding exposure to crumb rubber constituents from use of the product on playgrounds.” 32

Excessive heat is a major health threat for those that play on artificial turf.
Extreme heat is a health concern – high surface temperatures found on artificial turf fields can
contribute to physiological stress and cause “serious heat-related illnesses”.33 Heat stress, heat stroke
and burns are all of concern. In fact, the “New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
recognizes excessive surface temperatures as the most important health concern associated with
infilled synthetic turf.” 34 Studies document that the surface temperature on artificial turf is
dramatically increased as compared to surrounding land uses including asphalt – so much so that it is
a genuine health threat for players.

Concerns regarding the excessive temperatures range from the implications for players who are
already exerting themselves playing in such excessively high temperatures, to the implications for
burns when players or pedestrians come into contact with the hot surfaces, to the implications for
small children who may come into contact with the extremely hot surfaces during non-sporting
events. Research has also concluded that the “heat transfer from the surface to the sole of the
individual’s foot” could contribute to physiological stress of players. 35

In a 2002 study it was found that “the surface temperature of the synthetic turf was 37° F higher than
asphalt and 86.5° F hotter than natural turf.” 36 A study published in the Journal of Health and
Physical Education and Recreation showed “surface temperatures as much as 95 to 140 degrees
Fahrenheit higher on synthetic turf than natural turf grass when exposed to sunlight.” 37 Random
sampling at Brigham Young University identified temperatures ranging from 117.38 to 157 degrees
on artificial turf while neighboring natural grass areas were in the range of 78.19 to 88.5 degrees
Fahrenheit. “Two inches below the synthetic turf surface was 28.5° F hotter than natural turf at the
surface.”38 Another study comparing temperatures on artificial turf temperatures with air
temperature found that artificial turf ranged from 58 to 75 degrees hotter than measured air
temperature.39 And yet another study considering found ranges of 155.3 to 173.4 degrees on the turf
30 M.E. Anderson et al, A Case Study of tire Crumb Use on Playgrounds: Risk Analysis and Communication When Major

Clinical Knowledge Gaps Exist, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol 114, No. 1, January 2006.
31 M.E. Anderson et al, A Case Study of tire Crumb Use on Playgrounds: Risk Analysis and Communication When Major
Clinical Knowledge Gaps Exist, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol 114, No. 1, January 2006.
32 M.E. Anderson et al, A Case Study of tire Crumb Use on Playgrounds: Risk Analysis and Communication When Major
Clinical Knowledge Gaps Exist, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol 114, No. 1, January 2006.
33
T.J. Serensits, A.S. McNitt, D.M. Petrunak; Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA, Dept of Crop and Soil
Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, IMechE Vol 225 Part P: J. Sports Engineering & Technology, Jan 6, 2011.
34
T.J. Serensits, A.S. McNitt, D.M. Petrunak; Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA, Dept of Crop and Soil
Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, IMechE Vol 225 Part P: J. Sports Engineering & Technology, Jan 6, 2011.
35
T.J. Serensits, A.S. McNitt, D.M. Petrunak; Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA, Dept of Crop and Soil
Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, IMechE Vol 225 Part P: J. Sports Engineering & Technology, Jan 6, 2011.
36 Dr. C. Frank Williams and Dr. Gilbert E. Pulley, Synthetic Surface Heat Studies, Brigham Young University.
37 SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields, Selection, Construction
and Maintenance Considerations.
38 Dr. C. Frank Williams and Dr. Gilbert E. Pulley, Synthetic Surface Heat Studies, Brigham Young University.
39 T. Sciacca, The Thermal Physics of Artificial Turf, January 2008.

Page 6 of 12

fields when air temperatures were in the 76 degree range; and 104.2 to 159.3 degrees when air
temperatures were in the 77 degree range. 40

Research has not found good solutions for the excessive heat levels of turf. Irrigation of excessively
hot artificial turf surfaces only provides cooling benefits for about 20 minutes. 41 While irrigation
provides cooling for the synthetic turf, in one seminal study lowering the temperature from 174° F to
85° F, after only 5 minutes the temperature quickly rose again to 120°F; after 20 minutes it rose to
164°F.42 In another important body of work by Penn State, it was found again that irrigation is only
successful in reducing temperatures for about 20 minutes, with a rebound to within 10 degrees of the
pre-irrigation temperature within 3 hours. 43 The use of white crumb rubber as the infill does not
resolve the heat issue. 44 In fact, according to Penn State as part of a study which looked at various
color options for infill and temperature, “[w]hile marketing materials may claim lower surface
temperatures, no scientific reports exist that substantiate such claims.”45

Natural grass, by comparison, provides a natural cooling affect and helps to dissipate heat from
neighboring developed areas.46 “The temperature of natural grass rarely rises above 85 degrees
Fahrenheit, regardless of air temperature.” 47

The heat impacts of artificial turf need to be considered in the context of today’s changing climate.
Global climate change is expected to dramatically increase the number of days over 100 degrees in
many communities. Depending on how aggressively global warming gasses are reduced in coming
years, communities nearby Philadelphia will begin to experience in the range of 10 days (in lower
emission scenarios) to 30 days (if higher emission scenarios continue to prevail) over 100 degrees.48
By later in this century seasonable temperatures are projected to rise 6oF to 14oF in summer
(depending again on emission reductions achieved in the future). 49

Concerns for increased head injuries and bacterial infections as the result of playing on turf
are justified.
There is great concern that the increased level of abrasions and burns which result from playing on an
artificial turf field as compared to natural grass increases the pathways by which bacterial infections,
such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), can enter the body. As explained in a
2011 Penn State study, “It is important to note that synthetic turf is more abrasive than natural turf
grass and, as a result, breaks in the skin are more common, creating a pathway for infection when in
40 Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research, Synthetic Turf Heat Evaluation – Progress Report, January 2012.

T.J. Serensits, A.S. McNitt, D.M. Petrunak; Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA, Dept of Crop and Soil
Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, IMechE Vol 225 Part P: J. Sports Engineering & Technology, Jan 6, 2011.
42 Dr. C. Frank Williams and Dr. Gilbert E. Pulley, Synthetic Surface Heat Studies, Brigham Young University.
43
T.J. Serensits, A.S. McNitt, D.M. Petrunak; Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA, Dept of Crop and Soil
Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, IMechE Vol 225 Part P: J. Sports Engineering & Technology, Jan 6, 2011.
44
T.J. Serensits, A.S. McNitt, D.M. Petrunak; Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA, Dept of Crop and Soil
Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, IMechE Vol 225 Part P: J. Sports Engineering & Technology, Jan 6, 2011.
45 Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research, Synthetic Turf Heat Evaluation – Progress Report, January 2012.
46 James B. Beard & Robert L. Green, The Role of Turfgrasses in Environmental Protection and Their Benefits to Humans, J.
Environ Qual. 23:452-460 (1994).
47 SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields, Selection, Construction
and Maintenance Considerations.
48 Union of Concerned Scientists, Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast l New Jersey, 2007.
49 Union of Concerned Scientists, Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast l New Jersey, 2007.
41

Page 7 of 12

contact with an infected surface.” 50 There are studies to indicate that turf burns may be facilitating
infection by acting as a pathway for infection.51 Study has found that turf burns increased the risk of
infection regardless of the type and timing of care provided the burn. 52

Older turf fields have been found to have higher microbial populations, as well as higher levels in the
higher traffic areas such as the sidelines, thereby suggesting to researchers that microbial populations
can accumulate in synthetic turf over time.53

Concussions (formally described as Mild Traumatic Brain Injury or MTBI) resulting from sports has,
according to the US Centers for Disease Control, reached “epidemic proportions.”54 “’Mild’ head
traumas, and especially a series of such minor concussions can have long term, negative effects on
cognitive function.” 55 Study has documented that artificial turf increases the risk of MTBI over
natural turf, approximately doubling that risk, as well as causing a greater degree of trauma.56
According to study, artificial turf presents a 5 times greater risk of the more severe head injury than
natural turf, although it is still unknown the particular characteristics of the two surfaces that cause
the difference in head injury incidence. 57 Only 31% of the playground surfaces made of recycled
tires tested in one research study passed the California State mandated Head Impact Criterion (HIC)
of <1,000. In this same study 100% of the playground surfaces made of wood chips passed the same
standard. 58

Research shows there are adverse environmental impacts resulting from crumb rubber infill
artificial turf; it is also clear that additional study for water and other natural resources is
needed.
While it seems well recognized that there is a limited level of assessment and investigation into the
environmental impacts associated with artificial turf, a growing body of scientific analysis is

T.J. Serensits, A.S. McNitt, D.M. Petrunak; Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA, Dept of Crop and Soil
Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, IMechE Vol 225 Part P: J. Sports Engineering & Technology, Jan 6, 2011.
51 A High Morbidity Outbreak of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Players on a College Football Team,
Facilitated by Cosmetic Body Shaving and Turf Burns, study conducted 2004 for Connecticut Dept of Public Health,
Student Health Services of Sacred Heart Univ, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Minnesota Dept of Public
Health, Los Angeles County Dept of Health Svces; Dr. S.V. Kazakova et.al., A Clone of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus
aureus among Professional Football Players, The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol 352:468-475 No. 5, Feb. 3, 2005.
52 A High Morbidity Outbreak of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Players on a College Football Team,
Facilitated by Cosmetic Body Shaving and Turf Burns, study conducted 2004 for Connecticut Dept of Public Health,
Student Health Services of Sacred Heart Univ, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Minnesota Dept of Public
Health, Los Angeles County Dept of Health Svces.
53 J.J. Bass, D.W. Hintze, (2013) “Determination of Microbial Populations in a Synthetic Turf System,” Skyline – The Big Sky
Undergraduate Journal, Vol. 1, Iss. 1, Art. 1.
54 Dr. M. Shorten, J.A. Himmelsbach, BioiMechanica, Sports Surfaces and the Risk of Traumatic Brain Injury citing the US
Centers for Disease Control.
55 Dr. M. Shorten, J.A. Himmelsbach, BioiMechanica, Sports Surfaces and the Risk of Traumatic Brain Injury.
56 Dr. M. Shorten, J.A. Himmelsbach, BioiMechanica, Sports Surfaces and the Risk of Traumatic Brain Injury.
57 Dr. M. Shorten, J.A. Himmelsbach, BioiMechanica, Sports Surfaces and the Risk of Traumatic Brain Injury. See also K.M.
Guskiewica, N.L. Weaver, D.A. Padua, W.E. Garrett Jr., Epidemiology of Concussion in Collegiate and High School Football
Players, Sep-Oct 2000 & Does the Use of Artificial Turf Contribute to Head Injuries, The Journal of Trauma-Injury, Infection
and Critical Care, Oct 2002 for the finding that artificial turf increases the level of injury in comparison to natural grass
fields.
58 Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Evaluation of Health Effects of Recycled Waste Tires in Playground
and Track Products, January 2007. Please note that in this study 32 recycled tire playground surfaces were tested as
compared to only 5 wood chip playground surfaces.
50

Page 8 of 12

documenting a concerning level of environmental threat and harm and is further demonstrating the
need for more research regarding artificial turf and its ramifications for the environment.

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station conclusively found four compounds which outgassed and leached into water from synthetic turf rubber crumb under ambient temperatures:
Ø Benzothiazole (a skin and eye irritant),
Ø Butylated hydroxyanisole (a “recognized carcinogen, suspected endocrine toxicant,
gastrointestinal toxicant, immune toxicant, neurotoxicant, skin and sense-organ toxicant”),
Ø n-hexadecane (a severe irritant) &
Ø 4-(t-octyl) phenol (“corrosive and destructive to mucous membranes”).59

As rubber degrades it can leach toxic substances which can contaminate soil, plants and aquatic
ecosystems.60 Study has concluded that the use of tires in artificial turf has the potential to pollute
our environment with PAHs, phenols and zinc61 and that runoff from an artificial turf field draining to
a local creek can pose “a positive risk of toxic effects on biota in the water phase and in the
sediment.”62 Other metal contaminants found to leach from tire crumb rubber include zinc, selenium,
lead and cadmium.63 Zinc has also been shown to leach from the artificial turf fibers.64 Extreme
temperatures or solvents are not needed to release these metals, volatile organic compounds or semivolatile organic compounds from the rubber in-fill of artificial turf into the air or water – release takes
place in ambient air and water temperatures.65

“Runoff with high Zn [zinc] from synthetic turf fields may produce adverse effects to plants and
aquatic life. This is of particular concern given that the leaching rate of Zn [zinc] from rubber
granules can be up to 20 times greater than the leaching rate of Zn from agricultural applications of
manure and pesticides.”66 Leaching of substances as the result of surface water runoff from
precipitation has, by some researchers, been predicted to be the greatest risk for the environment
from artificial turf. 67 Study shows there is a risk of local effects for aquatic and sediment dwelling

59 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Examination of Crumb Rubber Produced from Recycled Tires, August

2007; Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.

60 Quoting Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott, Washington State University -- Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf

and Natural Grass; T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research(NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 17.; Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Examination of Crumb
Rubber Produced from Recycled Tires.
61 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research(NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 5; T. Edeskar, Lulea University of Technology, Technical and Environmental Properties of Tyre Shreds
Focusing on Ground Engineer Application, 2004 as cited in KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April
2007.
62 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 6.
63Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
64 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 17.
65 Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
66 J. Zhang, I. Han, L. Zhang, W. Crain, “Hazardous Chemicals in synthetic turf materials and their bioaccessibility in
digestive fluids,” Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology (2008)
67 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 5; NIVA (The Norwegian Institute for Water Research), Evaluation of the Environmental Risks of
Synthetic Turf, 2005; KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.

Page 9 of 12

organisms in impacted water courses. 68 Recycled rubber, and associated leachate, has been found to
contain a variety of metals (including lead, cadmium, copper, mercury and zinc), as well as organic
pollutants such as PAHs, phthalates, 4-t-octylphenol and iso-nonyphenol. 69 The leaching of zinc has
been determined to be of major environmental concern.70 The leaching of zinc increases as the
rubber infill weathers over time,71 it is likely this is the same for other contaminants. While Zinc
contributes the most risk, phenols (specifically octylphenol) and PAHs are also of concern. 72 Of the
organic compounds at issue, Octylphenol represents the greatest risk, and possibly could occur at
levels where hormone disrupting effects are a concern. 73 The varying content of tires makes this
threat a moving target.

The Norwegian Institute for Water Research has determined that it is “appropriate to perform a risk
assessment which covers water and sediments in watercourses which receive run-off from artificial
turf pitches.”74

While recycled rubber is a greater source of pollution, newly manufactured rubber also contains
levels of hazardous substances; in the case of zinc and chromium the levels of recycled and newly
manufactured rubber are comparable.75

It is predicted that chemicals leaching from synthetic turf materials occurs slowly, and as a result the
environmental harms may take place over many years.76

Leaching may not be the only source of water contamination from artificial turf. As the artificial turf
is used there is a level of “erosion” that takes place and can result in fine particles that could be
carried to local waterways. This source of contamination needs study.77

The synthetic grass fibers can also be a significant source of pollution, particularly zinc, albeit
significantly lesser amounts leach from the synthetic grass than the rubber infill.78
68 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research(NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,

December 2005, p. 5; NIVA (The Norwegian Institute for Water Research), Evaluation of the Environmental Risks of
Synthetic Turf, 2005, as cited by KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007; KEM, Swedish
Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007
69 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 7.
70 INTRON, Environmental and Health Risks of Rubber Infill, rubber crumb from car tyres as infill on artificial turf,
February 9, 2007.
71 INTRON, Environmental and Health Risks of Rubber Infill, rubber crumb from car tyres as infill on artificial turf,
February 9, 2007.
72 NIVA (The Norwegian Institute for Water Research), Evaluation of the Environmental Risks of Synthetic Turf, 2005, as
cited by KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
73 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 17.
74 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 8.
75 Byggforsk, SINTEF Building and Infrastructure, Potential Health and Environmental Effects Associated with Synthetic
Turn Systems, 2004, as referenced in KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
76 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research(NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 5; NIVA (The Norwegian Institute for Water Research), Evaluation of the Environmental Risks of
Synthetic Turf, 2005, as cited by KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
77 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 18.

Page 10 of 12

When talking about the use of ground rubber as a supplement to planting soils the North Carolina
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services sent out a notice identifying the risk that zinc
leaching from the rubber causes a decline in plant growth “directly attributable to zinc toxicity.”79

One Norwegian assessment/presentation reported that “recycled rubber was the major source of
potentially hazardous substances. An exposure scenario where the runoff from a football field is
drained to a small creek showed a positive risk of toxic effects on biota in the water phase and in the
sediment. The risk was mainly attributed to zinc, but also for octylphenol the predicted
environmental concentrations exceeded the no environmental effect concentration.” 80 The
hazardous leaching could result in local environmental effect.81

Conclusion
Given all of the science on the record that demonstrates artificial turf is a threat to health and the
environment, the precautionary principle dictates that artificial turf with crumb rubber infill be
recognized as a threat to public health and safety and the environment and that the ongoing
expansion and construction of crumb rubber turf fields should be prohibited and those fields that
have already been installed should be removed and properly disposed of.

When a community installs a crumb rubber artificial turf field it is forcing children who want to
participate in sports to be forced to expose themselves to its hazards. It is simply neither right nor
fair for communities, with the support or false sense of security given by an acquiescing government
agency, to be making investments that take from parents and kids the ability to decide for themselves
what health hazards they are willing to be exposed to if they want to participate in sports. Advancing
in anyway the construction and expansion of crumb rubber artificial turf fields is forcing an unfair
choice on kids and parents: play sports or protect your health, but you are not allowed to have both.

Respectfully,

Maya K. van Rossum
the Delaware Riverkeeper

P.S. I note, that as a result of my work on this issue, as a parent I have had to pull my son from the
township lacrosse team because they started playing on artificial turf this past year. The health
impacts of artificial turf are too significant and concerning for me, as a parent, to allow my 10 year old
son to play on crumb rubber artificial turf.
78 Byggforsk, SINTEF Building and Infrastructure, Potential Health and Environmental Effects Associated with Synthetic
Turn Systems, 2004, as referenced in KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
79 M. Ray Tucker, Agronomist, Ground Rubber: Potential Toxicity to Plants, Media Notes for North Carolina Growers, North
Carolina Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services, April 1997.
80 Dr. Christine Bjorge, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Artificial turf Pitches – an assessment of the health risks for
football players and the environment, Presentation at the ISSS Technical meeting 2006, Dresden.
81 Dr. Christine Bjorge, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Artificial turf Pitches – an assessment of the health risks for
football players and the environment, Presentation at the ISSS Technical meeting 2006, Dresden.

Page 11 of 12

Attachments:
Submitted as part of this comment are fact sheets and an annotated bibliography that discuss the
research detailed above as well as additional research speaking about the environmental and public
health threats posed by crumb rubber infill artificial turf.

Page 12 of 12

Summary of Research
Assessing the Impacts of Artificial Turf
Updated 4/29/2016

Heat: Research has documented that the surface temperature on artificial turf is dramatically higher than the
surrounding land uses including asphalt. Concerns regarding the excessive temperatures range from the implications
for players who are already exerting themselves to the implications for burns when players or pedestrians come into
contact with the hot surfaces.
1. Petrass, L. A., et al. (2014). Comparison of surface temperatures of different synthetic turf systems and
natural grass: Have advances in synthetic turf technology made a difference. Proceedings of the Institution
of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology.
a. A comparison of surface temperatures of third-generation synthetic turf with a cool climate product
that claims to reduce surface temperatures to surface temperatures of natural grass.
b. Although surface temperatures were lower for the cool climate field compared to other synthetic
turf, both types of artificial turf fields were considerably hotter than natural grass with temperatures
that were between 12° C (53° F) and 22° C (72° F) hotter.
2. Reasor, E. H. (2014). Synthetic Turf Surface Temperature Reduction and Performance Characteristics as
Affected by Calcined Clay Modified Infill. Master’s Thesis, University of Tennessee. Available at:
http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/2750
a. Surface temperatures of artificial turf were between 31° C (88° F) and 57° C (135° F).
b. Although irrigation reduced surface temperatures of artificial turf, increases of 74 to 102% of the
pre-irrigation temperature were observed within 30 minutes after irrigation.
c. Surface temperatures returned to pre-irrigation temperature on all of the treatments between 60
and 120 minutes after irrigation. Therefore, the cooling effect of irrigation will not last the entire
length of an athletic competition.
3. Thoms, A. W. et al. (2014). Models for Predicting Surface Temperatures on Synthetic Turf Playing Surfaces.
Procedia Engineering, 72, 895-900. Available at:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877705814006699
a. Artificial turf surface temperatures ranged from -9.8 to 86.4° C (14 to 188° F) to when ambient air
temperatures ranged from -0.4 to 37.1° C (31 to 99° F).
b. Absorption of solar radiation results in increased temperatures on artificial turf surfaces, and high
rates of solar radiation are absorbed with minimal light reflectance. Therefore, air temperature in
conjunction with solar radiation explained most of the variation in artificial turf surface
temperatures.
4. Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research (2012). Synthetic Turf Heat Evaluation- Progress Report.
January 2012. Available at: http://plantscience.psu.edu/research/centers/ssrc/documents/heat-progressreport.pdf
DELAWARE RIVERKEEPER NETWORK
925 Canal Street, Suite 3701
Bristol, PA 19007
Office: (215) 369-1188
fax: (215)369-1181
drn@delawareriverkeeper.org
www.delawareriverkeeper.org

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

a. This study measured surface temperatures of artificial turf fields between 140.2 and 173.4° F when
air temperatures were between 73 and 79° F.
b. Looking at various color options for infill and temperature, no product significantly reduced surface
temperatures. Small reductions in temperature are insignificant when surface temperatures still
exceed 150° F. This study concluded that “[w]hile marketing materials may claim lower surface
temperatures, no scientific reports exist that substantiate such claims.”
c. Research has not found a good solution for excessive heat levels of turf.
Serensits, T. J. et al. (2011). Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA. Proceedings of the Institution
of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 225(3), 139-146.
a. High surface temperatures found on artificial turf fields can contribute to physiological stress and
cause “serious heat-related illnesses” including heat stress, heat stroke, and burns.
b. The “New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene recognizes excessive surface
temperatures as the most important health concern associated with infilled synthetic turf.”
c. Irrigation of excessively hot artificial turf surfaces only provides cooling benefits for about 20
minutes, with a rebound to within 10 degrees of the pre-irrigation temperature within 3 hours.
d. The use of white crumb rubber as the infill does not resolve the heat issue.
Sciacca, T (2008). The Thermal Physics of Artificial Turf. SynTurf.org. Available at:
http://www.synturf.org/sciaccaheatstudy.html
a. A study comparing temperatures on artificial turf temperatures with air temperature found that
artificial turf ranged from 58 to 75° hotter than measured air temperature.
SportsTurf Managers Association (STMA) (2008). A Guide to Synthetic and Natural Turfgrass for Sports
Fields: Selection, Construction and Maintenance Considerations. 2nd edition. Available at:
http://www.stma.org/sites/stma/files/STMA_Synthetic_Guide_2nd_Edition.pdf
a. Artificial turf gets dramatically hotter than surrounding land uses including asphalt with surface
temperatures as much as 95 to 140° F hotter than natural grass fields whereas the temperature of
natural grass rarely rises above 85° F, regardless of air temperature
Williams, C. F., & Pulley, G. E. (2002). Synthetic surface heat studies. Brigham Young University. Available at:
www.wellesleyma.gov/pages/WellesleyMA_SpragueResources/Synthetic%20Surfaces%20Heat%20Study.do
c
a. Temperature measurements were taken at the surface, above the surface, and below the surface of
artificial turf, natural turf, bare soil, asphalt, and concrete.
b. Surface temperatures of synthetic turf were 37° F higher than asphalt and 86.5° F hotter than
natural turf.
c. Two inches below the surface, synthetic turf was 28.5° F hotter than natural turf.
d. Although irrigation of synthetic turf resulted in a reduction of close to 90°F, temperatures rose 35°
within five minutes and returned to the starting temperature within 20 minutes.
e. “The hottest surface temperature recorded was 200º F on a 98º F day. Even in October the surface
temperature reached 112.4º F.”
f. Brigham Young University has set a surface temperature guideline which restricts play on synthetic
turf fields when surface temperatures are potentially hazardous to athletes. This reduces the
playing season and eliminates any continuous play benefit that is typically mentioned in favor of
artificial turf.
Beard, J. B., & Green, R. L. (1994). The role of turf grasses in environmental protection and their benefits to
humans. Journal of Environmental Quality, 23(3), 452-460. Available at:
https://www.landcarenetwork.org/legislative/TheRoleofTurfgrassesinEnvironmentalProtection.pdf
a. Synthetic surfaces can be up to 39° C (102° F) hotter than natural turf. Natural turf grass provides a
natural cooling affect and helps to dissipate heat from neighboring developed areas.

Page 2 of 10

Health: The impacts of inhalation or ingestion of chemicals continues to be a concern for those playing on artificial
turf. Direct human exposure to the hazardous substances contained in the rubber in-fill of artificial turf is believed
to occur via inhalation, skin contact, and/or ingestion. Furthermore, there are concerns for increased injuries and
bacterial infections when playing on artificial turf.
1. Kim, S., Yang, J.-Y., Kim, H.-H., Yeo, I.-Y., Shin, D.-C., & Lim, Y.-W. (2012). Health Risk Assessment of Lead
Ingestion Exposure by Particle Sizes in Crumb Rubber on Artificial Turf Considering Bioavailability.
Environmental Health and Toxicology, 27, e2012005. http://doi.org/10.5620/eht.2012.27.e2012005.
a. Researchers considered the risks for lead exposure from children ingesting rubber powder resulting
from exposure to crumb rubber infill artificial turf and found that elementary school students had a
hazard index that exceeded 0.1, a level that is considered a “potential for hazard”, with middle and
high school students also suffering exposure levels.

2. Balazs, G. C., et al. (2014). Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Athletes on Synthetic Playing Surfaces
A Systematic Review. The American journal of sports medicine, 0363546514545864.
a. A systematic review of available literature on the risk of ACL rupture on natural grass versus artificial
turf found that there is an increased rate of ACL injury on synthetic playing surfaces for football
players.
3. Celeiro, M., Lamas, J. P., Garcia-Jares, C., Dagnac, T., Ramos, L., & Llompart, M. (2014). Investigation of PAH
and other hazardous contaminant occurrence in recycled tyre rubber surfaces. Case-study: restaurant
playground in an indoor shopping centre. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry,
94(12), 1264-1271.
a. The presence of a large number of hazardous substances were found in both the runoff and vapor
phase of recycled tire playground surfaces.
b. Nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected in the runoff/ cleaning water with total
PAH concentrations in the ppm (parts per million) range.
c. The most toxic PAH, benzo[a]pyrene was detected in extracts from playground surfaces.
d. “The presence and the high concentration of these chemical compounds in playground should be a
matter of concern owing to their high toxicity.”
4. Laible, C., & Sherman, O. H. (2014). Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies of Non-Contact Anterior Cruciate
Ligament Injuries. Bulletin of the Hospital for Joint Diseases, 72(1), 70-5. Available at:
http://www.nyuhjdbulletin.org/mod/bulletin/v72n1/docs/v72n1_7.pdf
a. Since shoe-surface interaction is important for injury prevention, “the optimal surface to prevent
injury is outdoors on natural grass.”
b. Artificial turf has a higher friction coefficient and greater ground reaction force, both conditions that
increase the risk for injury.
c. Furthermore, as temperature increases the shoe-surface friction interaction increases and exposes
athletes to greater risk of injury.
5. Bass, J. J., & Hintze, D. W. (2013). Determination of Microbial Populations in a Synthetic Turf System.
Skyline-The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal, 1(1), 1. Available at:
http://skyline.bigskyconf.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=journal
a. Abrasions, even insignificant ones, from artificial turf can create an entry site for pathogens.
b. The higher abrasion rate for synthetic turf increases the risk of infection, and the microbial
populations found within synthetic turf are a source of pathogens when abrasions occur.
c. Older turf fields have higher microbial populations, as well as higher levels in the higher traffic areas
such as the sidelines. These results indicate that artificial turf poses a greater risk for the spread of
pathogens and infections among student athletes.
6. Llompart, M., Sanchez-Prado, L., Lamas, J. P., Garcia-Jares, C., Roca, E., & Dagnac, T. (2013). Hazardous
organic chemicals in rubber recycled tire playgrounds and pavers. Chemosphere, 90(2), 423-431. Available
at: http://www.elcorreodelsol.com/sites/default/files/chemosphere_maria_llompart.pdf

Page 3 of 10

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

a. An analysis of surfaces containing recycled rubber tires confirmed the presence of hazardous
substances including PAHs, phthalates, antioxidants (e.g. BHT, phenols), benzothiazole, derivatives,
and other chemicals.
b. The vapor phase above the samples confirmed volatilization of many organic compounds
demonstrating that these chemicals can enter the human body through inhalation.
c. The use of recycled rubber tires for play areas, especially facilities for children, should be restricted
or prohibited.
Serensits, T. J., McNitt, A. S., & Petrunak, D. M. (2011). Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA.
Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology,
225(3), 139-146.
a. Synthetic turf is more abrasive than natural turf grass, therefore, “breaks in the skin are more
common, creating a pathway for infection when in contact with an infected surface.”
Shalat, S.L. (2011). An Evaluation of Potential Exposures to Lead and Other Metals as the Result of
Aerosolized Particulate Matter from Artificial Turf Playing Fields, Final Report. Submitted to NJ Department
of Environmental Protection, July 14, 2011. Available at: http://www.nj.gov/dep/dsr/publications/artificialturf-report.pdf
a. In air samples collected from artificial turf during various levels of activity, researchers detected
arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead, all metals with known human toxicity.
b. This research demonstrates that activity by players on the fields could suspend contaminated
particulates into the air that could be inhaled and therefore, human exposure from artificial turf
fields is not limited to dermal.
c. These results “raise some concerns with regard to the potential hazards that may exist for
individuals and in particular children who engage in sports activities on artificial turf fields.”
Van Ulirsch, G. et al. (2010). Evaluating and regulating lead in synthetic turf. Environmental health
perspectives, 118(10), 1345. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2957910/pdf/ehp118-1345.pdf
a. Artificial turf can degrade to form lead containing dust at levels that pose a health risk to children.
b. Due to the lack of research, “…physicians should be aware of synthetic turf as one potential source
of exposure for young children…” and “Health officials investigating elevated blood lead in children
should also be aware of synthetic turf as a potential source of lead exposure.”
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008). CDC Health Advisory. Potential exposures to lead
inartificial turf: Public health issues, actions, and recommendations. June 18, 2008. Available at:
http://www.dhhr.wv.gov/oeps/disease/Documents/Advisory_00275.pdf
a. Artificial turf made of nylon or nylon/ polyethylene blend fibers contain lead and pose a potential
public health concern.
b. The risk for lead exposure is higher for artificial fields that are old, frequently used, exposed to the
weather, or demonstrate signs of abraded, faded, or broken fibers. As turf ages, lead is released in
dust that could then be ingested or inhaled.
c. CDC does not know how much lead the body will absorb. However, lead can cause neurological
development symptoms and behavioral problems. Children less than 6 years old are more affected
by lead than adults and absorb lead more easily.
d. CDC does not understand the potential risks associated with lead exposure from artificial turf but
recommends precautions including aggressive hand and body washing after playing on fields,
washing clothes immediately to avoid tracking contaminated dust to other places, and discouraging
eating and drinking while on turf products.
Han, I. K., Zhang, L., & Crain, W. (2008). Hazardous chemicals in synthetic turf materials and their
bioaccessibility in digestive fluids. Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, 18(6), 600607. Available at: http://www.nature.com/jes/journal/v18/n6/pdf/jes200855a.pdf

Page 4 of 10

a. Samples from rubber granules and from artificial grass fibers were taken at fields of different ages
and analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), zinc, chromium, arsenic, cadmium, and
lead. These samples were then analyzed to determine their bioaccessibility in synthetic digestive
fluids.
b. The rubber granules found in artificial turf fields had PAH levels above health-based soil standards.
Although levels appear to decline over time, this trend can be altered by the fact that new rubber
can be added periodically to compensate for the loss of infill material.
c. There was a “slightly worrisome” level of chromium found in artificial turf fiber samples.
d. Lead in artificial fields can come from the blades of artificial grass, the pigment used for the field
markings and lines, and the infill material. Although there were relatively low concentrations of lead
measured, the researchers were careful to point out: “some health scientists believe that any Pb
[lead] is harmful to children’s neurocognitive development, and that no new Pb should be added to
their surroundings.” Furthermore, the lead present in the rubber granules, while at low levels, was
“highly bioaccessible” to synthetic gastric fluid.
12. Brown, D.R. (2007). Artificial Turf: Exposures to Ground-up Rubber Tires. Environment & Human Health, Inc.
(EHHI). Available at: http://www.ehhi.org/reports/turf/turf_report07.pdf
a. Direct human exposure to the hazardous substances contained in artificial turf occurs via three
pathways: inhalation as chemicals off gas from the turf, skin contact, or ingestion including by
children or infants who come into contact with the material. In the case of allergies (i.e. latex
allergies), inhalation could result in a systemic response, as opposed to a contact response.
b. Extreme temperatures or solvents are not needed to release metals (including zinc, selenium, lead
and cadmium), volatile organic compounds, or semi-volatile organic compounds from the rubber infill of artificial turf into the air or water – release takes place in ambient air and water temperatures.
c. While, “the status of the information about human exposures to recycled tire crumb rubber in-fill …
is not sufficient to determine the safety of the use of the product in situations that involve
continuous episodes of human exposure;” “the available information is sufficient and strong
enough to raise plausible questions with respect to acute toxicity for susceptible persons, and for
cancer risks.”
13. California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) (2007). Evaluation of Health Effects
of Recycled Waste Tires in Playground and Track Products. Report prepared for the Integrated Waste
Management Board. Available at:
http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/publications/Documents/Tires%5C62206013.pdf
a. Based on a review of 46 studies, 49 chemicals that are released from tire crumb were identified.
b. Of the 49 chemicals identified, “seven of the chemicals leached from tire shreds were carcinogens.”
c. OEHHA calculated a cancer risk of 1.2 in 10 million based on a one-time ingestion of the tire crumb
rubber over a lifetime.
d. Chrysene, a PAH and carcinogen, was found to be ingested as the result of hand-to-surface-tomouth transfer from playground surfaces made with recycled tires. Assuming playground use for an
11 year period (from age 1 to 12) there was found to be an increased cancer risk of 2.9 in one million
from the general cancer risk gauge of one in one million
e. Only 31% of the playground surfaces made of recycled tires tested passed the California State
mandated Head Impact Criterion (HIC) of <1,000. In this same study 100% of the playground
surfaces made of wood chips passed the same standard.
14. Crain, W. and Zhang, J. (2007). Rachel’s Democracy and Health News #992: Hazardous Chemicals in
Synthetic Turf, Follow-up Analyses, April 12, 2007. Available at:
http://www.precaution.org/lib/07/prn_synthetic_turf.070405.htm

Page 5 of 10

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

a. Testing on two sites in New York where synthetic turf has been used (the large, 3 year old, Parade
Ground in Brooklyn; the relatively small 5 month old Sara D. Roosevelt Park in Manhattan) found
PAHs at hazardous levels (as per New York standards). Dibenzo (a.h)anthracene, a probable human
carcinogen, was also found at hazardous levels, with two other PAH forms, both possible human
carcinogens, found at hazardous levels at the Parade Ground site.
b. Research into the pathways by which these substances may be absorbed into the bodies of children
and athletes via skin contact, ingestion or other pathways, is very limited with additional research
needed.
Epstein, V. (2007). Texas Football Succumbs to Virulent Staph Infection from Turf. Bloomberg Press,
December 21, 2007. Available at:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=alxhrJDn.cdc
a. Artificial turf is linked with serious and potentially life threatening staph infections including MRSA
(methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus). MRSA can exploit minor skin injuries such as turf
burn, and therefore, MRSA infection rate among players is 16 times higher than the national
average.
KEMI, Swedish Chemicals Agency (2007). Facts: Synthetic Turf. April 2007. Available:
http://www2.kemi.se/upload/trycksaker/pdf/faktablad/fbsyntheticturf.pdf.
a. Tires contain up to 60 different substances which may be bioaccumulative, carcinogenic, reprotoxic,
mutagenic and/or endocrine disrupting.
b. Most PAHs are persistent, bioaccumulative and carcinogenic.
c. Among the metals found in tires that may be of concern are zinc, lead, copper, chromium and
cadmium. Zinc and copper are harmful when absorbed at high levels. Lead can affect reproduction
and development of the nervous system leading to poor cognitive development. Chromium is
carcinogenic and mutagenic. Cadmium is toxic to humans and can contribute to poor liver and
kidney function, as well as osteoporosis.
Mattina, M. I., Isleyen, M., Berger, W., & Ozdemir, S. (2007). Examination of crumb rubber produced from
recycled tires. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT. Available at:
http://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/fact_sheets/examinationofcrumbrubberac005.pd
f
a. Multiple compounds out-gas and leached into water from synthetic turf rubber crumb under
ambient temperatures including benzothiazole (a skin and eye irritant), butylated hydroxyanisole (a
“recognized carcinogen, suspected endocrine toxicant, gastrointestinal toxicant, immune toxicant,
neurotoxicant, skin and sense-organ toxicant”), n-hexadecane (a severe irritant), and 4-(t-octyl)
phenol (“corrosive and destructive to mucous membranes”).
Anderson, M. E. et al. (2006). A case study of tire crumb use on playgrounds: risk analysis and
communication when major clinical knowledge gaps exist. Environmental health perspectives, 114(1), 1.
Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1332647/pdf/ehp0114-000001.pdf
a. A Case Study conducted by a group of physicians and public health professionals working with the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit found
that the research and information necessary is not available to establish “the safety in use with
children” of tire crumb used as playground surfaces.
b. “The use of recycled tire crumb products on playgrounds has had little health investigation. The
major unresolved concern is the potential for latex allergy with short-term dermal exposure.”
Crain, W. and Zhang, J. (2006). Rachel’s Democracy and Health News #871: Hazard Chemicals in Synthetic
Turf. September 7, 2006. Available at:
http://www.precaution.org/lib/06/prn_toxins_in_synthetic_turf.060831.htm

Page 6 of 10

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

a. Analyses conducted at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of Rutgers
University found the crumb rubber from artificial turf to contain high levels of PAHs, as well as zinc
and arsenic.
b. PAHs found to be contained in the crumb rubber “were above the concentration levels that the New
York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) considers sufficiently hazardous to
public health to require their removal from contaminated soil sites. It is highly likely that all six PAHs
are carcinogenic to humans.”
c. “The analyses also revealed levels of zinc in both samples that exceed the DEC's tolerable levels.”
d. The researchers associated with these findings were careful to state “We want to emphasize that
the findings are preliminary. PAHs in rubber might not act the same way as in soil, and we do not yet
have information on the ease with which the PAHs in these rubber particles might be absorbed by
children or adults -- by ingestion, inhalation, or absorption through the skin. However, the findings
are worrisome. Until more is known, it wouldn't be prudent to install the synthetic turf in any more
parks.”
Kazakova, S. V. et al. (2005). A clone of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among professional
football players. New England Journal of Medicine, 352(5), 468-475. Available at:
http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa042859
a. In a study of professional football players from the St. Louis Rams team, all MRSA infections
developed at sites of turf burns.
b. Players reported a higher frequency of abrasions when playing on artificial turf compared to natural
grass.
Begier, E. M. et al. (2004). A high-morbidity outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among
players on a college football team, facilitated by cosmetic body shaving and turf burns. Clinical infectious
diseases, 39(10), 1446-1453. (a study conducted for the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Student
Health Services of Sacred Heart Univ, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Minnesota Department of
Public Health, and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services).
a. In a study of MRSA outbreaks involving college football players, infection was associated with turf
burns from artificial grass. Turf burns increased the risk of infection regardless of the type and
timing of care provided the burn. Turf burns may be facilitating infection by acting as a pathway for
infection.
Shorten, M. R., & Himmelsbach, J. A. (2003). Sports surfaces and the risk of traumatic brain injury. Sports
surfaces. University of Calgary, Calgary, 49-69. Available at:
http://biomechanica.com/docs/publications/docs/Shorten%20-%20Head%20Injury%20Risk.pdf
a. There is double the risk of head traumas such as concussions associated with artificial turf compared
to natural turf, and artificial turf presents a 5 times greater risk of more severe head injury.
b. Concussions (formally described as Mild Traumatic Brain Injury or MTBI) resulting from sports has,
according to the US Centers for Disease Control, reached “epidemic proportions,” and these ’mild’
head traumas, especially a series of concussions, can have long term, negative effects on cognitive
function.
Naunheim, R., et al. (2002). Does the use of artificial turf contribute to head injuries?. Journal of TraumaInjury, Infection, and Critical Care, 53(4), 691-694.
a. The impact-attenuating properties of two artificial fields were compared to a grass outdoor practice
field. Both artificial surfaces were harder compared to the outdoor grass field. It was concluded
that the low impact attenuation of the artificial turf may be contributing to the high incidence of
concussion.
Guskiewicz, K. M., et al. (2000). Epidemiology of concussion in collegiate and high school football players.
The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 28(5), 643-650.

Page 7 of 10

a. In a survey of both high school and collegiate certified athletic trainers representing over 17,000
football players, contact with artificial turf was associated with more serious concussion than
contact with natural grass.

Environment: The pollutant substances found in artificial turf contribute to contamination of soil, plants and aquatic
ecosystems and pose a risk of toxic effects for aquatic and sediment dwelling organisms. The resulting
environmental harm is on-going and long-term, happening over many years. The varying content of tires used for
infill of turf systems makes this threat a moving target. A growing body of scientific analysis is documenting a
concerning level of environmental threat and harm and is further demonstrating the need for more research
regarding artificial turf and its ramifications for the environment.
1. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) (2012). Petition for a Rulemaking on Surface Heat
from Artificial Turf, Submitted by PEER to Consumer Product Safety Commission, Sept 6, 2012. Available at:
http://www.peer.org/assets/docs/doc/9_6_12_PEER_Petition_heat_rulemaking.pdf
a. As well explained by an oft cited petition to the Consumer Product Safety Commission for
rulemaking: “When tires are shredded and pulverized, their surface area increases exponentially, as
does the particulate and gas yield from the tire material. Since tires are made of very harmful
materials, including 24 gases found to be harmful to humans, carbon black, (a carcinogen which
makes up 30% of tires), latex, benzothiazoles, phthalates, lead, mercury, cadmium, zinc and many
other known toxins, when the fields heat up, they become increasingly dynamic. Of primary
concern is the interaction of particles and gases, ‘because when particles adsorb onto the surface of
gases, they become 10-20 times more toxic than the materials themselves.’”
b. Furthermore, artificial turf becomes more toxic as it heats up.
2. Sadiktsis, I., et al. (2012). Automobile Tires A Potential Source of Highly Carcinogenic Dibenzopyrenes to
the Environment. Environmental science & technology, 46(6), 3326-3334. Available at:
http://www.locchiodiromolo.it/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Sadiktsis-et-al-Automobile-TiresPotential-Source-of-Highly-Carcinogenic-2012.pdf
a. The variability in PAH concentrations between different tires is large.
b. Due to “leaching of PAHs from recycled tire rubber material, tires are a source of environmental
pollution of PAHs through their entire lifecycle.”
3. Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (2010). Artificial Turf Study: Leachate and Stormwater
Characteristics, Final Report. Available at:
http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/artificialturf/dep_artificial_turf_report.pdf
a. Stormwater runoff from artificial turf contained zinc, manganese, and chromium at levels toxic to
aquatic organisms.
b. Therefore, there is a potential risk to surface waters from the installation of artificial turf. Zinc levels
could cause exceedance of acute aquatic toxicity criteria. This risk is especially high for smaller
watercourses.
c. Best management practices and treatment (i.e. wetlands, wet ponds, infiltration structures,
compost filter, sand filters, or biofiltration structures) should be used for stormwater runoff from
artificial turf fields that discharge to surface waters.
4. Yaghoobian, N., et al. (2010). Modeling the thermal effects of artificial turf on the urban environment.
Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 49(3), 332-345.
a. An urban temperature model showed an increase in local atmospheric temperatures of up to 4° C
(39° F) in areas where natural grass cover had been replaced with artificial turf.
5. Han, I. K., et al. (2008). Hazardous chemicals in synthetic turf materials and their bioaccessibility in digestive
fluids. Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, 18(6), 600-607. Available at:
http://www.nature.com/jes/journal/v18/n6/pdf/jes200855a.pdf

Page 8 of 10

6.

7.

8.

9.

a. Zinc was found to exceed soil limits and the leaching rate from rubber granules was up to 20 times
more than the leaching rate from agricultural applications of manure and pesticides. “Runoff with
high Zn [zinc] from synthetic turf fields may produce adverse effects to plants and aquatic life.”
KEMI, Swedish Chemicals Agency (2007). Facts: Synthetic Turf. April 2007. Available:
http://www2.kemi.se/upload/trycksaker/pdf/faktablad/fbsyntheticturf.pdf.
a. Hazardous substances found in tires may persist in the environment including polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, phenols, and certain metals.
b. Most PAHs are persistent, bioaccumulative and carcinogenic.
c. Phthalates and phenols are not chemically bound to the rubber and as a result can leach from the
infill material. These chemicals are persistent and bioaccumulative and can have long-term effects
on the environment.
Meil, J., & Bushi, L. (2006). Estimating the Required Global Warming Offsets to Achieve a Carbon Neutral
Synthetic Field Turf System Installation. Athena Institute. Ontario Canada. Available at:
http://sfrecpark.org/wp-content/uploads/AthenaICarbonOffsets.pdf
a. Artificial turf systems have a carbon footprint due to the greenhouse gases emitted during the life
cycle of synthetic turf systems compared to natural grass surfaces.
b. To achieve a 10-year carbon neutral synthetic turf installation, 1861 trees would need to be planted
to offset the field’s carbon footprint.
Källqvist, T. (2005). Environmental risk assessment of artificial turf systems. Norwegian Institute for Water
Research, 19.
a. Recycled rubber varies considerably in its chemical composition, even when from the same
manufacturer.
b. Leaching of contaminants from artificial turf as the result of surface water runoff from precipitation
is a great risk for the environment. It is predicted that chemicals leaching from synthetic turf
materials occurs slowly, and as a result the environmental harms may take place over many years.
There is also a level of “erosion” that takes place and can result in fine particles that could be carried
to local waterways. Chemicals have even been shown to leach from the artificial turf fibers.
c. The leachate from artificial turf can contain a variety of metals (including lead, cadmium, copper,
mercury and zinc) and organic pollutants (including PAHs, phthalates, 4-t-octylphenol and isononyphenol).
d. The runoff from an artificial turf field poses “a positive risk of toxic effects on biota in the water
phase and in the sediment.”
e. Of the organic compounds at issue, octylphenol represents the greatest risk, and possibly could
occur at levels where hormone disrupting effects are a concern.
f. The Norwegian Institute for Water Research has determined that it is “appropriate to perform a risk
assessment which covers water and sediments in watercourses which receive run-off from artificial
turf pitches.”
Thale, S.W. et al. (2004) Potential Health and Environmental Effects Associated with Synthetic Turf Systems-
final report. Byggforsk, Norwegian Building Research Institute. Available at: http://www.issssportsurfacescience.org/downloads/documents/vskyslv2qq_nbiengelsk.pdf
a. While recycled rubber is a greater source of pollution, newly manufactured rubber also contains
levels of hazardous substances; in the case of zinc and chromium the levels of recycled and newly
manufactured rubber are comparable.
b. The synthetic grass fibers can also be a significant source of pollution, albeit significantly lesser
amounts leach from the synthetic grass than the rubber infill

Page 9 of 10

10. Tucker, M.R. (1997). Ground Rubber: Potential Toxicity to Plants. Media Notes for North Carolina Growers,
North Carolina Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services, April 1997. Available at:
http://www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/pdffiles/rubber.pdf
a. When talking about the use of ground rubber as a supplement to planting soils, the North Carolina
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services sent out a notice identifying the risk that zinc
leaching from the rubber causes a decline in plant growth “directly attributable to zinc toxicity.”
11. Quoting Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott, Washington State University - Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About
Artificial Turf and Natural Grass. (n.d.) Available at: http://plasticfieldsfornever.org/ArtificialTurfBooklet.pdf
a. “There is no question that toxic substances leach from rubber as it degrades, contaminating the soil,
flora, and fauna and aquatic systems.”
12. Turfgrass Resource Center (n.d.) Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass. Available at:
http://plasticfieldsfornever.org/ArtificialTurfBooklet.pdf
a. Part of artificial turf maintenance is the regular replenishment of the infill. Some of the infill is
merely settling, but some of it is washing away or literally “walking away” with players after use.
The effects of this “runaway” infill are unknown and more research is needed to draw conclusions–
where is it going and what impacts is it having?
b. Maintenance of artificial turf can include application of algaecides or disinfectants to keep the
surface clean and application of fabric softener to mask the odor of the artificial turf. What is the
final destination of these chemicals and their implications for the environment and those coming
into contact with them while playing on the fields?
c. There is no indication that artificial turf drains more effectively for purposes of a stormwater
infiltration system than natural grass. In addition, infiltration systems are designed to work with
whatever surface coating they receive from natural grass to porous paving. Although there is no
assumed benefit from an infiltration perspective of natural turf or artificial turf, in many cases the
complex systems designed for artificial turf fields have experience problems, work incorrectly, or
inefficiently.

Page 10 of 10

Fact Sheet

Artificial/Synthetic Turf
While professional sports are turning away from artificial turf, it is gaining ground and
use at the local level at schools and community fields. Producers of artificial turf
make claims of environment, health and safety benefits associated with artificial turf –
when they make these blanket claims they are not giving the full picture.
In terms of environment, health and safety, the jury is still very far out
on artificial turf. There continues to be information documenting harm in
each of these arenas. Most of all, there is a widespread demonstration
and recognition that in terms of environmental, health and safety threats
from artificial turf, much more study, analysis and consideration is
needed. And whatever the final outcome of the research, manufacturers neglect the
reality that as much as they try to mimic natural grass, artificial turf is not grass, and
cannot provide the same natural feel, natural look, natural smell and environmental
benefits that natural grass provides.
Artificial Turf is generally comprised of plastic fibers (generally made of polyethylene,
polypropylene or nylon) attached to a polypropylene or polyester plastic webbing. A
combination of sand and rubber, or sometimes rubber alone, fills between the fibers.
The source for the rubber infill is generally recycled tires. Sometimes newly
manufactured rubber granulate is used but the cost is so much greater than the
recycled tire form that it is generally not the substance used. New developments in
artificial turf technology seem continually in the works.
Water Quality:

While it seems well recognized that there is a limited level of assessment and
investigation into the environmental impacts associated with artificial turf, a growing
body of scientific analysis is documenting a concerning level of environmental threat
and harm and is further demonstrating the need for more research regarding artificial
turf and its ramifications for the environment.
Synthetic turf is generally made with rubber from waste tires. Recycled rubber varies
considerably in its chemical composition, even when from the same manufacturer.1
Hazardous substances found in tires may persist in the environment including
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates and certain metals. These
substances may be bioaccumulative, carcinogenic, reprotoxic, mutagenic and/or
endocrine disrupting.2 The chemicals in waste tires are of such concern that a report
published by the Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate recommends: “waste tyres should
not be used for synthetic turf surfaces.” 3
• Most PAHs are persistent, bioaccumulative and carcinogenic.4
• Phthalates are generally used as solvents and plasticisers in plastics. Phthalates
are not chemically bound to the rubber and as a result can leach from the infill
material.5
• Phenols likewise are not chemically bound to the rubber and so can leach.
Phenols too are persistent and bioaccumulative and can have long-term effects
on the environment.6
• Among the metals found in tires that may be of concern are zinc, lead, copper,
chromium and cadmium. While zinc and copper are essential for living
organisms, when absorbed at high levels they become harmful. Lead can affect
reproduction, development of the nervous system leading to poor cognitive
development, and is a particular threat to fetuses and young children.
Chromium is carcinogenic and mutagenic. Cadmium is toxic to humans and if
taken in can contribute to poor liver and kidney function, as well as
osteoporosis. 7
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station conclusively found four compounds
which out-gassed and leached into water from synthetic turf rubber crumb under
ambient temperatures:
Ø Benzothiazole (a skin and eye irritant),
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 7.
2
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
3
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
4
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
5
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
6
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
7
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
1

Page 2 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

Ø Butylated hydroxyanisole (a “recognized carcinogen, suspected endocrine
toxicant, gastrointestinal toxicant, immune toxicant, neurotoxicant, skin and
sense-organ toxicant”),
Ø n-hexadecane (a severe irritant) &
Ø 4-(t-octyl) phenol (“corrosive and destructive to mucous membranes”).8
As rubber degrades it can leach toxic substances which can contaminate soil, plants
and aquatic ecosystems.9 Study has concluded that the use of tires in artificial turf
has the potential to pollute our environment with PAHs, phenols and zinc10 and that
runoff from an artificial turf field draining to a local creek can pose “a positive risk of
toxic effects on biota in the water phase and in the sediment.”11 Other metal
contaminants found to leach from tire crumb rubber include zinc, selenium, lead and
cadmium.12 Zinc has also been shown to leach from the artificial turf fibers.13
Extreme temperatures or solvents are not needed to release these metals, volatile
organic compounds or semi-volatile organic compounds from the rubber in-fill of
artificial turf into the air or water – release takes place in ambient air and water
temperatures.14
Leaching of substances as the result of surface water runoff from precipitation has,
by some researchers, been predicted to be the greatest risk for the environment from
artificial turf. 15 Study shows there is a risk of local effects for aquatic and sediment
dwelling organisms in impacted water courses. 16 Recycled rubber, and associated
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Examination of Crumb Rubber Produced from
Recycled Tires, August 2007; Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to GroundUp Rubber Tires, 2007.
9
Quoting Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott, Washington State University -- Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts
About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass; T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research(NIVA),
Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 17.; Connecticut
Agricultural Experiment Station, Examination of Crumb Rubber Produced from Recycled Tires.
10
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research(NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 5; T. Edeskar, Lulea University of Technology, Technical and
Environmental Properties of Tyre Shreds Focusing on Ground Engineer Application, 2004 as cited in
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
11
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 6.
12
Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
13
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 17.
14
Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
15
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 5; NIVA (The Norwegian Institute for Water Research),
Evaluation of the Environmental Risks of Synthetic Turf, 2005; KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts:
Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
16
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research(NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 5; NIVA (The Norwegian Institute for Water Research),
Evaluation of the Environmental Risks of Synthetic Turf, 2005, as cited by KEM, Swedish Chemicals
8

Page 3 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

leachate, has been found to contain a variety of metals (including lead, cadmium,
copper, mercury and zinc), as well as organic pollutants such as PAHs, phthalates, 4-toctylphenol and iso-nonyphenol. 17 The leaching of zinc has been determined to be of
major environmental concern.18 The leaching of zinc increases as the rubber infill
weathers over time,19 it is likely this is the same for other contaminants. While Zinc
contributes the most risk, phenols (specifically octylphenol) and PAHs are also of
concern. 20 Of the organic compounds at issue, Octylphenol represents the greatest
risk, and possibly could occur at levels where hormone disrupting effects are a
concern. 21 The varying content of tires makes this threat a moving target.
The Norwegian Institute for Water Research has determined that it is “appropriate to
perform a risk assessment which covers water and sediments in watercourses which
receive run-off from artificial turf pitches.”22
While recycled rubber is a greater source of pollution, newly manufactured rubber also
contains level of hazardous substances; in the case of zinc and chromium the levels of
recycled and newly manufactured rubber are comparable.23
It is predicted that chemicals leaching from synthetic turf materials occurs slowly, and
as a result the environmental harms may take place over many years.24
Leaching may not be the only source of water contamination from artificial turf. As
the artificial turf is used there is a level of “erosion” that takes place and can result in

Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007; KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April
2007
17
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 7.
18
INTRON, Environmental and Health Risks of Rubber Infill, rubber crumb from car tyres as infill on
artificial turf, February 9, 2007.
19
INTRON, Environmental and Health Risks of Rubber Infill, rubber crumb from car tyres as infill on
artificial turf, February 9, 2007.
20
NIVA (The Norwegian Institute for Water Research), Evaluation of the Environmental Risks of
Synthetic Turf, 2005, as cited by KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
21
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 17.
22
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 8.
23
Byggforsk, SINTEF Building and Infrastructure, Potential Health and Environmental Effects Associated
with Synthetic Turn Systems, 2004, as referenced in KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic
Turf, April 2007.
24
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research(NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 5; NIVA (The Norwegian Institute for Water Research),
Evaluation of the Environmental Risks of Synthetic Turf, 2005, as cited by KEM, Swedish Chemicals
Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
Page 4 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

fine particles that could be carried to local waterways. This source of contamination
needs study.25
The synthetic grass fibers can also be a significant source of pollution, particularly
zinc, albeit significantly lesser amounts leach from the synthetic grass than the rubber
infill.26
Concerns about the environmental and health effects of synthetic turf in European
countries is so great that standards and/or guidelines have been set or are under
consideration. For example: Germany has set standards for the use of synthetic turf
including a maximum allowable level of pollution or contamination of water and soil,
with a requirement of regular sampling to ensure these standards are not exceeded.
Allowable pollution levels include: lead 0.04 mg/l, cadmium 0.005 mg/l; chromium
0.05 mg/l, mercury 0.001 mg/l and zinc 3.0 mg/l or 0.5 mg/l depending on the
testing method used. 27 Holland has also suggested appropriate language for a
standard applicable to use of synthetic turf including a ban on the use of carcinogens,
mutagenic, reprotoxic, persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic, or very persistent and
very bioaccumulative substances in the surface layer of the turf and a limitation on
the level of substances in the rubber infill that may cause cancer, may cause heritable
genetic damage, may cause cancer by inhalation, are toxic or harmful to aquatic
organisms or may cause long term affects on the aquatic environment, that may
impair fertility or cause harm to unborn children. Sweden has set guidelines and
limiting values for some of the substances that are present in synthetic turf,
specifically as it relates to air pollution, soil contamination and water pollution. 28 And
because vehicle tires contain levels of several substances of “very high concern”, the
recycling and use of tires in synthetic turf is apparently in conflict with the Swedish
environmental objective of A Non Toxic Environment.29
Part of artificial turf maintenance is the regular replenishment of the infill. There is a
need for research into the loss of existing infill – where is it going and what impacts is
it having?30
Maintenance of artificial turf can include application of algaecides or disinfectants to
keep the surface clean. 31 Maintenance could also include application of fabric
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 18.
26
Byggforsk, SINTEF Building and Infrastructure, Potential Health and Environmental Effects Associated
with Synthetic Turn Systems, 2004, as referenced in KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic
Turf, April 2007.
27
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
28
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
29
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
30
Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass.
25

Page 5 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

softener to mask the odor of the artificial turf. 32 What is the final destination of
these chemicals and their implications for the environment and those coming into
contact with them while playing on the fields? More information is needed on this
subject as well.
Stormwater:
There is no indication that artificial turf drains more effectively for purposes of a
stormwater infiltration system than natural grass. In addition, infiltration systems are
designed to work with whatever surface coating they receive from natural grass to
porous paving. It should be noted that while generally there can be no assumed
benefit from an infiltration perspective of natural turf or artificial turf, there are
instances where schools have experienced problems with the drainage of their artificial
turf fields. 33
Natural grass provides a level of evapotranspiration, pulling water out of the soil and
subsurface and releasing it to the air, providing benefits in reducing the volume of
runoff that results from a site and/or needs to be addressed by other stormwater
management strategies. Artificial turf has no evapotranspiration capabilities.
Grass does provide a level of pollution filtering and therefore water quality protection
for nearby waterways. While this filtering may be limited in the case of turf grass;
such filtering is nonexistent with artificial turf.
Heat Island Effect – for Human Health and Surrounding communities:
Extreme heat is a health concern. Studies document that the surface temperature on
artificial turf is dramatically increased as compared to surrounding land uses including
asphalt.
In a 2002 study it was found that “the surface temperature of the synthetic turf was
37° F higher than asphalt and 86.5° F hotter than natural turf.” 34 A study published
in the Journal of Health and Physical Education and Recreation showed “surface
temperatures as much as 95 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit higher on synthetic turf than
natural turfgrass when exposed to sunlight.” 35 Random sampling at Brigham Young
University identified temperatures ranging from 117.38 to 157 degrees on artificial
turf while neighboring natural grass areas were in the range of 78.19 to 88.5 degrees
Fahrenheit. “Two inches below the synthetic turf surface was 28.5° F hotter than
Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass.
Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass.
33
Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass.
34
Dr. C. Frank Williams and Dr. Gilbert E. Pulley, Synthetic Surface Heat Studies, Brigham Young
University.
35
SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields,
Selection, Construction and Maintenance Considerations.
31
32

Page 6 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

natural turf at the surface.”36 And still another study comparing temperatures on
artificial turf temperatures with air temperature found that artificial turf ranged from
58 to 75 degrees hotter than measured air temperature.37 While irrigation provided
significant cooling for the synthetic turf (lowering the temperature from 174° F to
85° F) after only 5 minutes the temperature quickly rose again to 120°F; after 20
minutes it rose to 164°F.38
Concerns regarding the excessive temperatures range from the implications for
players who are already exerting themselves playing in such excessively high
temperatures, to the implications for burns when players or pedestrians come into
contact with the hot surfaces, to the implications for small children who may come
into contact with the extremely hot surfaces during non-sporting events. Particularly
when installed in already built up areas, what affect does the extreme heat associated
with artificial turf have on the surrounding community in terms of temperature?
Natural grass, by comparison, provides a natural cooling affect and helps to dissipate
heat from neighboring developed areas.39 “The temperature of natural grass rarely
rises above 85 degrees Fahrenheit, regardless of air temperature.” 40
The heat impacts of artificial turf need to be considered in the context of today’s
changing climate. Global climate change is expected to dramatically increase the
number of days over 100 degrees communities in our region experience. Depending
on how aggressively global warming gasses are reduced in coming years, communities
nearby Philadelphia will begin to experience in the range of 10 days (in lower emission
scenarios) to 30 days (if higher emission scenarios continue to prevail) over 100o.41
By later in this century seasonable temperatures are projected to rise 6oF to 14oF in

summer (depending again on emission reductions achieved in the future). 42
Educators and decisionmakers selecting artificial turf based on its long-term
viability and community impacts should consider the affect of global climate
change to magnify the heat impacts of artificial turf.
Dr. C. Frank Williams and Dr. Gilbert E. Pulley, Synthetic Surface Heat Studies, Brigham Young
University.
37
T. Sciacca, The Thermal Physics of Artificial Turf, January 2008.
38
Dr. C. Frank Williams and Dr. Gilbert E. Pulley, Synthetic Surface Heat Studies, Brigham Young
University.
39
James B. Beard & Robert L. Green, The Role of Turfgrasses in Environmental Protection and Their
Benefits to Humans, J. Environ Qual. 23:452-460 (1994).
40
SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields,
Selection, Construction and Maintenance Considerations.
41
Union of Concerned Scientists, Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast l New Jersey,
2007.
42
Union of Concerned Scientists, Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast l New Jersey,
2007.
36

Page 7 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

Health Issues:
Direct human exposure to the hazardous substances contained in the rubber in-fill of
artificial turf is believed to occur via three pathways: inhalation, skin contact, or
ingestion including by children or infants who come into contact with the material.43
In October 2006 and January 2007, respectively, two sites in New York where
synthetic turf has been used (the large, 3 year old, Parade Ground in Brooklyn; the
relatively small 5 month old Sara D. Roosevelt Park in Manhattan) were analyzed. This
testing found PAHs at hazardous levels (as per New York standards) at each of the
sites. At both sites dibenzo (a.h)anthracene, a probable human carcinogen, was found
at hazardous levels, with two other PAH forms, both possible human carcinogens,
found at hazardous levels at the Parade Ground site. Research into the pathways by
which these substances may be absorbed into the bodies of children and athletes via
skin contact, ingestion or other pathways, is very limited with additional research
needed.44
A study by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)
summarized 46 studies that identified 49 chemicals which are released from tire
crumb. Of the 49, “seven of the chemicals leached from tire shreds were carcinogens.
OEHHA calculated a cancer risk of 1.2 in 10 million based on a one-time ingestion of
the tire crumb rubber over a lifetime.”45 While there are limited studies which assert
that recycled tire crumb are stable in the gastrointestinal tract and that therefore this
is not a pathway for exposure, there are other studies which contradict these
findings.46
Concerns have been raised about the potential implications of recycled tire in-fill for
individuals with latex allergies and that inhalation could result in a systemic response,
as opposed to a contact response.47
While, “the status of the information about human exposures to recycled tire crumb
rubber in-fill … is not sufficient to determine the safety of the use of the product in
situations that involve continuous episodes of human exposure;” 48 “the available

Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
Rachel’s’ Democracy & Health News #992, Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, Follow-up
Analyses, April 12, 2007.
45
Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007 citing
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), Evaluation of Health Effects of
Recycled Waste Tires in Playground and Track Products, January, 2007.
46
Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
47
Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
48
Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
43
44

Page 8 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

information is sufficient and strong enough to raise plausible questions with respect to
acute toxicity for susceptible persons, and for cancer risks.”49
There is great debate about whether artificial turf can increase exposure to, and
infection from, MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus). Reports including
a December 21, 2007 article in the Bloomberg Press reporting the affliction of an 18
year old football player from MRSA as the result (according to the boy’s doctor) of an
abrasion he received from playing on artificial turf, and citing other findings linking
MRSA infections with artificial turf,50 are a great concern for parents and sports
players alike. Defenders of artificial turf often refer to studies like that of the Penn
State Department of Crop and Soil Sciences which finds that Staphylococcus aureus is
commonplace in the human environment, including on both artificial turf and natural
grass fields.51 But even this study acknowledges that there is no conclusive evidence
currently available that the source of bacteria causing the infections of sports players
is not artificial turf. In addition, the study does not consider the link between burns
sustained while playing on artificial turf and available bacteria as a pathway for
infection. New studies are emerging that demonstrate that turf burns may be
facilitating infection by acting as a pathway for infection.52 Study has found that turf
burns increased the risk of infection regardless of the type and timing of care
provided the burn. 53
Concussions (formally described as Mild Traumatic Brain Injury or MTBI) resulting from
sports has, according to the US Centers for Disease Control, reached “epidemic
proportions.”54 “’Mild’ head traumas, and especially a series of such minor
concussions can have long term, negative effects on cognitive function.” 55 Study has
documented that artificial turf increases the risk of MTBI over natural turf,
Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
Texas Football Succumbs to Virulent Staph Infection from Turf, December 21, 2007, Bloomberg
Press.
51
Penn State Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, A Survey of Microbial Populations in Infilled
Synthetic Turf Fields.
52
A High Morbidity Outbreak of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Players on a College
Football Team, Facilitated by Cosmetic Body Shaving and Turf Burns, study conducted 2004 for
Connecticut Dept of Public Health, Student Health Services of Sacred Heart Univ, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Minnesota Dept of Public Health, Los Angeles County Dept of Health Svces; Dr.
S.V. Kazakova et.al., A Clone of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Professional Football
Players, The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol 352:468-475 No. 5, Feb. 3, 2005.
53
A High Morbidity Outbreak of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Players on a College
Football Team, Facilitated by Cosmetic Body Shaving and Turf Burns, study conducted 2004 for
Connecticut Dept of Public Health, Student Health Services of Sacred Heart Univ, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Minnesota Dept of Public Health, Los Angeles County Dept of Health Svces.
54
Dr. M. Shorten, J.A. Himmelsbach, BioiMechanica, Sports Surfaces and the Risk of Traumatic Brain
Injury citing the US Centers for Disease Control.
55
Dr. M. Shorten, J.A. Himmelsbach, BioiMechanica, Sports Surfaces and the Risk of Traumatic Brain
Injury.
49
50

Page 9 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

approximately doubling that risk, as well as causing a greater degree of trauma.56
According to study, artificial turf presents a 5 times greater risk of the more severe
head injury than natural turf, although it is still unknown the particular characteristics
of the two surfaces that cause the difference in head injury incidence. 57
Costs:
It is generally agreed that artificial turf costs more to install than natural grass, while
natural grass costs more to maintain. Installation and maintenance costs for each
must be assessed on a case by case basis depending on site specific conditions. But
generally speaking, when the installation and maintenance costs of artificial turf are
assessed for the life span of the turf, particularly when the cost of disposal is added,
the cost of installing and maintaining natural grass is far less. The guaranteed life
and/or lifespan of artificial turf is 8 to 10 years.58 Some attempt to claim a longer life
in order to assert a lower annual cost.59 Comparative cost figures for artificial turf
and natural grass include:
Artificial Turf

Source: San Francisco
Rec and Parks 60
Installation
Annual Maintenance
Cost of Disposal
Average annual cost for
guaranteed life of 8 years.
Average annual cost for life
of 10 years
Average annual cost for life
of 15 years (maximum life
span seen asserted in the

Natural Grass

$800,000

$260,000

$6,000
Unknown but significant as a
hazardous waste
$106,000

$42,000
$0

$86,000

$68,000

$59,333

$59,333

$74,500

Dr. M. Shorten, J.A. Himmelsbach, BioiMechanica, Sports Surfaces and the Risk of Traumatic Brain
Injury.
56

Dr. M. Shorten, J.A. Himmelsbach, BioiMechanica, Sports Surfaces and the Risk of Traumatic Brain
Injury. See also K.M. Guskiewica, N.L. Weaver, D.A. Padua, W.E. Garrett Jr., Epidemiology of Concussion
in Collegiate and High School Football Players, Sep-Oct 2000 & Does the Use of Artificial Turf
Contribute to Head Injuries, The Journal of Trauma-Injury, Infection and Critical Care, Oct 2002 for the
finding that artificial turf increases the level of injury in comparison to natural grass fields.
58
Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass.
59
San Francisco Recreation & Parks, Natural and Synthetic Turf: A Comparative Analysis, December 20,
2005.
60
San Francisco Recreation & Parks, Natural and Synthetic Turf: A Comparative Analysis, December 20,
2005.
57

Page 10 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

literature)

Source: Facts About
Artificial Turf and
Natural Grass 61
Cost of construction and
maintenance per sq. ft.

Cost of disposal per sq. ft.
Springfield College case
study installation and
maintenance average annual
cost during 8 year
guaranteed life of artificial
turf – no disposal costs
included

Source: A Guide to
Synthetic and Natural
Turfgrass for Sports
Fields. 62
Cost of installation per
square foot

Annual Maintenance
Disposal per square foot –
note this cost does not
include the cost of
transportation or landfill

$7.80 – $10.75

$1.75 - $2.25
$105,000
($800,000 install & annual
maintenance of $5,000)
For a 10 year life the figure
is $85,000;
for 15 years it is $58,377

$7.80 to $10.75

$5,000 to $25,000
$1.75 to $2.25

With high quality soil
amendments
$6.50 – $7.95
With native soils
$2.50 – $5.25
$0
$78,000
($400,000 install &
$28,000 annual
maintenance)
For a 10 year life the figure
is $68,000;
for 15 years it is $54,666

$2.50 to $5.25 if done with
native soils
$3.50 to $5.25 if done with
combination of native soils
and sand.
$6.50 to $7.95 if done with
sand and drainage
$4,000 to $11,000 as per
the case studies provided
$0

Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass.
SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields,
Selection, Construction and Maintenance Considerations. While the cost figures in this document focus
on the southeast, the figures provide a sound comparative for the relative cost figures provided.
61
62

Page 11 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

surcharges for
environmentally controlled
products
Artificial turf made from rubber contains a number of hazardous substances. As a
result disposal is neither easy nor cheap. It is important to identify and consider the
cost of disposal when considering an investment in artificial turf. The life expectancy
of artificial turf generally ranges from 8 to 10 years63 – therefore disposal of artificial
turf should be amortized over this time frame.
Miscellaneous:
Artificial Turf is available for use immediately upon installation. Natural Turf generally
requires 2 growing seasons before it should be heavily used.64
One of the biggest supporting assertions for artificial turf is the increased level of
playing time it provides. While natural grass may not equal artificial turf in playing
time, natural soil and grass science has progressed significantly, greatly increasing its
durability for sports. Modern natural grass sports fields include sand in their soil
profile to resist compaction and a combination of grass varieties. Natural grass is
becoming the preferred surface for a number of professional sports teams.
Natural grass fields require regular maintenance including, mowing and watering, and
may also result in the use of fertilizers and potentially herbicides. But there are less
environmentally harmful alternatives available for maintenance including electric
mowing equipment and environmentally sensitive lawn care strategies that do not rely
on environmentally harmful chemicals. A number of schools, including Radnor
Township, Delaware County, PA, have successful policies that prevent the use of
dangerous chemicals on school grounds.
Artificial turf also requires regular maintenance. Artificial turf maintenance includes
sweeping, dragging and watering to provide a clean and uniform appearance.65 In
addition, as the result of wear, the infill may need periodic replenishment. 66
Management of an artificial turf field requires special knowledge inseam repair and
snow removal. 67 Special solvents and cleansers are needed to remove tough debris. 68
Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass.
Communication with Nancy Bosold, Extension Educator, Turfgrass Management, Penn Stat
Cooperative Extension, Berks County, Aug 15, 2007.
65
SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields,
Selection, Construction and Maintenance Considerations.
66
SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields,
Selection, Construction and Maintenance Considerations.
67
SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields,
Selection, Construction and Maintenance Considerations.
63
64

Page 12 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

Artificial turf is at risk of damage from plastic bottles, cigarettes and/or gum as well
as general trash thrown on the field. When damaged special repairs may be needed.
Artificial turf also becomes a recipient of a variety of bodily fluids which cannot be
cleansed by natural action as is the case with natural grass. Maintenance can include
application of algaecides and fabric softener to mask the odor of the artificial turf. 69
Artificial turf systems that claim chemical treatment is not required do not seem to
provide a mechanism for handling the germs associated with the bodily fluids on the
turf when there is an absence of rain or when it is captured and reused in newly
emerging artificial turf cooling systems.
It is important to note that the environmental, health and safety impacts
of artificial turf are in need of further study by independent experts.
Until such time as there are conclusive findings regarding the
environmental, health and safety impacts of artificial turf the
Precautionary Principle would direct decisionmakers away from artificial
turf and towards the traditional use of natural grass for sports and public
play fields.

Updated: February 25, 2008
Dated: September 9, 2007

SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields,
Selection, Construction and Maintenance Considerations.
69
Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass.
68

Page 13 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

Artificial
 Turf
 Fact
 Sheet
 Temporary
 Addendum.

Chrysene,
 a
 PAH
 and
 carcinogen,
 was
 found
 to
 be
 ingested
 as
 the
 result
 of
 hand-­‐to-­‐surface-­‐to-­‐mouth

transfer
 from
 playground
 surfaces
 made
 with
 recycled
 tires.

 Assuming
 playground
 use
 for
 an
 11
 year

period
 (from
 age
 1
 to
 12)
 there
 was
 found
 to
 be
 an
 increased
 cancer
 risk
 of
 2.9
 in
 one
 million

(2.9
 X
 10-­‐6).

 This
 risk
 is
 greater
 than
 the
 general
 cancer
 risk
 gauge
 of
 one
 in
 one
 million
 (1X10-­‐6).1

 This

research
 would
 seem
 to
 suggest
 that
 repeat
 exposure
 over
 time
 to
 the
 chemicals
 released
 from

artificial
 turf
 increases
 the
 associated
 increase
 in
 cancer
 risk.

Only
 31%
 of
 the
 playground
 surfaces
 made
 of
 recycled
 tires
 tested
 in
 one
 research
 study
 passed
 the

California
 State
 mandated
 Head
 Impact
 Criterion
 (HIC)
 of
 <1,000.

 In
 this
 same
 study
 100%
 of
 the

playground
 surfaces
 made
 of
 wood
 chips
 passed
 the
 same
 standard.
 2

When
 talking
 about
 the
 use
 of
 ground
 rubber
 as
 a
 supplement
 to
 planting
 soils
 the
 North
 Carolina

Department
 of
 Agriculture
 and
 Consumer
 Services
 sent
 out
 a
 notice
 identifying
 the
 risk
 that
 zinc

leaching
 from
 the
 rubber
 causes
 a
 decline
 in
 plant
 growth
 “directly
 attributable
 to
 zinc
 toxicity.”3

A
 Case
 Study
 conducted
 by
 a
 group
 of
 “physicians
 and
 public
 health
 professionals
 working
 with
 the
 U.S.

Environmental
 Protection
 Agency’s
 Region
 Pediatric
 Environmental
 Health
 Specialty
 Unit”
 found
 that

they
 could
 not
 secure
 the
 research
 and
 information
 necessary
 to
 establish
 the
 safety
 in
 use
 with

Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Evaluation of Health Effects of Recycled Waste
Tires in Playground and Track Products, January 2007.
 Note
 -­‐-­‐
 the
 1.2
 in
 10
 million
 cancer
 risk
 found
 in
 the

OEHHA
 study
 was
 considered
 by
 the
 authors
 to
 be
 an
 acceptable
 level
 of
 risk
 as
 it
 falls
 below
 the
 general
 cancer
 risk
 gauge

-­‐6
of
 one
 in
 one
 million
 (1X10 ).
2
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Evaluation of Health Effects of Recycled Waste
Tires in Playground and Track Products, January 2007. Please note that in this study 32 recycled tire
playground surfaces were tested as compared to only 5 wood chip playground surfaces.
3
M. Ray Tucker, Agronomist, Ground Rubber: Potential Toxicity to Plants, Media Notes for North
Carolina Growers, North Carolina Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services, April 1997.
1

children
 of
 tire
 crumb
 used
 as
 playground
 surface.4

 “The
 use
 of
 recycled
 tire
 crumb
 products
 on

playgrounds
 has
 had
 little
 health
 investigation.

 The
 major
 unresolved
 concern
 is
 the
 potential
 for
 latex

allergy
 with
 short-­‐term
 dermal
 exposure.”
 5

 “No
 published
 information
 is
 available
 specifically

regarding
 exposure
 to
 crumb
 rubber
 constituents
 from
 use
 of
 the
 product
 on
 playgrounds.”
 6

Analyses
 conducted
 at
 the
 Environmental
 and
 Occupational
 Health
 Sciences
 Institute
 of
 Rutgers

University
 found
 the
 crumb
 rubber
 from
 artificial
 turf
 to
 contain
 high
 levels
 of
 PAHs,
 as
 well
 as
 zinc
 and

arsenic.7

 PAHs
 found
 to
 be
 contained
 in
 the
 crumb
 rubber
 “were
 above
 the
 concentration
 levels
 that

the
 New
 York
 State
 Department
 of
 Environmental
 Conservation
 (DEC)
 considers
 sufficiently
 hazardous

to
 public
 health
 to
 require
 their
 removal
 from
 contaminated
 soil
 sites.
 It
 is
 highly
 likely
 that
 all
 six
 PAHs

are
 carcinogenic
 to
 humans.”
 8

 “The
 analyses
 also
 revealed
 levels
 of
 zinc
 in
 both
 samples
 that
 exceed

the
 DEC's
 tolerable
 levels.”
 9

 The
 researchers
 associated
 with
 these
 findings
 were
 careful
 to
 state
 “We

want
 to
 emphasize
 that
 the
 findings
 are
 preliminary.
 PAHs
 in
 rubber
 might
 not
 act
 the
 same
 way
 as
 in

soil,
 and
 we
 do
 not
 yet
 have
 information
 on
 the
 ease
 with
 which
 the
 PAHs
 in
 these
 rubber
 particles

might
 be
 absorbed
 by
 children
 or
 adults
 -­‐-­‐
 by
 ingestion,
 inhalation,
 or
 absorption
 through
 the
 skin.

However,
 the
 findings
 are
 worrisome.
 Until
 more
 is
 known,
 it
 wouldn't
 be
 prudent
 to
 install
 the

synthetic
 turf
 in
 any
 more
 parks.”
 10

M.E. Anderson et al, A Case Study of tire Crumb Use on Playgrounds: Risk Analysis and
Communication When Major Clinical Knowledge Gaps Exist, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol 114,
No. 1, January 2006.
5
M.E. Anderson et al, A Case Study of tire Crumb Use on Playgrounds: Risk Analysis and
Communication When Major Clinical Knowledge Gaps Exist, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol 114,
No. 1, January 2006.
6
M.E. Anderson et al, A Case Study of tire Crumb Use on Playgrounds: Risk Analysis and
Communication When Major Clinical Knowledge Gaps Exist, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol 114,
No. 1, January 2006.
7
Junfeng Zhang, professor and acting chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health,
the School of Public Health, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers
University & William Crain, professor of psychology at The City College of New York, president of
Citizens for a Green Riverside Park, Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, 2006, analyses conducted
at at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of Rutgers.
8
Junfeng Zhang, professor and acting chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health,
the School of Public Health, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers
University & William Crain, professor of psychology at The City College of New York, president of
Citizens for a Green Riverside Park, Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, 2006, analyses conducted
at at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of Rutgers.
9
Junfeng Zhang, professor and acting chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health,
the School of Public Health, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers
University & William Crain, professor of psychology at The City College of New York, president of
Citizens for a Green Riverside Park, Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, 2006, analyses conducted
at at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of Rutgers.
10
Junfeng Zhang, professor and acting chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health,
the School of Public Health, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers
University & William Crain, professor of psychology at The City College of New York, president of
Citizens for a Green Riverside Park, Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, 2006, analyses conducted
at at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of Rutgers.
4

Connecticut
 is
 currently
 considering
 legislation
 to
 provide
 $250,000
 of
 funding
 for
 a
 study
 into
 the

toxicity
 of
 artificial
 turf
 athletic
 fields.11

One
 Norwegian
 assessment/presentationconcluded
 that
 while
 indoor
 artificial
 turf
 fields
 were
 not

generally
 an
 elevated
 health
 risk,
 studies
 to
 date
 could
 not
 eliminate
 the
 concerns
 associated
 with

development
 of
 airway
 allergies
 and
 made
 a
 point
 of
 noting
 “a
 link
 between
 exposure
 to
 phthalates

and
 the
 development
 of
 asthma/allergies”.
 12

 Phthalates
 is
 one
 of
 the
 contaminants
 of
 concern
 found

in
 artificial
 turf
 crumb
 rubber.
 13

The
 Norwegian
 assessment/presentation
 also
 reported
 that
 “recycled
 rubber
 was
 the
 major
 source
 of

potentially
 hazardous
 substances.

 An
 exposure
 scenario
 where
 the
 runoff
 from
 a
 football
 field
 is

drained
 to
 a
 small
 creek
 showed
 a
 positive
 risk
 of
 toxic
 effects
 on
 biota
 in
 the
 water
 phase
 and
 in
 the

sediment.

 The
 risk
 was
 mainly
 attributed
 to
 zinc,
 but
 also
 for
 octylphenol
 the
 predicted
 environmental

concentrations
 exceeded
 the
 no
 environmental
 effect
 concentration.”
 14

 The
 hazardous
 leaching
 could

result
 in
 local
 environmental
 effect.15

Of
 interest
 –
 William
 Carin,
 OpEd,
 NY
 Times,
 Turf
 Wars,
 September
 16,
 2007.

An Act Concerning a Study of the Toxicity of Artificial Turf Athletic Fields, Raised Bill No. 361,
February Session 2008.
12
Dr. Christine Bjorge, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Artificial turf Pitches – an assessment of
the health risks for football players and the environment, Presentation at the ISSS Technical meeting
2006, Dresden.
13
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
14
Dr. Christine Bjorge, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Artificial turf Pitches – an assessment of
the health risks for football players and the environment, Presentation at the ISSS Technical meeting
2006, Dresden.
15
Dr. Christine Bjorge, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Artificial turf Pitches – an assessment of
the health risks for football players and the environment, Presentation at the ISSS Technical meeting
2006, Dresden.
11

Page 1 of 2

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:20 PM
Received: May 02, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 02, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8pe9-yfcg
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0047
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Nicholas Baker
Address: 91411
Email: nicholasbaker@alum.calarts.edu

General Comment
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill
Docket # ATSDR-2016-0002
Thank you. I appreciate the ability to comment. For more than a decade our government has
permitted tire waste, a material that is considered to be so toxic that it'
not allowed in landfills, to be shredded and placed on athletic fields, kids play areas, gardens,
driveways and other
recreational areas.
We know from numerous credible studies, that tires contain carbon black, benzene, arsenic,
mercury, hydrocarbons,
and heavy metals, that have been linked to cancer. We know when people are playing sports on
these fields, it's common
for these materials to be swallowed, caught in ears, nose, clothing, hair, under skin, and in floor
or seats of cars, showers,
tubs, etc.
Tire crumb and it's by products are harmful to our environment, water. soil, and our eco-system.
Anecdotal evidence of

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f9db69&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 2 of 2

hundreds of individuals who have played on fields using this material, who have died or
become seriously ill should be enough
to stop the use of these materials once and for all. If your studies will move this toxic material
out of areas where harm
can occur, then please let's move forward quickly. In the meantime, stopping any further fields
from using this material should
be mandated .
Sincerely,
Nicholas Baker

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f9db69&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 1 of 2

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:21 PM
Received: May 01, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 02, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8pe0-l9e6
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0048
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Amy Ziff

General Comment
As the mother of three growing children I am concerned about the growing incidence of crumb
rubber and synthetic playing surfaces across this country. Increasingly, our children are exposed
to synthetic playing surfaces -- from playgrounds to gym class, recreational sports to the
sidelines. While we all desire to be more environmentally conscious, why are we using crushed
up, milled tires on plastic "grass" and calling it safe without any study? Why are we using
plastic surfaces over natural ones that we have evolved with over millennia, again without any
study?
My business is to study toxics, as the Founder of MADE SAFE, my organization looks at
products that are made without any known toxicants and puts a certification label on them.
Where there are questions we exercise the Precautionary Principle and wait for more science to
emerge. For the work we do, we rely on the use of available science. What I do know for sure is
that there is a tremendous amount of existing science to make those of us "in-the-know"
question the use of the synthetic plastic on these fields along with ground up tires.
The synthetic turd is highly likely to contain endocrine disruptors, as most flexible plastics do,
and they are prone to leach, especially when they get very hot as these fields do on warm days.
Does that matter? We don't know because it hasn't been studied. And those tires. The very same
tires that are considered "toxic waste" when you dispose of them through regular means are
then ground up for children and teens to play on. We know tires contain PAH's and heavy
metals along with other toxins commonly found on roads -- but have those effects on children

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f9d30b&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 2 of 2

been studied? Not in this exact scenario.
So what we have are known toxic substances being used in a new way -- using our growing
children as guinea pigs -- and we are allowing this to happen all across America without first
conducting a proper study. When are we going to put children first? If anything is worthy of a
study by the EPA I can't think of anything more valuable than where our children will play.
I hope the EPA studies crumb rubber and artificial turf materials and once and for all
scientifically identifies it as the toxic substance it is and bans crumb rubber on turf fields
forever.
Thank you,
Amy Ziff
Founder and Executive Director,
MADE SAFE
www.madesafe.org

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f9d30b&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 1 of 1

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:22 PM
Received: May 01, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 02, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8pe0-9l1y
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0049
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Tanya Murphy

General Comment
As a concerned parent of two middle schoolers who play on turf day in and day out, please take
this away from their environment. Here is a List of Carcinogens and Other Dangerous
Chemicals in Tires
http://www.ehhi.org/turf/findings0815.shtml and here is a Health Based Consumer Guide:
http://media.wix.com/ugd/fd0a19_f5aa0824698341499b4228ebabf90cb5.pdf
Thanks,
Tanya Murphy

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f9d2f2&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 1 of 2

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:22 PM
Received: May 01, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 02, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8pe0-7bqu
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0050
Comment on FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Alexandra Bergstein
Address: 06831
Email: alexbergstein@gmail.com
Organization: Greening Our Children

General Comment
I am an attorney and a mother of three children, living in CT. I have been shocked and
dismayed that crumb rubber has become a pervasive material used on fields and children's
playgrounds. My children play lacrosse and soccer on the many crumb rubber fields in our area.
We should all be concerned about the long-term effects of exposure to the carcinogens and
neurotoxins in this material. As parents, our choice is either bar our children from playing
organized sports, or let them play. . . and pray they don't get sick from it in 20 years. That is not
a choice parents should have to make.
I urge you to take a cautionary view of this material - which is made from industrial waste - and
ask "Why is it presumed to be safe?" Conducting the necessary studies to assess its safety will
take years, and in the meantime millions of children are exposed every day. Furthermore, the
methodology to quantify and monitor children's exposure from inhalation, ingestion, and
absorption doesn't even exist. Without the ability to biomonitor, the most scientists can do is try
to simulate exposure levels. Meanwhile, children routinely ingest crumb rubber as it flies onto
their faces, collects in mouth guards and remains as residue on their hands long after they've
played. The real subjects in this experiment are our children, and their exposure is significant
but unknown. During the years it will take for the scientific methodology to be developed and
the necessary studies conducted, children are ingesting and absorbing material we already know
contains high levels of harmful substances.

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f9d2f1&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 2 of 2

The responsible action would be to place a moratorium on the use of crumb rubber until it is
affirmatively proven to be safe.
Other turf infill options with far lower toxicity profiles now exist. Choosing safer materials and
forgoing crumb rubber is the only responsible choice. But until the federal government
acknowledges 1) the potential risk from crumb rubber and, 2) that current studies are not
measuring all routes of exposure, the public remains under the false impression that crumb
rubber is safe. Just because it's ubiquitous does not mean it is safe.
Let's encourage schools and communities to use safer infill options - made without synthetic
rubber or styrene - to minimize potential risks. The old adage is still so true: Better Safe than
Sorry.

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f9d2f1&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 1 of 2

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:23 PM
Received: May 01, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 02, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8pdy-gu1b
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0051
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Rhonda Sherwood
Address: 06820
Email: rsherwood@poolingcap.com

General Comment
As the mother of two college aged boys and a founding board member of the Mount Sinai
Children's Environmental Heath Center in New York, I am deeply concerned about the fact that
children who play soccer, football, lacrosse, and baseball must, on a daily basis, practice and
play on turf fields that contain crumb rubber. Why is it illegal for me to dispose of automobile
tires in my local dump (due to the toxic runoff from rain falling on the tires), yet the same tires
can be ground up and sprinkled on my children's sports fields? Every day our children are
playing on fields that contain carcinogens and I fear these young athletes will grow up and find
their cancer incidence to be higher than their non turf playing predecessors.
When my sons were in middle and high school, I saw:
- baseball players slide into home base and create a spray of crumb rubber that covered other
players' faces
- football players get crumb rubber on their mouth guards that they subsequently put into their
mouths
- kids sitting on the sidelines of a lacrosse field sifting crumb rubber in their hands like it was
sand
Through inhalation, dermal exposure and ingestion, our children are being exposed to
carcinogens. If this were a work site/OSHA situation, I'm sure the government would ban

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f9d831&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 2 of 2

crumb rubber immediately. Why don't our children deserve the same safety consideration? I
hope the EPA studies crumb rubber and once and for all scientifically identifies it as the toxic
substance it is and bans crumb rubber on turf fields forever.
Thanks for listening,
Rhonda Sherwood
Founding Vice Chairman
Mount Sinai Children's Environmental Health Center
New York, New York

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f9d831&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 1 of 2

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:24 PM
Received: May 01, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 02, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8pdw-u7hh
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0052
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Steven Gilbert
Address: 98105
Email: sgilbert@innd.org

General Comment
My very you young 3-4 year old granddaughters plays soccer or at least kicks the ball around How do you intend ti keep her from eating the crumb rubber ? She is very curious about thus
black stuff and naturally wants to taste it.
also a few other questions
Why is the CPSC not already testing and regulating this material as a children's product given
the pervasive and targeted use for children's play areas? (See recent reports from Duluth MN on
tire crumb playgrounds as examples of what is going on all over).
Will the study be looking at combinations of personal exposures low to the surface directly with
tire crumb on under active use?
Why are they not studying child exposure on tire crumb playgrounds? Why are they leaving it
to the CPSC to (maybe) do?
How will the study, as planned, help answer the question, "Are synthetic turf fields and
playgrounds with crumb rubber infill safe for children of all ages to play on?"
What are the plan and the timeline for gathering all of the data to answer the above safety
question to a reasonable degree of certainty?
How do the agencies plan to obtain toxicity data that would be needed for a components based
health risk assessment model?

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f9ccfe&format=xml&showori... 5/3/2016

Page 2 of 2

Do they plan on conducting toxicity testing for all the components for which toxicity data is
currently missing? Where will they get the data for interaction effects? Do the agencies plan on
testing the toxicity of crumb rubber as a whole?
Why isn't an epidemiological study the first priority? Are there plans for one? If so, when will it
be done?
What about the effects of small rubber particles on the eco-system? Are there plans to study the
effects of run-off on marine life?
why not use the precautionary principle - test before it is used with kids ?

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f9ccfe&format=xml&showori... 5/3/2016

Page 1 of 2

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:25 PM
Received: May 01, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 02, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8pdu-983b
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0054
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Cliff Sanderlin
Address: 98020
Email: clifheat@drizzle.com

General Comment
CLIFF SANDERLIN
Edmonds, WA 98020
I have worked with and for scientists including doctors and cancer researchers in Seattle for
over the past 30 years, beginning with the American Lung Association and including the Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The information assembled thus far suggests that we
should err on the side of caution.
While it may or may not be hazardous to rub against solid tires, the grinding of tires into fine
particles dramatically increases the means of absorption into the human body. The particles
become finer after breakdown into dust due to UV rays. As with asbestos, there is no known
safe exposure to many of the ingredients of crumb rubber and its use should be banned
nationwide. Otherwise, we will be using our children and grandchildren as cancer research
subjects, guinea pigs for short.
From an economic standpoint, the stakes are high. First, the healthcare costs and lost
productivity of people felled by diseases. Secondly, the cost to taxpayers to clean up the
thousands of facilities across the nation will be staggering.

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f9d0c5&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 2 of 2

Please err on the side of common sense and caution. Thank you! -- Cliff

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f9d0c5&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 1 of 2

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:26 PM
Received: May 01, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 02, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8pdh-ydk3
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0056
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Anonymous Anonymous

General Comment
I am happy to hear that more comprehensive studies are under way on crumb rubber and its
exposures, however I am deeply troubled with hearing it is going in at my child's elementary
school this year and all of his succeeding schools for the rest of his public education at San
Diego Unified School District. I substitute taught at an elementary school with a new crumb
rubber field and the children were rolling in these fields, eating their snacks and dropping their
water bottles on the field, and I even saw some of them making mountains out of the tire pellets.
It was in their hair, around their mouth, on their hands, and quite possibly on their water bottles
and snacks that were dropped on the artificial turf. It didn't look right at all and it's not right.
Our kids aren't possibly going to be ingesting this stuff or getting it in their eyes or an open
wound, they are RIGHT NOW! And NOBODY can tell us that it's safe!
I hope these studies will look extensively into ingestion and dermal contact with young
children, ages 1-10, with years of exposure to crumb rubber, but I wonder....how can that be
done in a 1-2 year study? I know that science can take decades to prove a chemical is unhealthy
or even deadly. How many decades did it take to prove cigarettes and asbestos were dangerous?
How many decades will it take to prove the same of crumb rubber? All while our children are
the canaries in the coal mine. I hope all schools and communities can put a ban on crumb rubber
until these studies are complete. Inform parents of those kids that are playing on this kind of turf
and that proper cleaning after playing on them and the restriction of food and drinks needs to be
posted and made aware to the parents/children/athletes. There are safer, non-toxic alternative
infills out there; new and improved products to look at. Crumb rubber is old,outdated and was a
bad idea to begin with. Let's stay with natural turf or keep the dirt, it's better for our

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f9cec2&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 2 of 2

environment as well. Our children and our Mother Earth deserve better!
I will look forward to what the studies will find.

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f9cec2&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 1 of 1

As of: 5/3/16 6:29 PM
Received: May 02, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 03, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8pef-myiu
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

PUBLIC SUBMISSION
Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002

Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0060
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Jennifer Lindsay
Address: M5V1Y1
Email: jenniferrachellindsay@gmail.com

General Comment
Good afternoon,
My name is Jennifer Lindsay. On behalf of the Toronto based environmental agency No Toxic Turf, and I have compiled a list of
75 letters sent through the NoToxicTurf.ca website to Toronto politicians, school board members, and Toronto Public Health
concerning pulverized tire crumb infill on playing fields. Please let the collection of letters attached as well as the link below
contribute towards Federal Research on the usage of pulverized tire crumb infill on playing fields. Do not hesitate to contact me
should have any questions or require additional information.
http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?
vgnextoid=c17a9de418b6c410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=d06e23bf6d481410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD
Kind regards,
Jennifer

Attachments
Letters 30 04 2016

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481f9fb86&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

1. April 26, 2016
This is a letter written to express my outrage and concern about the lack of concern of potential health
risks to students and others
Janice Greene

2. March 29, 2016
Answers are wanted concerning the rejection of the TDSB from the community to pay for a natural
solution rather than the cancerous tire rubber field at Central Technical School. This is our community
and are demanding a natural solution to the point that private funding is offered. We don't want to wait
another few years, or decade for it to become common knowledge that these artificial turfs are harming
our children. We want to take preventive action now and we are not allowed? Even if we fund it? I am
truly disgusted by TDSB's decision and am interested in knowing if there is a corrupt reason why. We
demand answers and will get them.
Devra Wigdor

3. March 29, 2016
To Whom It May Concern:
I understand the TDSB has rejected an offer for natural cork instead of tire crumb infill at Central
Technical School.
I am appalled by this decision and fail to understand why the TDSB would reject a safer, healthier option
for its students. Physicians, scientists, and health experts have confirmed that artificial turf with crumb
tire infill pose significant health hazards and safety risks for those who use it/ play on it / inhale it. Why
is the TDSB putting our children at risk? Any cost concerns the TDSB may have had were eliminated
given that safer options were offered to TDSB free of charge. As a public entity, TDSB owes the tax
payers a reasonable explanation.

Failure to respond or address this issue will only attract public scrutiny, result in further media attention
and cause public outcry.

Sincerely,

Miriam Anbar (concerned neighbour of Central Tech)

CC: Toronto Life, Toronto Star, Globe & Mail, National Post, Now Magazine

4. March 15, 2016
Please read this Huffington Post article entitled Take Action Against Toxic Turf:
http://m.huffpost.com/ca/entry/9417920. The article contents also included below:
If you aren't outraged, then you just aren't paying attention.

It's true.

The introduction and popularity of artificial, toxic turf in playing fields and playgrounds throughout
Toronto (and well beyond), is shocking, terrifying, and absolutely something we should ALL be outraged
about -- and taking action on, now.

THE GENERAL ISSUE

Despite the known and documented health and environmental hazards of the artificial turf (including
dangerous levels of lead!), many of our local schools have already switched, and are continuing to
switch from real fields to toxic turf.

In addition to benzene and lead, the list of toxins that have been discovered on artificial turf fields
includes mercury, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, arsenic, and other carcinogenic
compounds. -Jared Firestone, The Expert Institute

Grass (remember grass?) acts as a natural filter and requires comparatively less water. It absorbs carbon
dioxide and releases oxygen in its place. For every natural green space the turf replaces, we are losing
important outdoor spaces that contribute to the physical and emotional health of the communities who
use our fields.

I started my journey in the quest for strong laws on toxic chemicals because quite simply I am a mother
and I am tired of feeling like I have to have a PhD in toxicology in order to be a competent parent."
~Jennifer Beals

PROS AND CONS OF ARTIFICIAL TURF

What are the benefits of installing petrochemical, artificial turf? Our schools will have year-round
playing time.

By contrast, the list of cons is enormous:

- Our kids inhale the toxins, carcinogens, and hormone disruptors released from the turf's crumb rubber
infill (made from old tires).

- The turf is conducive to dangerously high heat levels in warm weather.

- There is an increased risk of injuries, abrasions, and antibiotic-resistant staph infections.

- The petrochemical turf pollutes our water and threatens nearby plants and wildlife.

- Large amounts of water and chemicals are required for cleaning artificial turf.

- The field must be replaced every 7-10 years (which is expensive and difficult). And, where do you think
the toxic material goes when disposed of?

- The tiny granules of crumb rubber stick to skin, clothing, and shoes, and get tracked into schools,
homes, and cars. By the way, this crumb rubber is frighteningly problematic:

This crumb rubber is a material that cannot be legally disposed of in landfills or ocean-dumped because
of its toxicity. Why on earth should we let our children play on it? ~Patti Wood, Executive Director of
Grassroots Environmental Education

Coach Amy Griffin began cataloging the names of every soccer player diagnosed with cancer that she
could find, a list that nearly doubled within a year from 34 to 64 total patients. - David Wolfe
READ + WATCH

The Yale School of Engineering and Applied Science: Study Led By Gaboury Benoit Looks At Chemicals In
Synthetic Playing Surfaces

The Globe and Mail: Proposed Sports Field at Toronto School Raises Debate Over Rubber Turf

The New York Times: On Artificial Turf Issue, U.S. Women Dig In at Last

WHAT TO DO NOW

Visit NoToxicTurf.ca for resources on how to take action, including templates for writing letters to the
Toronto District School Board, Toronto Public Health, Politicians, and Reporters.

The Safe Healthy Playing Fields Coalition also has a number of ongoing initiatives empowering people
like you to make a difference locally and politically.

It's urgent that we prevent toxic turf from replacing our healthy, safe, and real fields, wherever possible.
Let's turn our outrage into meaningful action, together.

5. March 14 2016

In August 2014, I wrote to you expressing my concerns about the Toronto Board of Education's
installation of artificial turf in their schoolyards. My opinion has not changed. Artificial turf has
none of the virtues of natural grass. Grass is eco-friendly, artificial turf is not. It's not too late to
stop installing manmade products. Please, decide now to use only nature's materials in our
schoolyards. For that matter, all our city's public spaces deserve the same consideration. Rogers
Centre has already replaced its infield with natural dirt. The owners are hoping to replace the
artificial turf with the real thing by the start of the 2017 season. The players want it and so do
the fans!
Thank you,
Judy Trites
Ward 23 constituent
6. March 6, 2016
To whom it may concern,
Biking on my way to work on beautiful Harbord St. in downtown Toronto, i pass by two once
beautiful verdant fields that are now, sadly, tragically and pathetically, only memories, having
since been replaced by toxic, artificial turf. A strong opposition at the University of Toronto was
basically ignored and overrun by financial concerns to the detriment of athletes' health and
well-being and the same is being ignorantly repeated at the corner of Harbord and Bathurst.
This field outside the Harbord Collegiate appreciated by the students and teachers, but also the
community, who used the beautiful running track and field for extra-curricular activities and
exercise is now a shambles, dirty construction site where artificial turf will go and an ugly dome
will cover it so that people can rent it out in winter.
What a shame that corporate interests are winning and our planet and people are losing. Don't
students and teachers deserve to be healthy? Toxic turf is not only an environmental hazard
but an environmental pollutant. Humans suffer, the planet suffers and "money", as the old
saying goes, "is not edible when we run out of clean air, earth and water". Let's not forget that
and strongly oppose the next toxic turf project together.
With thanks,
Maya Goldenberg
A concerned citizen of this fine city

7. January 25, 2016

To whom it may concern,
I am very upset by the trend to replace natural, functional grass with artificial turf. We need
more nature in the city, not less. The idea of suffocating the limited green space we have breaks
my heart and makes for an unhealthy city.
For those of you who don't know, tire infill artificial turf negatively impacts the community and
the environment in too many ways. For example:

Loss of public access to green spaces
Leaching carcinogens and toxins into our water systems
Inhalation and ingestion of toxins, carcinogens, and hormone disrupting chemicals released
from crumb rubber infill
Higher risk of injury for athletes
Temperatures on artificial turf fields can reach dangerously high levels
Tiny granules of crumb rubber stick to athletes’ skin, clothing and shoes and are tracked into
our streets and homes
Increased risk of Staph Infections from cuts, scrapes, and “turf burn”
Children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to the health hazards of artificial turf; even
more so in domed spaces
Artificial turf is highly flammable

For the sake of our urban environment and the health of the city's human and non-human
residents, please SAY NO TO TOXIC TURF!
Sabrina Malach
8. January 24, 2016
Are you aware of the 2015 Yale University Study that found carcinogens in the chemicals
released by artificial turf? Is this acceptable for our children to play on and inhale?
Sincerely,
Lanny Shereck
9. January 19, 2016
No toxic turf please... keep it away from children's playgrounds in Toronto.
Melissa Leithwood

10. December 5, 2015
Dear Parents, Family and Friends of the Toronto District School Board,

Happy Spring! As we welcome the warmer weather, our physically activity on the up. Especially
within the lush green spaces Toronto offers.

Are your children, family and friends engaging in curricular or extra-curricular activities on
Artificial Turf? Is your children's school on the wait-list for Artificial Turf installation? If so,
please note the important health and safety tips published by Toronto Public Health this year.

Health Impact Assessment of the Use of Artificial Turf in Toronto, April 2015
(page 12):

a) Consider the installation of artificial turf only in situations where the conditions on the site
and the high use of the space would prevent the maintenance of a healthy natural turf.

b) Future proposals to install artificial turf include mitigation strategies that specifically address
health concerns relating to:
i. lack of availability of accessible green space, opportunities to increase vegetation in the
surrounding neighbourhood and factors related to biodiversity and ecosystem health;
ii. Creation of urban heat islands;
iii. Water capture, drainage, maintenance and sanitation.

c) Prevent heat-related health impacts by providing shade and drinking water, and prohibit the
use of the field when artificial turf surfaces become very hot such as during heat alert and
extreme heat alert days.

d) Ensure proper ventilation in indoor artificial turf facilities.

e) Post messages on outdoor artificial fields to remind users of the potential for heat- related
injuries on hot days and of the use of good hygienic practices, including:
i. Washing hands after playing on artificial turf;
ii. Supervision of small children to ensure they do not eat the infill material;
iii. Avoiding eating on the artificial turf;
iv. Avoiding tracking infill material into the school or home (shake visible rubber pellets off, or
providing shoe/equipment cleaning areas before exiting the field;
v. Protecting exposed skin from direct contact with the turf during hot weather events;
vi. Cleaning and disinfecting affected areas and covering abrasions as soon as possible.

f) Use alternative infill materials that have fewer contaminants and/or less solar absorption on
new installations, rather than crumb rubber infill made from recycled tires, whenever possible.

g) Adopt protocols for selecting and purchasing artificial turf systems that address concerns
regarding chemical content, heat absorption, and other environmental and health and safety
factors;

h) Ensure that maintenance protocols are followed and procedure in place to inspect, test, and
replace any existing synthetic turf as it ages or deteriorates.

If you are looking for more information on the expense, health hazards and safe playing
practices on Artificial Turf, please respond directly to this email, visit www.notoxicturf.ca or
follow us on twitter @NoToxicTurf

Have a great Spring and Summer!
The No Toxic Turf Team
11. April 9, 2015
I am a physician and I live in the neighbourhood of the proposes artificial turf and track.
In the press covering the "resolution" of this project I was surprised to see that the potential
health risks of artificial turf was not mentioned or adressed.
I have learned from my good friend Rochelle Rubinstein that there are considerable health risks
and this should be carefully evaluated before initiating this project.
And these health concerns need to be adressed BEFORE proceeding.

Dr. Tony Cohn MBChB, MSc, FRCPC
12. March 30, 2015
To whom this may concern:

The issue of privatization with the potential to generate money for non-school based uses often
trumps community use and health concerns.

So given that you will have plastic fields now- tire crumb is the most hazardous infill from a
health perspective ESPECIALLY in a domed / indoor field. It is a waste product not meant for
human use and just about every individual ingredient we know of in tires is hazardous to
humans and the environment.. The recent cancer clusters in soccer players with a high

preponderance of soccer goalies , who are the most constantly and intimately in contact with
the tire crumb, is troubling and should at least raise red flags. Precaution with use of an
alternative infill is definitely recommended. And since the exact recipes for tire production is
proprietary there are unknown ingredients that could be toxic as well. Since no one knows what
is present it is impossible to test for them. Carbon nanotubes used by some tire companies are
an example with the potential for high toxicity at extremely small amounts.

The preferable alternative would probably be a plant based infill such as the cork-coconut husk
infills . Expanded polypropylene would also be better than tire crumb since it has a simpler
recipe that is knowable. One f the problems is it typically gets into the ecosystem and is
ingested by animals (the pellets look just like fish eggs) contributing to the burden of plastic
waste in the food chain. So care should be taken to ensure none of it leaves in field care or with
the athletes .

For the plastic carpet itself: There are a couple of other suggestions- Demand INDEPENDENT
testing to ensure the plastic carpet and plastic blades are lead and Cadmium free. Be sure to
ask for and send samples of ALL COLORS of the plastic blades off for analysis. A huge variability
has been found in lead content even in supposedly lead free carpets. It is important to
emphasize that the public health consensus is THERE IS NO SAFE LEVEL OF LEAD especially for
children. The field components should contain no lead. Period.

The dust from abrasion and breakdown of the plastic and infill will be breathed in and ingested
over time. The key is to ensure the content of the original field is as low toxin as possible.

Finally find out how do they propose to "clean" the fields inside? since sweat , blood, vomit etc
are almost impossible to clean up on these carpets and could contribute to high bacterial levels.
Antimicrobial treatments have their own health hazards unfortunately.

Best regards
Kathy Michels
13. March 16, 2015
I am writing to protest the privatization of the Central Tech playing field and the use of artificial
turf at Central Tech and public schools alike. Tire waste synthetic turf is dangerous and should
be banned in Toronto schools in order to protect the health of our students, communities and
environment. Not only will the privatization of Central Tech's playing field deny access to green
space for the public, it will infect our environment with toxins and carcinogens that young
players will breathe in on a daily basis. Why, if banned in most of US and Europe, is there no

media coverage on artificial turf's health hazards in Toronto? Being in the position that you are
in, do you not have a responsibility to address this concern? Please speak up on behalf of the
PUBLIC and help to preserve our public access to green space and keep the PUBLIC healthy and
safe.
Miriam Anbar
14. March 15, 2015
Dear Friends,
As a downtown resdent and a former public school teacher I am concerned about the
environmental issues involved in the artificial turf plans of the TDSB. I urge you to consider the
heath of our students.
Charles Heller
15. March 15, 2015
To whom it may concern,

You are responsible for the health of the next generation and you are turning your backs on
them. Our children deserve to play on real grass just like we did and I am appalled at how
careless the government is being with the health of our children. The money you are saving will
end up costing the next generation when they have lawsuits from sick children.
Robert Daoud
16. March 11, 2015
To whom it may concern:

I'm very disturbed to hear the news about Central Tech schools moving forward with the
artificial turf field. Our students will suffer health consequences of playing on a toxic surface
and this should be unacceptable to all of you.
Samara Wigdor Daoud

17. March 9, 2015

Toronto prides itself in being the greenest city on earth. That is laughable when the city is
allowing poisonous materials to replace grass in our playgrounds. Stop the poison!
Devora Tenenbaum
18. March 8, 2015
I am very saddened to hear the news about central tech moving forward with the artificial turf
field. It is inconceivable that the school board wont even consider the health consequences of
their students and others using the field. it is irresponsible and a huge mistake. I certainly wont
be sending my kids to play there.

Jesse Kaplan
19. March 8, 2015
This decision is highly short-sighted and clearly places greater importance on saving a few
dollars than saving our community from unnecessary chemicals and health risks. I urge you to
use a natural solution for the field; grass is beautiful soft and helps foster an incredibly
important ecosystems for an array of insects, birds, rodents etc.
An old saying goes "If there's grass on the field , play ball!"
TURF THE TURF!

Save central tech field!
shimon berman
20. March 8, 2015
I'm writing this email to plead with you to reconsider the decision to allow the use of artificial
turf in our schools and to expose our communities to a material proven to be toxic and
detrimental to both the environment and our health. In a region of the world blessed with
magnificent and abundant nature and a delicate ecosystem that continues to be threatened
and reconstructed to adapt to our wants, it is unconscionable that we would resort to the use
of such a toxic material so that yet another corporation can turn a profit at the expense of our
environment and our health. As we continue to wake up to face the consequences of decades
of neglect and harm to our ecosystem and at a time when we have collectively come together
to attempt to reverse this damage, this decision is a step in the wrong direction and one that
will burden the future generations of this great city.
I again strongly plead with you all to reconsider this decision and to continue to preserve this
city's great tradition of respect for the environment and world renowned progressive policies.

Omar Sabbagh
21. March 8, 2015
I am extremely concerned about my children playing on a toxic turf field throughout their
school years. This should not be allowed. I want my children to play on real grass under a real
sky not on fake, hazardous turf beneath a oppressive dome. This is dangerous for everyone
involved and a serious neglectful and harmful decision to force upon our children.
Leaka
Leaka@yahoo.com
22. March 8, 2015
To all those responsible for public health

We are devastated by the news that astro- turf will be laid in the central tech field
This comes the day the same news of compensation given to the Thalidomide victims
Perhaps in 20 yrs the same will happen because of astro- turf - its proven risk to cause cancer
will only be known in years to come and for what purpose? How backwards to replace beautiful
natural grass with fake
You will be mocked in history and soon this kind of action will be outlawed- what side of history
do you want to be on
Can you imagine Central park in NYC of Jardin des Tuilleries replacing grass with Astro-turf?
Why are you doing this to our park?
My son will not get to run on a beautiful field of grass by his grandmothers home thanks to you
I know you will be on the wrong side of history- I know you will have a class action law suit in
the future
Please reconsider your actions and take a natural approach and save our grass
I cant believe we have come to a day and age where one has to stand up to protect the grass on
the ground - I cant believe plastic is now a replacement for beautiful grass
Don’t you remember the smell of freshly cut grass ? Why are you taking that away from our
kids?

Please reconsider and replace the astro- turf with natural grass !

Thank you
Very sad and disappointed mother
Devra Kaplan
23. March 3, 2015
I strongly oppose the use of artificial turf. Natural fields and grounds should be preserved. A
report from the school board’s consultant has stipulated that applying 6-8 inches of topsoil and
a layer of new sod would remedy the current contamination problem and make Central Tech’s
field usable again. A new type of natural hybrid grass, used in many high-use sports fields, could
create a safe and resilient surface for players.
Sharon Samet
24. March 2, 2015
I'm writing to express my concerns about the TDSB's plans for the Central Tech field and others.
The Toronto District School Board and Razor Management are rushing into the commercial
development of public land without adequate public consultation or consideration of the
negative health impacts on students and the environment. From a health and safety
perspective, this is a terrible deal for our community, exposing us to unnecessary toxins and
carcinogens. From an economic perspective, it is a bad deal that gives far too much revenue for
the use of community green space to a private company. In terms of planning, what this means
in terms of traffic and other issues needs to be fully explored. The TDSB should not be pushing
these kinds of projects, which have far-reaching consequences for the city and particularly for
the residents who live nearby, without full consultation, open data and a thorough discussion of
the health risks.
Dominique Russell
25. March 2, 2015
I am shocked by the lack of responsibility shown by the Toronto School Board in its planned
decision to install crumb rubber in areas of play for children and young adults.
Anyone who looks seriously into the research available would see what a potentially dangerous
decision this is, with long term costs and effect.Since crumb rubber is a material that cannot be
legally disposed of in landfills or ocean-dumped because of its toxicity why have it in areas
where children will be forced to play?

The long term costs will prove too expensive for us all.

pauline cummins
26. March 2, 2015
To Whom It May Concern:

I am very concerned with TDSB's intention to install synthetic turf at Central Technical High
School. There are significant health and environmental concerns associated with artificial turf
and crumb rubber infill. I believe it is irresponsible to forge ahead with this proposal. There are
alternatives that would not compromise our health and the aesthetic integrity of the area.
Surely we can do better for our young people, our community and our city.
Thank you for your attention.

Marilyn Bercovich
27. February 23, 2015
How can you justify not telling Torontotians -especially parents, about the gra health hazards of
artificial turf? Central tech 693 bathurst street is of great to many of us.
Francine Zuckernan
28. February 16, 2015
I support the efforts to save our natural fields. The transformation of the green lawn will be
harmful to residents, to small businesses, to students, and to users. I encourage our leaders to
consider the effect this will have on the community of residents around the field as well.
Orit Sarfaty
29. February 14, 2015
Hello TDSB and everyone involved in decisions,
I have just learned of the plans to astro-turf the playing field at Central Tech. As a retired
educator, this causes me concern on many levels. I think my primary concern revolves around
the related health factors. I have had first hand experience with the "crumb rubber" due to high
school football games. It seems to get into everything no matter how vigilant I have been. I was
horrified to learn that this material is made from old tires that cannot be legally disposed of in
landfills or ocean-dumped because of its toxicity. I see no reason to have growing kids
breathing in this toxic cocktail or rubbing it on their skin. Some of the chemicals in question are
proven to be toxins and hormone disrupters.

For this same reason, I worry that as moisture passes through the crumb rubber it will bring
with it these toxins, eventually soaking into the groundwater as well as flowing into our creeks,
rivers, lakes. If there is an alternative to poisoning our children and our environment, let's
choose it!!!
Just one more thought....... It makes me sad to think that because of the public/private
partnership, the general public will not be able to head over to the local high school to use the
track or have a friendly, impromptu game of ball. I remember when my Dad would take us over
the to the high school to fly a kite or remote control plane. Let's guard these dwindle number of
public recreational spaces for the good of the many, not just those that can afford to use them.
I will be following this issue with great interest.
Karen Rathwell
Wellington Water Watchers
Guelph, ON
30. February 13, 2015
Stop privatizing the commons!
Judy Lewis
31. February 10, 2015
I send this letter regarding the plan of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and others to
convert a number of playgrounds and sports fields across the city from natural to artificial turf.

I am concerned about the environmental and health hazards of artificial turf. I am most
alarmed to learn that children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to the toxins and
carcinogens that artificial turf releases. All players are at risk for joint injuries and burns when
falling. As well, fields of artificial turf create heat islands in the summer, do not allow for the
natural drainage of water, and negatively affect the life of city birds.

No wonder, FIFA, the body that governs international football/soccer tournaments, banned the
use of artificial turf, years ago.

The City of Toronto has led the way in North America on other health/environmental issues. I
urge Toronto Public Health to ban the use of artificial turf in our city.
Laurie Kwasnik

32. February 9, 2015
Hi there,
I am concerned about the environmental health impacts of introducing turf over real grass to
our school lawns.
this is a list of toxins that could be released from artificial turf including :
download acetone, aniline, arsenic, barium, benzene, benzothiazole, cadmium, chloroethane,
chromium, cobalt, copper, halogenated flame retardants, isoprene, latex, lead, manganese,
mercury, methyl ethyl KETONE, methyl isobutyl ketone, naphthalene, nickel, phenol, pigments,
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, styrene – butadiene, toluene, and trichloroethylene

“This crumb rubber is a material that cannot be legally disposed of in landfills or ocean-dumped
because of its toxicity. Why on earth should we let our children play on it?”
Dana Newman
33. February 9, 2015
I send this letter regarding the plan of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and others to
convert a number of playgrounds and sports fields across the city from natural to artificial turf.
I am concerned about the environmental and health hazards of artificial turf. I am most
alarmed to learn that children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to the toxins and
carcinogens that artificial turf releases. All players are at risk for joint injuries and burns when
falling. As well, fields of artificial turf create heat islands in the summer, do not allow for the
natural drainage of water, and negatively affect the life of city birds. FIFA, the body that
governs international football/soccer tournaments, banned the use of artificial turf, years ago.

The City of Toronto has led the way in North America on other health/environmental issues. I
urge Toronto Public Health to ban the use of artificial turf in our city.
Sara Promislow
34. February 9, 2015
Dear TDSB, Toronto Public Health, Politicians, and Journalists,

Please protect Toronto children from cancer causing chemicals in
artificial turf playing fields.

Sincerely,

Steven McCabe
Toronto resident
35. February 9, 2015
I send this letter regarding the plan of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and others to
convert a number of playgrounds and sports fields across the city from natural to artificial turf.
I am concerned about the environmental and health hazards of artificial turf. I am most
alarmed to learn that children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to the toxins and
carcinogens that artificial turf releases. All players are at risk for joint injuries and burns when
falling. As well, fields of artificial turf create heat islands in the summer, do not allow for the
natural drainage of water, and negatively affect the life of city birds.

No wonder, FIFA, the body that governs international football/soccer tournaments, banned the
use of artificial turf, years ago.

The City of Toronto has led the way in North America on other health/environmental issues. I
urge Toronto Public Health to ban the use of artificial turf in our city.
Hilary Cook
36. January 28, 2015
As long as there continue to be concerns about the toxicity and safety of artificial turf we
should put a hold on any further installations in our schools. At the same time we know without
a doubt that that soil and real sod are good for the environment and cause fewer injuries. It
seems evident that the equation is weighted in favour of preserving and where necessary
restoring natural fields for the good of the students, the neighbourhood and the city.
Miriam Ticoll
37. January 28, 2015
I am dismayed to learn that artificial turf will be used on the playing field at Central Tech
instead of the natural field that is there presently.
Green space in downtown Toronto is absolutely vital to the well-being of the city and must be
protected at all costs. Artificial turf introduces unwanted toxins and turns what is essentially a
natural field into a no- go zone for the community.
The field is used by and members of the community alike.

Open green space helps to reduce the temperature of the city..

There are laws in downtown Toronto that specify that green space must exist within a 5 mile
radius.

This site is the only green space for miles and could be contested for that alone.
This issue is of vital importance.
I hope that due diligence will be done here.
Best,
Candida Girling
38. January 28, 2015
I am writing this letter in support of NoToxicTurf. As a retired high school teacher, I believe it is
essential that we preserve all school grounds, parks, playgrounds and public spaces free of
artificial turf, for both health and environmental reasons. I hope you will consider this request.
Sincerely,
Nick Hagiepetros
39. January 28, 2015
We need grass fields in this city. They give off oxygen, sequester carbon dioxide, yield pleasant
smells, and they also give when you make a sharp turn on the field. Turf is not proven to be safe
to our kids. A moratorium should be declared, and this field should not be ripped up against the
wishes of the community, who after all are paying the taxes.
aaron davis
40. January 22, 2015
Please do not replace grass on the field of Central Tech with artificial turf.
Artificial turf should not replace grass on any field.
The reports of toxicity and injury to people, are too compelling and frightening.
Yael Brotman

41. January 22, 2015

Hello, and thank you for reading my letter,

Please consider the importance of saving Central Tech High School's playing field from
privatization and this new development proposal. I speak for many when I say that public
outdoor spaces are extremely important to the vitality and well being of a city and its
population. This is a step in the wrong direction, and sends a message that crucial public
outdoor spaces can be sold off.

Please invest in restoring the field, for the use of public citizens. Not enough research has been
done into the tire waste being used for the field, and the environemental risk is avoidable if you
work to counter this bid.

Thank you,

Sebastien Heins

Concerned Citizen
42. January 22, 2015
WE NEED TO SAY NO TO SYNTHETIC TURF

When an institution or a jurisdiction has available grass fields, as most communities in
Canada do, it is a terrible mistake to install synthetic turf fields, especially those made from
materials containing recycled rubber tires. There are two fundamental reasons to avoid
these products. The first involves the health of our children. And the second, related
objection centers on the negative environmental impact of synthetic turf fields.

HEALTH:

Unfortunately, few people are aware of the actual level of scientific research into these
playing surfaces, and virtually everyone continues to consume them despite the future
likelihood of litigation unimagined at this time, but altogether possible in the future.

I am someone who has invested several thousand dollars of my own funds for an
investigation of synthetic turf carried out at Rutgers University in the United States. That
research found the usual troubling factors associated with rubber pellet fields, but the
science remained incomplete. And there was a very good reason for this fragmentary
result.

To my knowledge, no one has done a full and thorough scientific study of even one set of
these fields. Why? Because even in one field of recycled tire material you can have product
coming from more than one hundred different sources; not surprising, since an average
field can have the contents of 20,000 to 40,000 recycled rubber tires. To do a proper
investigation, one needs to take many samples from all over the surface, and
simultaneously attempt to trace the origin of the material. Secondly, to truly examine the
effect of the material on young players, one really needs a longitudinal study over a period
of approximately 15 years, with at least one control group of youngsters who have always
played on natural grass , and another group of people who have played a great deal on the
same artificial field.

Obviously, a thorough study of this kind would require the long-term co-operation of many
people and the expenditure of something like – this is my estimate -- $10 million dollars.

That kind of work has simply not been done. And what one has instead– almost always –
are “studies” that are simple summaries of supposedly already completed research whose
paucity is truly depressing.

The precautionary principle dictates that the agent of possibly harmful change bears the
burden of proof to establish that the change he or she is initiating does not cause harm.

In the case of these synthetic fields, we as a society, I believe, have thrown the
precautionary principle out the window. We expose our children to risk, I think, and we
allow them to bear the burden of testing the product, in the same way that we allowed
ourselves to smoke ourselves to death before litigation eventually established the
responsibility of tobacco companies for harm done to individuals.

Here is an excerpt from an NBC News investigation examining the disquiet felt in the United
States by Washington state athletic coach Amy Griffin when she noticed high levels of
cancer among soccer goalies who played on synthetic turf fields.

The NBC report remarks:

“Artificial turf fields are now everywhere in the United States, from high schools to multimillion-dollar athletic complexes. As any parent or player who has been on them can testify,
the tiny black rubber crumbs of which the fields are made -- chunks of old tires -- get
everywhere. In players' uniforms, in their hair, in their cleats.

But for goalkeepers, whose bodies are in constant contact with the turf, it can be far worse.
In practices and games, they make hundreds of dives, and each plunge sends a black cloud
of tire pellets into the air. The granules get into their cuts and scrapes, and into their
mouths. Griffin wondered if those crumbs - which have been known to contain carcinogens
and chemicals - were making players sick.
"I've coached for 26, 27 years," she said. "My first 15 years, I never heard anything about
this. All of a sudden it seems to be a stream of kids."

Since then, Griffin has compiled a list of 38 American soccer players -- 34 of them goalies -
who have been diagnosed with cancer. At least a dozen played in Washington, but the
geographic spread is nationwide. Blood cancers like lymphoma and leukemia dominate the
list.
No research has linked cancer to artificial turf. Griffin collected names through personal
experience with sick players, and acknowledges that her list is not a scientific data set. But
it's enough to make her ask whether crumb rubber artificial turf, a product that has been
rolled out in tens of thousands of parks, playgrounds, schools and stadiums in the U.S., is
safe for the athletes and kids who play on it. Others across the country are raising similar
questions, arguing that the now-ubiquitous material, made out of synthetic fibers and scrap
tire -- which can contain benzene, carbon black and lead, among other substances -- has not
been adequately tested. Few studies have measured the risk of ingesting crumb rubber
orally, for example.”

(http://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/how-safe-artificial-turf-your-child-playsn220166)

Let us make two arguments regarding this report.

First, let us assume that there is categorically no link of “cancer to artificial turf.” Then,
presumably, the disproportionate number of sick people who also played on synthetic turf,
as observed by coach Griffin, is simply a chance coincidence and nothing can be concluded
from the coach’s observations.

But, secondly, let us say that there is a connection of “cancer to artificial turf” and that in
the future such a causal connection is proven scientifically. What then will be the legal
position of officials and responsible people who can be proven to have deliberately received
health warnings made to them prior to the installation of the surface in a place or
jurisdiction where these officials have authority?

It is difficult to answer the question, but I know that in North America there are already
people ready and waiting to initiate class action suits in case such an evolution of the
testing research should take place.

THE ENVIRONMENT

There is one element of damage to health that is incontestable. Sustaining the health of
others is a question of trying not to remove an obvious good for both children and adults.

For example, if families live near an unpolluted canal where people can swim and then that
body of water becomes damaged by pollution, to the point that swimming becomes
impossible and certain people even become ill, then the polluter becomes liable for
degrading the environment and harming individuals. A previously benign environment has
been degraded and a previous good has been removed.

The removal of a previous environmental good is what results, I think, from the substitution
of a natural grass field with a synthetic turf field.

Synthetic turf fields produce a very obvious heat island effect. Interestingly, even the most
humble and ill-maintained field of grass carries out work of photosynthesis that has marked
benefits for people playing on that grass. A natural grass field absorbs CO2 and generates
oxygen. That makes the ambient air markedly cooler. Also, the soil on grass fields is capable
of absorbing and breaking down infectious material, such as mucous. A synthetic field is hot
in high temperatures, and athletes who scrape themselves on the inorganic surface must
have their skin surfaces treated immediately.

Attached to this letter is the heat-island study carried out in Montreal by Camilo Pérez
Arrau in 2007. You will note that the natural grass fields of Westmount Park are used as a
control for the comparative study, and that these fields show up as blue on the color-coded
temperature gradient that Arrau uses.

I happen to live right in front of these fields – and I, along with other members of Save The
Park! (a group that belongs to The National Association of Olmsted Parks, in Washington
D.C.) fought successfully to maintain these grass fields and to not have them replaced by
synthetic turf.

I know these fields well. They are not wonderfully maintained and there is not anything that
special about them. But they provide incontestable goods to the people who live nearby.

They create an air temperature that is noticeably cooler in summer time and relatively
oxygen-rich compared to the surrounding, urban streets such as Ste. Catherine.

Arrau’s study is based on Landsat 5 photos and he matches natural fields with well-known
synthetic surfaces in Montreal. The temperature difference in every case is from 5 degrees
Celsius to close to 10 degrees Celsius difference. When New York City first looked into the
state of its own synthetic fields, it began to post heat warnings in the summer precisely
because of the heat island effect.

Natural grass fields are healthier but they are also multi-purpose areas. People can play
freely on them, lounge, picnic, and stand closely if they want to watch young children play.

Both animals and human beings fare much better on natural grass. To take away a natural
field from someone, I believe, is to do them environmental harm.

If I had young children at this time – I would not permit them to play on synthetic surfaces,
and I would take that decision as part of my job as a parent, exercising a precautionary
principle on behalf of my own kith and kin.

We have rushed obsessively to install these artificial surfaces, to the point that we believe,
somehow, that it is impossible to play field games on natural surfaces.

Quite frankly this attitude resembles a kind of obsessive addiction that has harmful effects
both for the consumer and the supplier.

I – and a number of people such as myself – are in earnest about this issue. We have already
spent thousands of dollars seeking answers to our questions, and we will probably end up –
collectively – spending millions until we are really know the truth about the questions raised
by such people as Amy Griffin.

As is often said in another context, we believe we all need to learn to say NO and to say NO
….NOW.

Patrick Barnard
Westmount Quebec

43. January 22, 2015

Are you people seriously going to put this fake, toxic stuff in the centre of our city?
Really going put neighborhood health and well - being behind greed?
Are you really going to hold public sporting events there
when school is out? A residential neighbourhood that could not possibly bear the traffic and
congestion.

Disgraceful.

You could do the right thing and use the green
alternative available to you. You could set an example. You could be a beacon. You will
get much better press if you do the right
by the neighbourhood, the community,
the environment and the City.

Yours very truly,

Batsheva Capek

The No Toxic Turf movement affects our health and our community.
44. January 19, 2015
Greetings,

I am writing to ask that you do whatever you can to save the playing field at Central Tech High
School from privatization and development. Public outdoor spaces are a precious urban
resource, and the field at Central Tech has been a vital part of the community for years. The
field has been neglected in recent years, and its contamination is worrying, but this is merely a
call to action to restore the field. Please consider the proposals to restore the field that keep it
a public outdoor space. Should the misguided decision to build an indoor dome be pursued, I
would call on our leaders to give the scientific community time to examine the reports of
increased cancer incidence in soccer goalies playing primarily on this material.

Sincerely,
Ishai Buchbinder

45. January 19, 2015

To Whom it May Concern,

I am writing this letter because I am extremely concerned with the current proposal to install
artificial turf on the field of Central Tech. My concern stems from the hastiness of this decision,
and from the plethora of potential health and environmental concerns which are created by
artificial turf. A school field, and greenery in general, is supposed to be a site of healthy physical
activity, and rejuvenating connection to the outdoors. This new proposed artificial field,
however, will introduce very dangerous toxins, carcinogens and hormones into the
environment, as well as dangerously high heat levels in the summer months. Couple that with
the increased risk of staph infection and the pollution this field will introduce into our already
oh-so-fragile water table, and you start to get the picture of the immeasurable harm this plan
will cause.

I know this is an issue that many, in addition to myself, are taking very seriously. Please, I urge
you to take our concerns seriously, and investigate the proposed top soil proposal instead.

Thank you for taking the time to hear my voice on this issue.

Sincerely,

Mitchell Cushman

A report from the school board’s consultant has stipulated that applying 6-8 inches of topsoil
and a layer of new sod would remedy the current contamination problem and make Central
Tech’s field usable again. A new type of natural hybrid grass, used in many high-use sports
fields, could create a safe and resilient surface for players.
46. January 13, 2015
Dr. David McKeown,

I'm writing to state my objection to the current plan to transform the four acre field at Central
Tech into a artificial turf / 80 foot high dome, as well as the plans for several other playgrounds
to be converted to artifical turf.

Specifically, I'm very concerned about the possible health issues associated with the use of
artifical turf - at the very least there should be a moratorium on the instillation of tire waste
artificial turf until it's proven that it is safe.

Sincerely,

Simon Bloom
co-Artistic Director
Outside the March Theatre Company
47. January 9, 2015
I am against removing natural grass for any alternative. The grass is healthy, beautiful and has
withstood the test of time.
Michael Gerry
48. January 1, 2015
Stop the TDSB plan for artificial turf in Central Tech field at 725 Bathurst Street;for so many
reasons this is wrong:

- Health hazatd, - The turf is full of toxic materials.
- The decision was made without takingi into account the community view and without due
process.
- With the cooperation of the TDSB; the CTS students have been bribed with promisses based
on misguided information

Nomi Drory
128 Markham Street
Toronto
M 6J2G5
49. January 1, 2015
Stop the astro turf because it is toxic, and is a proven carcinogen.
My address is 28 Markham St, and would be very disappointed to have this happen in my
neighbourhood.
Phillip Woolf

50. December 16, 2014

Please do not replace our healthy natural grass field with toxic tire waste artificial turf!
Thank you for listening to your community.
Jennifer Capraru
51. December 1, 2014
Please protect our children from exposure to the toxins and carcinogens that are released from
crumb rubber artificial turf.
When these fields are being de-installed and banned all over the world, the TDSB is being shortsighted and irresponsible in promoting them. There are new natural grasses that are low
maintenance and do not require pesticides.
And please read this important recent article, below.
A concerned parent,
Devra Kaplan

http://www.infowars.com/dads-petition-seeks-to-ban-artificial-turf-sports-fields-overreported-link-to-cancer/
52. November 24, 2014
Dear City Officials,

I understand field space is incredibly important for students.

However, I have been shocked to learn about the health impacts that the proposed FIFA-grade
artifical turf that would be installed in Central Tech's currently contaminated field. According to
recent research findings and evidence, it could in fact have a far more grave impact on the
health of students than the turf would itself.

Central Tech students and their families are possibly not aware of the controversy surrounding
this topic. NBC currently did a news piece examining the possible link between artificial turf and
cancer, citing an alarming number of children who have played on artificial turf and soon gotten
cancer - this seems to affect goalies especially. Blood cancers like lymphoma and leukemia
dominate the shocking list.

“During the past two decades, there have been more than 60 technical studies and reports that
review the health effects of crumb rubber as it pertains to toxicities from inhalation, ingestion
and dermal contact, as well as cancer,” the Synthetic Turf Council, an industry group, said
Thursday in a statement responding to the initial NBC News report. An official study on what

effects exposure to the chemicals in crumb rubber turf fields might have on athletes has been
requested by the US Federal government's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

A former soccer player interviewed for the piece who now has cancer is quoted saying that
after playing on the artificial turf she would “have little black dots (from the crumb rubber) in
her ears and nose.”

With such intensely serious health impacts of artificial turf now going under federal
investigation, it is your responsibility as city officials - and perhaps parents yourselves - to shut
down the proposal now going to the OMB to install artificial turf.

Seeing as how the field is contaminated, what an opportunity for students to participate in the
planning and safe installation of a new natural field that they can be proud of - and safe on.

Thank you for reviewing my request.

Lenni Jabour
53. November 11, 2014
Ms. Lachapelle,

I strongly encourage Toronto Public Health to undertake a thoroughgoing study of SBR (waste
tire) infill on athletic fields in Toronto. The fact that environmental toxins (Class 2A carcinogens
and endocrine disruptive chemicals) are present in this type of material should be reason
enough to warrant further study of the public health threat they represent. The additional facts
that in scientific studies it has been shown that the amount of these chemicals in a given
sample may vary widely due to differences in source material, and that many ingredients in
tires are unknown (held as trade secrets), should underscore the necessity of an investigation
by TPH.

Expressed concerns of parents and public health advocates in Toronto and elsewhere should
not be ignored.
Mike Murphy

54. November 11, 2014

I believe that playing on artificial turf & ground-up tire waste infill poses a serious risk to the
health of our children. This industrial waste material containing multiple carcinogens has not
been tested in animals. So this means its first real testing has been on our children. NBC
Network News has recently reported a cancer cluster in young soccer goalies playing on this
toxic waste material. We need to replace all the articial turf now before more children are
taken ill. Thank you for your attention regarding my concern.
Lillian Blunden
55. November 11, 2014
I am totally against the use of artificial turf at Central Tech. It is hazard to our health.
Ruth Krakowski
56. October 23, 2014
No Toxic Turf!
Rosie Aiken
57. October 23, 2014
I have two school age children. We live in Toronto.
I moved from New York City to raise my children in a healthier, greener city.
The mix of toxins and carcinogens that young players will inhale upon the installation of tire
waste synthetic turf on Central Tech's field is a detriment not only to the children using the
field, the neighbouring community exposed to the toxins, but to the city as a whole.
When a city chooses to embrace toxins and contamination it affects all of the inhabitants.
What kind of investment are you making for the future and health of our city?
This is a huge mistake, PLEASE DONT DO IT!
Amy Lengyel
58. October 22, 2014
Can you speak to the mix of toxins and carcinogens that young players will inhale upon the
installation of tire waste synthetic turf on Central Tech's field?
Janice Greene

59. October 22, 2014

Environmentally dreadful. No o2 producing co2 eating from fake grass. What are you trying ti
teach these kids anyway? Total lack of respect for living things other than themselves? Very
creepy.
M. Catherine Newcomb
60. October 22, 2014
I support the moratorium on further installation of tire waste artificial turf in Toronto schools in
order to protect the health of our students, communities and environment. I wish to preserve
public access to green space.

Of immediate concern: Central Tech's playing field. My concerns include:

The mix of toxins and carcinogens that young players will inhale upon the installation of tire
waste synthetic turf on Central Tech's field.
Tthe risk of heat rash, exhaustion, and potentially heat stroke from the extreme temperatures
of tire waste synthetic turf during the summer.
The lack of access to green space if CTS's field is replaced with artificial turf and privatized.

I hope that you will speak out against the TDSB's artificial turf proposal that they are now taking
before the OMB. It's just a bad idea, on so many levels. In addition to the health concerns, a
dome would be a blight on the historic neighbourhood. Please advocate against this idea. To
mind, it is so clearly the agenda of a very few TDSB officials against the will of a broad
community.

Sincerely,
Aaron Willis
61. October 21, 2014
That open vista in front of Central Tech is like a breath of fresh air to city dwellers. As a fourthgeneration Torontonian, I care about our city and don't wish to see our quality of life
diminished through such efforts at privatization and commercialization of vital components of
our urban landscape. My father taught night school at Central Tech for decades, and I know he
would have been opposed to the astro turf proposal. No Toxic Turf, please!
BILL GLADSTONE, Toronto

62. October 21, 2014

Dear Sir/Madam,
the whole idea of fake and toxic turf in children's playgrounds and public spaces totally appals
me. The scientific community has put out so much damning evidence to support a total ban of
toxic turf. We know too much to let this fake-grass dwell in our environment. For the sake of
our environment and our health and our children's health....please NO TOXIC TURF...your
sincerely Miriam Erlichman.
63. October 21, 2014
Can you speak to the mix of toxins and carcinogens that young players will inhale upon the
installation of tire waste synthetic turf on Central Tech's field?
Can you speak to the risk of heat rash, exhaustion, and potentially heat stroke from the
extreme temperatures of tire waste synthetic turf during the summer?
Can you answer to the lack of access to green space if CTS's field is replaced with artificial turf
and privatized?
Hannah Mengistu
64. October 21, 2014
This is wasteful and unhealthy practice favouring special interests
Ronni Rosenberg
65. October 20, 2014
I and my wife own property at 113 Major St. and a second house in Shelley Laskin's ward.
We are appalled by the tenacity of TDSB in fighting the City over this.
It should drop this toxic, ugly plan.
For the amount of money both sides have spent one could run Central Tech for the next 10
years!!
Is Razor funding TDSB's legal costs in this matter and paying any costs awarded against it?
Please advise.
Murray Teitel

66. October 20, 2014

Where to begin?
I know the TDSB is cash strapped but giving Razor Management control over the playing fields
of 7 local schools seems to me like a deal with the devil.
There has been so much research and so many articles and media reports on the toxicity of
particles from shredded tires, that it seems absurd to expose young people and whole
neighbourhoods to a potential carcinogen.

Patti Wood, Exec. Director of Grassroots Environmental Education expressed the sentiments of
the community when she wrote, "The crumb residue is a material that can't be legally landfilled
or ocean dumped. Why on Earth would we let our children play on it?"
As someone who loves the historic Harbord Bathurst neighbourhood, I worry that the plan will
exacerbate the areas serious parking problems and will destroy the beautiful Bathurst St. view
of historic Central Tech. And it will prevent community access to a vital piece of green space.

Sincerely
David Teitel
67. October 20, 2014
I and my wife own property at 113 Major St. and a second house in Shelley Laskin's ward.
We are appalled by the tenacity of TDSB in fighting the City over this.
It should drop this toxic, ugly plan.
For the amount of money both sides have spent one could run Central Tech for the next 10
years!!
Is Razor funding TDSB's legal costs in this matter and paying any costs awarded against it?
Please advise.
Murray Teitel
68. October 20, 2014
Where to begin?
I know the TDSB is cash strapped but giving Razor Management control over the playing fields
of 7 local schools seems to me like a deal with the devil.

There has been so much research and so many articles and media reports on the toxicity of
particles from shredded tires, that it seems absurd to expose young people and whole
neighbourhoods to a potential carcinogen.
Patti Wood, Exec. Director of Grassroots Environmental Education expressed the sentiments of
the community when she wrote, "The crumb residue is a material that can't be legally landfilled
or ocean dumped. Why on Earth would we let our children play on it?"

As someone who loves the historic Harbord Bathurst neighbourhood, I worry that the plan will
exacerbate the areas serious parking problems and will destroy the beautiful Bathurst St. view
of historic Central Tech. And it will prevent community access to a vital piece of green space.

Sincerely
David Teitel
69. October 19, 2014
I truly hope that the TDSB will hold off on signing a 21 year agreement with Razor Management
to develop a domed facility at Central Tech before the new Trustees are in place and are able to
take a sober second look at this project. Artificial turf and its environmental and safety
concerns and the commercialization of a publicly accessible track in a neighbourhood with little
green space - just two of many reasons that this project is problematic.

Trustees, PLEASE do the right thing and leave the option open to consider alternatives in
conjunction with the city of Toronto and resident associations, DO NOT VOTE to sign an
agreement with Razor Management at the October 29th TDSB meeting. Rushing this through at
the last minute is terribly disrespectful of the democratic process.
Miriam Ticoll
70. October 19, 2014
I am a mother of four who lives in the area and am concerned about the TDSB proposal to turn
the central tec playing field into astro turf and build a huge dome. Astro turf does not allow
water to naturally seep back into the ground but adds toxins into the mix due to the make-up of
the turf materials. I am worried about the extra heat build up that it causes, the lack of access
to the field and the huge visual impact that the dome would have on the streetscape.

I do not understand why the TDSB is not listening to their neighbours complaints and are so

forcefully going ahead with this project so quickly....especially since there is going to be a new
board taking office December 1st.

Sincerely
Chari cohen
71. October 17, 2014
What is wrong with real grass? Why continue this push for astroturf against the wishes and
common sense of so many people. When we have torrential rains, where does the water
spillover go when it falls on astroturf as opposed to natural grass? Who profits from overselling
astroturf to the city? Is there an irresistible astroturf lobby in Toronto?
Libby Hague
72. October 17, 2014
We are alarmed by the artificial turf and its ramifications at Central Tech. Can you PLEASE
answer to the lack of access to green space if CTS's field is replaced with artificial turf and
privatized!
Deb Filler
73. October 17, 2014
Hi,
I want to lend my support against the proposes leasing out of public lands to a private
company. Schools are the centre of local communities, and the grass playing field at central
tech playing field has and is currently used by the community. We do not want to lose this
valuable community asset. In addition to change the field to an artificial turf instead of natural
grass sets a bad precedent. Artificial turf is toxic, why then would we want children playing on it
when they can be playing on natural grass like they have done for many decades.. I'm
completely against turning over a great neighbourhoods public resource to a private company
and changing a natural playing field into plastic turf. Please, don't not proceed with this
proposal.
Dean Goodman

74. October 14, 2014
Please read these two recent articles about artificial turf and cancer - NBC is doing a series
about it .
Sincerely, Rochelle
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/how-safe-artificial-turf-your-child-playsn220166

http://www.whizwitsports.com/the-scoop/artificial-turf-could-be-causing-cancer-amongformer-phillies mlb-players
75. October 13, 2014
Dear Sir/Madam,
As a health care provider and a resident of Toronto I feel extremely troubled by the fashion of
laying down this Toxic Turf in our children's playgrounds, sports complexes and public spaces.
The science is there to support a total and complete ban of this artificial and toxic material.
With the environment and public health so prominently in our collective awareness it surprises
and shocks me that the risks of pursuing laying fake and toxic grass was not halted in it's initial
offering. The consciousness is there and the means are there to find safe and natural ways of
safely carpeting our spaces. We need to come to our senses.....our senses say....let's smell
GRASS and put a stop to toxic and dangerous substitutes....many thanks
Miriam Erlichman

Page 1 of 1

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:30 PM
Received: May 02, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 03, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8pei-xo5g
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0061
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Cindy Million
Address: 22302
Email: lohmann99@yahoo.com

General Comment
My son's school has a crumb rubber play ground surface. The other day, I saw a neighbor's
9-month-old baby crawling on the surface. She fell and ended up with crumb rubber over her
face and hands. A piece of crumb rubber made it into her mouth before her mom could stop it.
How many other times has that happened? How many other babies have been ingesting the
crumb rubber? My son plays on the surface every day before lunch. I asked the school if his
class could wash their hands before lunch. I was told that there isn't enough time. So only my
son is allowed to wash his hands. The city soccer league has 4-year-olds playing on crumb
rubber athletic fields, and they eat half-time snacks on the field, without any hand washing.
We know what's in crumb rubber. We know what our kids are getting exposed to--whether it's
breathing in the VOCs, getting particles in their cuts when they fall, or ingesting the particles or
dust that results from the particle break-down. Kids should NOT be playing on carcinogens.
And yet they are. How can you let kids play on carcinogens when there's absolutely no longterm safety data? I've read through existing research articles. They have small sample sizes,
they are short-term, they are based on models not people. Please use common sense -carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and heavy metals are not a good playing surface for children.
Please start considering our children's overall chemical burden and not the turf industry.

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa08ca&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 1 of 2

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:31 PM
Received: May 02, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 03, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8pej-3t7d
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0063
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Joan Bloom
Address: 98020
Email: JoanBloom@vigeo.us

General Comment
I will begin my comment with the following quote:
"While we are glad that chemical exposure to crumb rubber surfaces is finally drawing national
attention, this 'federal action plan' does not appear designed to lead to actual action," stated
PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch whose organization led the drive to induce both EPA and
CPSC to withdraw their previous safety endorsements for crumb rubber surfaces. "The
Consumer Product Safety Commission does not need a survey to know that children come into
intimate contact with playground surfaces - it should instead use its clear existing authority to
protect children from harmful chemical exposures."
And:
THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCLPLE: "When an activity raises threats of harm to human
health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and
effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. In this context the proponent of an
activity, rather than the public, should bear the burden of proof. The process of applying the
precautionary principle must be open, informed and democratic and must include potentially
affected parties. It must also involve an examination of the full range of alternatives, including
no action."

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa11f7&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 2 of 2

I served a four year term as a council member in Edmonds, WA ending December of 2015. In
the last year of my term the Edmonds School District planned and installed a turf field, using
crumb rubber infill. Approval of the plans for this field came to City Council. I voted against
approval, for environmental reasons, but was outvoted 5-2. The building of the field went
forward with strong objections from parents whose children went to school directly next to the
field. The major concern was the use of crumb rubber infill, rather than an organic alternative.
I learned more than anyone would ever want to know about crumb rubber, and its use in sports
fields and playgrounds, and of the dangers to the children playing on those fields. With strong
support from a group of concerned citizens, mostly parents, we advocated for an alternative
infill. The Edmonds School District, the lead on the project, said no. Ultimately, the Edmonds
City Council voted to ban crumb rubber in the city of Edmonds on all athletic and play fields
for an 18 month period, beginning in December of 2015, while further studies are completed.
Throughout the process, more and more citizens changed from thinking crumb rubber was just
fine, thank you very much, to being strongly opposed to its use, anywhere. Concerns focused on
the harm to children, but extended to the harm to anyone coming into contact with the
dangerous heavy metals, and carbon black, that are contained in tires. By the time the Edmonds
City Council banned crumb rubber in a vote of 7-0, there were only a few citizens who still
thought crumb rubber did not pose any problems. This included the majority of the Edmonds
School Board (five members) and the superintendent of the Edmonds School District, who kept
referring back to an industry backed "study" that they commissioned, acting as if it was
authoritative, when it was clearly biased in support of the crumb rubber industry.
I appreciate that the original intention of the support to the crumb rubber industry was to find a
use for the thousands of tires piling up in landfills. But I like things to make sense, and it
MAKES NO SENSE to expose children and the environment to dangerous chemicals just to
recycle old tires. In my opinion, the EPA should IMMEDIATELY ban crumb rubber in athletic
fields and playgrounds. You have more than enough data about the dangerous contents of the
ground up tires (heavy metals, carbon black, and God knows what else) to make this call.
The EPA should then support research on other ways to recycle the old tires, uses that don't
require grinding the tires up and throwing the ground up stuff into the air we breathe and the
water we drink. I recently read an article suggesting that the use of whole tires as building
material for home made green houses is safe, as no chemicals are released into the environment.
Perhaps tires could safely be broken down and used to make new tires.
Assist the crumb rubber industry in finding other ways to make a profit on these free for the
taking dangerous waste products and spend not another minute of your time collecting data
while innocent children, their families and the environment, thus EVERYONE, continue to be
exposed to these dangerous chemicals.
The EPA got us into this mess. The EPA and the CPSC should get us out of it.
Thank you for your careful attention to my comments.

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa11f7&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 1 of 1

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:34 PM
Received: May 02, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 03, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8pel-3fcr
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0067
Comment on FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Anonymous Anonymous

General Comment
Children have unique developmental vulnerabilities to the synergistic affects of unregulated
toxins in their environment. When exposed at a critical point in development the results can be
life altering
Our kids are not a science experiment. This has to stop. A recycling need cannot come before
the health of our children.

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa1aad&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 1 of 2

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:35 PM
Received: May 02, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 03, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8pem-abrk
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0068
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Sheldon Fishman
Address: 20902
Email: sheldon.fishman@gmail.com

General Comment
Given all of the science on the record that demonstrates artificial turf is a threat to health and
the environment,
the precautionary principle dictates that artificial turf with crumb rubber infill be
recognized as a threat to public health and safety and the environment and that the ongoing
expansion and construction of crumb rubber turf fields should be prohibited.
Attached is a detailed description with references to documented health, safety, and
environmental risks of artificial turf fields.
The Parents Coalition of Montgomery County Maryland recommends that the research agenda
for ATSDR should be
supplemented with human epidemiology studies of artificial turf fields as soon as possible.
Human epidemiology will
reinforce the precautionary principle, will add to the urgency of action, and will serve to
identify victims harmed by
sale of these materials, the purchase of these materials, the authorization for children to play on
these materials and the lag by regulatory agencies in recommending and
enacting a moratorium on artificial turf play fields.

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa18e6&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 2 of 2

Sheldon Fishman
Parents Coalition of Montgomery County Maryland
http://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/

Attachments
Comment_4_29_16_ATSDR_EPA_re_Art_Turf_study

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa18e6&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

April 29, 2016

Leroy A. Richardson, Information Collection Review Office
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE., MS-D74
Atlanta, Georgia 30329.

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Regulation.gov

Re: Docket No. ATSDR-2016-0002

Dear Mr. Richardson,

Conducting additional research into the health and environmental impacts synthetic turf fields with
crumb rubber infill is essential. Crumb Rubber turf fields are proliferating quickly through
communities with schools and municipalities constructing crumb rubber fields to accommodate kids
playing sports of all ages from elementary level on up. In every instance school district and town
officials cite industry funded research as a primary demonstration of safety. Inadequate Government
documents are of little help in countering such assertions or information the decisionmaking process
as, to the degree they exist, they are very limited in scope, they often rely on industry-provided
information, and they often rely on an absence of information as somehow supporting a
demonstration of no harm. A thorough and independent investigation is essential if we are to protect
children, adults and the environment from the harms of crumb rubber artificial turf.

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network would also like to suggest that research into the impacts of other
artificial turf infill materials is important given that they too are the subject of a multitude of claims of
safety backed by little but industry marketing materials and industry funded research.

I believe it will be important to include an organization like the Delaware Riverkeeper Network
among your stakeholders. We have had to engage in significant research into, and advocacy about,
artificial turf, its environmental and health impacts on a number of occasions over the past 8+ years.
As a result we have a significant and healthy understanding of the science and the issues that have
been and need to be evaluated.

I include with this comment a series of fact sheets and informational materials created by my
organization to help inform local debates regarding the construction or expansion of artificial turf
DELAWARE RIVERKEEPER NETWORK
925 Canal Street, Suite 3701
Bristol, PA 19007
Office: (215) 369-1188
fax: (215)369-1181
drn@delawareriverkeeper.org
www.delawareriverkeeper.org

fields. In these materials we cite a number of scientific and government materials that assess the
environmental and health impacts of crumb rubber artificial turf. We would like to submit them for
the record and your consideration.

Synthetic turf is generally made with rubber from waste tires. Recycled rubber varies considerably in
its chemical composition, even when from the same manufacturer.1 Hazardous substances found in
tires may persist in the environment including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates
and certain metals. These substances may be bioaccumulative, carcinogenic, reprotoxic, mutagenic
and/or endocrine disrupting.2

• Most PAHs are persistent, bioaccumulative and carcinogenic.3
• Phthalates are generally used as solvents and plasticisers in plastics. Phthalates are not
chemically bound to the rubber and as a result can leach from the infill material.4
• Phenols likewise are not chemically bound to the rubber and so can leach. Phenols too are
persistent and bioaccumulative and can have long-term effects on the environment.5
• Among the metals found in tires that may be of concern are zinc, lead, copper, chromium and
cadmium. While zinc and copper are essential for living organisms, when absorbed at high
levels they become harmful. Lead can affect reproduction, development of the nervous system
leading to poor cognitive development, and is a particular threat to fetuses and young children.
Chromium is carcinogenic and mutagenic. Cadmium is toxic to humans and if taken in can
contribute to poor liver and kidney function, as well as osteoporosis. 6

Playing on Artificial Turf brings threats of exposure to hazardous substances through a variety
of pathways.
Direct human exposure to the hazardous substances contained in the rubber in-fill of artificial turf is
believed to occur via three pathways: inhalation, skin contact, and/or ingestion including by children
who come into contact with the material.7

A 2012 study focused on the threat of lead ingestion from artificial turf noted that lead, in the “case of
chronic exposure in early childhood, can induce cell necrosis, nerve behavioral abnormalities and
developmental disability, and in the case of long-term exposure it can induce cell necrosis, blood
pressure, cancer, and kidney tumor.”8 In this study researchers considered the impacts for lead
exposure from children who ingest rubber powder resulting from exposure to crumb rubber infill
artificial turf. The research showed elementary school children had a hazard index that exceeded 0.1,

1 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,

December 2005, p. 7.
2 KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
3 KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
4 KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
5 KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
6 KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
7 Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
8 Kim, S., Yang, J.-Y., Kim, H.-H., Yeo, I.-Y., Shin, D.-C., & Lim, Y.-W. (2012). Health Risk Assessment of Lead Ingestion
Exposure by Particle Sizes in Crumb Rubber on Artificial Turf Considering Bioavailability. Environmental Health and
Toxicology, 27, e2012005. http://doi.org/10.5620/eht.2012.27.e2012005.

Page 2 of 12

a level that is considered a “potential for hazard”. 9 Middle and high school children were also found
to have exposure levels.

In 2011, research conducted for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection began
investigation into the potential for players on artificial turf fields to be exposed to lead, chromium,
arsenic and cadmium as a respirable/inhalable aerosol.10 In air samples collected from the turf
during various levels of activity, researchers detected arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead, all
metals with known human toxicity. 11 “The findings of this study, although limited in scope, raise
some concerns with regard to the potential hazards that may exist for individuals and in particular
children who engage in sports activities on artificial turf fields.” 12 The research demonstrated that
activity by players on the fields could suspend contaminated particulates into the air that could be
inhaled. “The findings show that both inhalable PM [particulate matter], as well as inhalable lead
(when present) are resuspended from even minor physical activity on an artificial surface. These data
therefore indicates that human exposure from lead-containing artificial turf fields is not just limited to
dermal, but also to inhalation route of exposure.” 13 The three potential avenues for lead from
artificial turf are the blades of artificial grass, the pigment used for the field markings and lines, and
the infill material. Even studies that have not found exposure levels to lead high enough to be of
concern in the context of the study conducted are careful to point out: “some health scientists believe
that any Pb [lead] is harmful to children’s neurocognitive development, and that no new Pb should be
added to their surroundings”14 and that “…physicians should be aware of synthetic turf as pone
potential source of exposure for young children. Health officials investigating elevated blood lead in
children should also be aware of synthetic turf as a potential source of lead exposure.”15

Furthermore, a 2008 study that looked at a variety of contaminants associated with artificial turf did
find that the lead present in the rubber granules, while at low levels, was “highly bioaccessible” to
synthetic gastric fluid used in their research. This study also found a “slightly worrisome” level of
chromium in an artificial turf fiber sample and “high bioaccessible fractions of lead in both synthetic
gastric and intestinal fluids.16

9 Kim, S., Yang, J.-Y., Kim, H.-H., Yeo, I.-Y., Shin, D.-C., & Lim, Y.-W. (2012). Health Risk Assessment of Lead Ingestion

Exposure by Particle Sizes in Crumb Rubber on Artificial Turf Considering Bioavailability. Environmental Health and
Toxicology, 27, e2012005. http://doi.org/10.5620/eht.2012.27.e2012005.
10 S.L. Shalat, Sc.D., “An Evaluation of Potential Exposures to Lead and Other Metals as the Result of Aerosolized Particulate
Matter from Artificial Turf Playing Fields, Final Report”, submitted to NJ Department of Environmental Protection, July 14,
2011.
11 S.L. Shalat, Sc.D., “An Evaluation of Potential Exposures to Lead and Other Metals as the Result of Aerosolized Particulate
Matter from Artificial Turf Playing Fields, Final Report”, submitted to NJ Department of Environmental Protection, July 14,
2011.
12 S.L. Shalat, Sc.D., “An Evaluation of Potential Exposures to Lead and Other Metals as the Result of Aerosolized Particulate
Matter from Artificial Turf Playing Fields, Final Report”, submitted to NJ Department of Environmental Protection, July 14,
2011.
13 S.L. Shalat, Sc.D., “An Evaluation of Potential Exposures to Lead and Other Metals as the Result of Aerosolized Particulate
Matter from Artificial Turf Playing Fields, Final Report”, submitted to NJ Department of Environmental Protection, July 14,
2011.
14
J. Zhang, I. Han, L. Zhang, W. Crain, “Hazardous Chemicals in synthetic turf materials and their bioaccessibility in
digestive fluids,” Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology (2008)
15 G. Van Ulirsch et. al, Evaluating and Regulating Lead in Synthetic Turf, Commentary, Environmental Health Perspectives,
Vol 118, No. 10, Oct. 2010.
16
J. Zhang, I. Han, L. Zhang, W. Crain, “Hazardous Chemicals in synthetic turf materials and their bioaccessibility in
digestive fluids,” Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology (2008)

Page 3 of 12

In October 2006 and January 2007, respectively, two sites in New York where synthetic turf has been
used (a large, then 3 year old, Parade Ground in Brooklyn; a relatively small then 5 month old Sara D.
Roosevelt Park in Manhattan) were analyzed. This testing found PAHs at hazardous levels (as per
New York standards) at each of the sites. At both sites dibenzo (a.h)anthracene, a probable human
carcinogen, was found at hazardous levels, with two other PAH forms, both possible human
carcinogens, found at hazardous levels at the Parade Ground site. A 2008 study also found that the
rubber granules found in artificial turf fields had PAH levels above health-based soil standards, that
there was “low” but not “no” bioaccessibility, and that while levels appear to decline over time this
can be altered by the fact that new rubber can be added periodically to compensate for the loss of
infill material.17 Additional research is needed into the pathways by which these substances may be
absorbed into the bodies of children and athletes via skin contact, ingestion or other pathways18 - but
the need for additional research does not displace the concerns raised by these findings.

Analyses conducted at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of Rutgers
University found the crumb rubber from artificial turf to contain high levels of PAHs, as well as zinc
and arsenic.19 PAHs found to be contained in the crumb rubber “were above the concentration levels
that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) considers sufficiently
hazardous to public health to require their removal from contaminated soil sites. It is highly likely
that all six PAHs are carcinogenic to humans.” 20 “The analyses also revealed levels of zinc in both
samples that exceed the DEC's tolerable levels.” 21 The researchers associated with these findings
were careful to state “We want to emphasize that the findings are preliminary. PAHs in rubber might
not act the same way as in soil, and we do not yet have information on the ease with which the PAHs
in these rubber particles might be absorbed by children or adults -- by ingestion, inhalation, or
absorption through the skin. However, the findings are worrisome. Until more is known, it wouldn't
be prudent to install the synthetic turf in any more parks.” 22

J. Zhang, I. Han, L. Zhang, W. Crain, “Hazardous Chemicals in synthetic turf materials and their bioaccessibility in
digestive fluids,” Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology (2008)
18 Rachel’s’ Democracy & Health News #992, Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, Follow-up Analyses, April 12, 2007.
19 Junfeng Zhang, professor and acting chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health,
the School of Public Health, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers University & William
Crain, professor of psychology at The City College of New York, president of Citizens for a Green Riverside Park,
Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, 2006, analyses conducted at at the Environmental and Occupational Health
Sciences Institute of Rutgers.
20 Junfeng Zhang, professor and acting chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health,
the School of Public Health, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers University & William
Crain, professor of psychology at The City College of New York, president of Citizens for a Green Riverside Park,
Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, 2006, analyses conducted at at the Environmental and Occupational Health
Sciences Institute of Rutgers.
21 Junfeng Zhang, professor and acting chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health,
the School of Public Health, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers University & William
Crain, professor of psychology at The City College of New York, president of Citizens for a Green Riverside Park,
Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, 2006, analyses conducted at at the Environmental and Occupational Health
Sciences Institute of Rutgers.
22 Junfeng Zhang, professor and acting chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health,
the School of Public Health, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers University & William
Crain, professor of psychology at The City College of New York, president of Citizens for a Green Riverside Park,
Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, 2006, analyses conducted at at the Environmental and Occupational Health
Sciences Institute of Rutgers.
17

Page 4 of 12

A study by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) summarized
46 studies that identified 49 chemicals which are released from tire crumb. Of the 49, “seven of the
chemicals leached from tire shreds were carcinogens. OEHHA calculated a cancer risk of 1.2 in 10
million based on a one-time ingestion of the tire crumb rubber over a lifetime.”23 While there are
limited studies which assert that recycled tire crumb are stable in the gastrointestinal tract and that
therefore this is not a pathway for exposure, there are other studies which contradict these findings.24

Concerns have been raised about the potential implications of recycled tire in-fill for individuals with
latex allergies and that inhalation could result in a systemic response, as opposed to a contact
response.25

Asserted one analysis, while, “the status of the information about human exposures to recycled tire
crumb rubber in-fill … is not sufficient to determine the safety of the use of the product in situations
that involve continuous episodes of human exposure;” 26 “the available information is sufficient and
strong enough to raise plausible questions with respect to acute toxicity for susceptible persons, and
for cancer risks.”27

Chrysene, a PAH and carcinogen, was found to be ingested as the result of hand-to-surface-to-mouth
transfer from playground surfaces made with recycled tires. Assuming playground use for an 11 year
period (from age 1 to 12) there was found to be an increased cancer risk of 2.9 in one million
(2.9 X 10-6). This risk is greater than the general cancer risk gauge of one in one million (1X10-6).28
This research would seem to suggest that repeat exposure over time to the chemicals released from
artificial turf increases the associated increase in cancer risk.

The hot temperatures create additional concern for exposing players to dangerous toxins. As well
explained by a well cited petition to the Consumer Product Safety Commission for rulemaking: “When
tires are shredded and pulverized, their surface area increases exponentially, as does the particulate
and gas yield from the tire material. Since tires are made of very harmful materials, including 24
gases found to be harmful to humans, carbon black, (a carcinogen which makes up 30% of tires), latex,
benzothiazoles, phthalates, lead, mercury, cadmium, zinc and many other known toxins, when the
fields heat up, they become increasingly dynamic. Of primary concern is the interaction of particles
and gases, ‘because when particles adsorb onto the surface of gases, they become 10-20 times more
toxic than the materials themselves.’ The fields yield continuously, but become more dynamic and
more toxic as they heat up.”29

A Case Study conducted by a group of “physicians and public health professionals working with the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit” found
23 Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007 citing California Office of

Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), Evaluation of Health Effects of Recycled Waste Tires in Playground
and Track Products, January, 2007.
24 Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
25 Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
26 Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
27 Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
28 Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Evaluation of Health Effects of Recycled Waste Tires in Playground
and Track Products, January 2007. Note -- the 1.2 in 10 million cancer risk found in the OEHHA study was considered by
the authors to be an acceptable level of risk as it falls below the general cancer risk gauge of one in one million (1X10-6).
29 Petition for a Rulemaking on Surface Heat from Artificial Turf, Submitted by PEER to Consumer Product Safety
Commission, Sept 6, 2012.

Page 5 of 12

that they could not secure the research and information necessary to establish the safety in use with
children of tire crumb used as playground surface.30 “The use of recycled tire crumb products on
playgrounds has had little health investigation. The major unresolved concern is the potential for
latex allergy with short-term dermal exposure.” 31 “No published information is available specifically
regarding exposure to crumb rubber constituents from use of the product on playgrounds.” 32

Excessive heat is a major health threat for those that play on artificial turf.
Extreme heat is a health concern – high surface temperatures found on artificial turf fields can
contribute to physiological stress and cause “serious heat-related illnesses”.33 Heat stress, heat stroke
and burns are all of concern. In fact, the “New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
recognizes excessive surface temperatures as the most important health concern associated with
infilled synthetic turf.” 34 Studies document that the surface temperature on artificial turf is
dramatically increased as compared to surrounding land uses including asphalt – so much so that it is
a genuine health threat for players.

Concerns regarding the excessive temperatures range from the implications for players who are
already exerting themselves playing in such excessively high temperatures, to the implications for
burns when players or pedestrians come into contact with the hot surfaces, to the implications for
small children who may come into contact with the extremely hot surfaces during non-sporting
events. Research has also concluded that the “heat transfer from the surface to the sole of the
individual’s foot” could contribute to physiological stress of players. 35

In a 2002 study it was found that “the surface temperature of the synthetic turf was 37° F higher than
asphalt and 86.5° F hotter than natural turf.” 36 A study published in the Journal of Health and
Physical Education and Recreation showed “surface temperatures as much as 95 to 140 degrees
Fahrenheit higher on synthetic turf than natural turf grass when exposed to sunlight.” 37 Random
sampling at Brigham Young University identified temperatures ranging from 117.38 to 157 degrees
on artificial turf while neighboring natural grass areas were in the range of 78.19 to 88.5 degrees
Fahrenheit. “Two inches below the synthetic turf surface was 28.5° F hotter than natural turf at the
surface.”38 Another study comparing temperatures on artificial turf temperatures with air
temperature found that artificial turf ranged from 58 to 75 degrees hotter than measured air
temperature.39 And yet another study considering found ranges of 155.3 to 173.4 degrees on the turf
30 M.E. Anderson et al, A Case Study of tire Crumb Use on Playgrounds: Risk Analysis and Communication When Major

Clinical Knowledge Gaps Exist, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol 114, No. 1, January 2006.
31 M.E. Anderson et al, A Case Study of tire Crumb Use on Playgrounds: Risk Analysis and Communication When Major
Clinical Knowledge Gaps Exist, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol 114, No. 1, January 2006.
32 M.E. Anderson et al, A Case Study of tire Crumb Use on Playgrounds: Risk Analysis and Communication When Major
Clinical Knowledge Gaps Exist, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol 114, No. 1, January 2006.
33
T.J. Serensits, A.S. McNitt, D.M. Petrunak; Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA, Dept of Crop and Soil
Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, IMechE Vol 225 Part P: J. Sports Engineering & Technology, Jan 6, 2011.
34
T.J. Serensits, A.S. McNitt, D.M. Petrunak; Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA, Dept of Crop and Soil
Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, IMechE Vol 225 Part P: J. Sports Engineering & Technology, Jan 6, 2011.
35
T.J. Serensits, A.S. McNitt, D.M. Petrunak; Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA, Dept of Crop and Soil
Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, IMechE Vol 225 Part P: J. Sports Engineering & Technology, Jan 6, 2011.
36 Dr. C. Frank Williams and Dr. Gilbert E. Pulley, Synthetic Surface Heat Studies, Brigham Young University.
37 SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields, Selection, Construction
and Maintenance Considerations.
38 Dr. C. Frank Williams and Dr. Gilbert E. Pulley, Synthetic Surface Heat Studies, Brigham Young University.
39 T. Sciacca, The Thermal Physics of Artificial Turf, January 2008.

Page 6 of 12

fields when air temperatures were in the 76 degree range; and 104.2 to 159.3 degrees when air
temperatures were in the 77 degree range. 40

Research has not found good solutions for the excessive heat levels of turf. Irrigation of excessively
hot artificial turf surfaces only provides cooling benefits for about 20 minutes. 41 While irrigation
provides cooling for the synthetic turf, in one seminal study lowering the temperature from 174° F to
85° F, after only 5 minutes the temperature quickly rose again to 120°F; after 20 minutes it rose to
164°F.42 In another important body of work by Penn State, it was found again that irrigation is only
successful in reducing temperatures for about 20 minutes, with a rebound to within 10 degrees of the
pre-irrigation temperature within 3 hours. 43 The use of white crumb rubber as the infill does not
resolve the heat issue. 44 In fact, according to Penn State as part of a study which looked at various
color options for infill and temperature, “[w]hile marketing materials may claim lower surface
temperatures, no scientific reports exist that substantiate such claims.”45

Natural grass, by comparison, provides a natural cooling affect and helps to dissipate heat from
neighboring developed areas.46 “The temperature of natural grass rarely rises above 85 degrees
Fahrenheit, regardless of air temperature.” 47

The heat impacts of artificial turf need to be considered in the context of today’s changing climate.
Global climate change is expected to dramatically increase the number of days over 100 degrees in
many communities. Depending on how aggressively global warming gasses are reduced in coming
years, communities nearby Philadelphia will begin to experience in the range of 10 days (in lower
emission scenarios) to 30 days (if higher emission scenarios continue to prevail) over 100 degrees.48
By later in this century seasonable temperatures are projected to rise 6oF to 14oF in summer
(depending again on emission reductions achieved in the future). 49

Concerns for increased head injuries and bacterial infections as the result of playing on turf
are justified.
There is great concern that the increased level of abrasions and burns which result from playing on an
artificial turf field as compared to natural grass increases the pathways by which bacterial infections,
such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), can enter the body. As explained in a
2011 Penn State study, “It is important to note that synthetic turf is more abrasive than natural turf
grass and, as a result, breaks in the skin are more common, creating a pathway for infection when in
40 Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research, Synthetic Turf Heat Evaluation – Progress Report, January 2012.

T.J. Serensits, A.S. McNitt, D.M. Petrunak; Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA, Dept of Crop and Soil
Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, IMechE Vol 225 Part P: J. Sports Engineering & Technology, Jan 6, 2011.
42 Dr. C. Frank Williams and Dr. Gilbert E. Pulley, Synthetic Surface Heat Studies, Brigham Young University.
43
T.J. Serensits, A.S. McNitt, D.M. Petrunak; Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA, Dept of Crop and Soil
Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, IMechE Vol 225 Part P: J. Sports Engineering & Technology, Jan 6, 2011.
44
T.J. Serensits, A.S. McNitt, D.M. Petrunak; Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA, Dept of Crop and Soil
Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, IMechE Vol 225 Part P: J. Sports Engineering & Technology, Jan 6, 2011.
45 Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research, Synthetic Turf Heat Evaluation – Progress Report, January 2012.
46 James B. Beard & Robert L. Green, The Role of Turfgrasses in Environmental Protection and Their Benefits to Humans, J.
Environ Qual. 23:452-460 (1994).
47 SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields, Selection, Construction
and Maintenance Considerations.
48 Union of Concerned Scientists, Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast l New Jersey, 2007.
49 Union of Concerned Scientists, Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast l New Jersey, 2007.
41

Page 7 of 12

contact with an infected surface.” 50 There are studies to indicate that turf burns may be facilitating
infection by acting as a pathway for infection.51 Study has found that turf burns increased the risk of
infection regardless of the type and timing of care provided the burn. 52

Older turf fields have been found to have higher microbial populations, as well as higher levels in the
higher traffic areas such as the sidelines, thereby suggesting to researchers that microbial populations
can accumulate in synthetic turf over time.53

Concussions (formally described as Mild Traumatic Brain Injury or MTBI) resulting from sports has,
according to the US Centers for Disease Control, reached “epidemic proportions.”54 “’Mild’ head
traumas, and especially a series of such minor concussions can have long term, negative effects on
cognitive function.” 55 Study has documented that artificial turf increases the risk of MTBI over
natural turf, approximately doubling that risk, as well as causing a greater degree of trauma.56
According to study, artificial turf presents a 5 times greater risk of the more severe head injury than
natural turf, although it is still unknown the particular characteristics of the two surfaces that cause
the difference in head injury incidence. 57 Only 31% of the playground surfaces made of recycled
tires tested in one research study passed the California State mandated Head Impact Criterion (HIC)
of <1,000. In this same study 100% of the playground surfaces made of wood chips passed the same
standard. 58

Research shows there are adverse environmental impacts resulting from crumb rubber infill
artificial turf; it is also clear that additional study for water and other natural resources is
needed.
While it seems well recognized that there is a limited level of assessment and investigation into the
environmental impacts associated with artificial turf, a growing body of scientific analysis is

T.J. Serensits, A.S. McNitt, D.M. Petrunak; Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA, Dept of Crop and Soil
Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, IMechE Vol 225 Part P: J. Sports Engineering & Technology, Jan 6, 2011.
51 A High Morbidity Outbreak of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Players on a College Football Team,
Facilitated by Cosmetic Body Shaving and Turf Burns, study conducted 2004 for Connecticut Dept of Public Health,
Student Health Services of Sacred Heart Univ, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Minnesota Dept of Public
Health, Los Angeles County Dept of Health Svces; Dr. S.V. Kazakova et.al., A Clone of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus
aureus among Professional Football Players, The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol 352:468-475 No. 5, Feb. 3, 2005.
52 A High Morbidity Outbreak of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Players on a College Football Team,
Facilitated by Cosmetic Body Shaving and Turf Burns, study conducted 2004 for Connecticut Dept of Public Health,
Student Health Services of Sacred Heart Univ, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Minnesota Dept of Public
Health, Los Angeles County Dept of Health Svces.
53 J.J. Bass, D.W. Hintze, (2013) “Determination of Microbial Populations in a Synthetic Turf System,” Skyline – The Big Sky
Undergraduate Journal, Vol. 1, Iss. 1, Art. 1.
54 Dr. M. Shorten, J.A. Himmelsbach, BioiMechanica, Sports Surfaces and the Risk of Traumatic Brain Injury citing the US
Centers for Disease Control.
55 Dr. M. Shorten, J.A. Himmelsbach, BioiMechanica, Sports Surfaces and the Risk of Traumatic Brain Injury.
56 Dr. M. Shorten, J.A. Himmelsbach, BioiMechanica, Sports Surfaces and the Risk of Traumatic Brain Injury.
57 Dr. M. Shorten, J.A. Himmelsbach, BioiMechanica, Sports Surfaces and the Risk of Traumatic Brain Injury. See also K.M.
Guskiewica, N.L. Weaver, D.A. Padua, W.E. Garrett Jr., Epidemiology of Concussion in Collegiate and High School Football
Players, Sep-Oct 2000 & Does the Use of Artificial Turf Contribute to Head Injuries, The Journal of Trauma-Injury, Infection
and Critical Care, Oct 2002 for the finding that artificial turf increases the level of injury in comparison to natural grass
fields.
58 Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Evaluation of Health Effects of Recycled Waste Tires in Playground
and Track Products, January 2007. Please note that in this study 32 recycled tire playground surfaces were tested as
compared to only 5 wood chip playground surfaces.
50

Page 8 of 12

documenting a concerning level of environmental threat and harm and is further demonstrating the
need for more research regarding artificial turf and its ramifications for the environment.

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station conclusively found four compounds which outgassed and leached into water from synthetic turf rubber crumb under ambient temperatures:
Ø Benzothiazole (a skin and eye irritant),
Ø Butylated hydroxyanisole (a “recognized carcinogen, suspected endocrine toxicant,
gastrointestinal toxicant, immune toxicant, neurotoxicant, skin and sense-organ toxicant”),
Ø n-hexadecane (a severe irritant) &
Ø 4-(t-octyl) phenol (“corrosive and destructive to mucous membranes”).59

As rubber degrades it can leach toxic substances which can contaminate soil, plants and aquatic
ecosystems.60 Study has concluded that the use of tires in artificial turf has the potential to pollute
our environment with PAHs, phenols and zinc61 and that runoff from an artificial turf field draining to
a local creek can pose “a positive risk of toxic effects on biota in the water phase and in the
sediment.”62 Other metal contaminants found to leach from tire crumb rubber include zinc, selenium,
lead and cadmium.63 Zinc has also been shown to leach from the artificial turf fibers.64 Extreme
temperatures or solvents are not needed to release these metals, volatile organic compounds or semivolatile organic compounds from the rubber in-fill of artificial turf into the air or water – release takes
place in ambient air and water temperatures.65

“Runoff with high Zn [zinc] from synthetic turf fields may produce adverse effects to plants and
aquatic life. This is of particular concern given that the leaching rate of Zn [zinc] from rubber
granules can be up to 20 times greater than the leaching rate of Zn from agricultural applications of
manure and pesticides.”66 Leaching of substances as the result of surface water runoff from
precipitation has, by some researchers, been predicted to be the greatest risk for the environment
from artificial turf. 67 Study shows there is a risk of local effects for aquatic and sediment dwelling

59 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Examination of Crumb Rubber Produced from Recycled Tires, August

2007; Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.

60 Quoting Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott, Washington State University -- Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf

and Natural Grass; T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research(NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 17.; Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Examination of Crumb
Rubber Produced from Recycled Tires.
61 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research(NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 5; T. Edeskar, Lulea University of Technology, Technical and Environmental Properties of Tyre Shreds
Focusing on Ground Engineer Application, 2004 as cited in KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April
2007.
62 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 6.
63Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
64 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 17.
65 Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
66 J. Zhang, I. Han, L. Zhang, W. Crain, “Hazardous Chemicals in synthetic turf materials and their bioaccessibility in
digestive fluids,” Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology (2008)
67 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 5; NIVA (The Norwegian Institute for Water Research), Evaluation of the Environmental Risks of
Synthetic Turf, 2005; KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.

Page 9 of 12

organisms in impacted water courses. 68 Recycled rubber, and associated leachate, has been found to
contain a variety of metals (including lead, cadmium, copper, mercury and zinc), as well as organic
pollutants such as PAHs, phthalates, 4-t-octylphenol and iso-nonyphenol. 69 The leaching of zinc has
been determined to be of major environmental concern.70 The leaching of zinc increases as the
rubber infill weathers over time,71 it is likely this is the same for other contaminants. While Zinc
contributes the most risk, phenols (specifically octylphenol) and PAHs are also of concern. 72 Of the
organic compounds at issue, Octylphenol represents the greatest risk, and possibly could occur at
levels where hormone disrupting effects are a concern. 73 The varying content of tires makes this
threat a moving target.

The Norwegian Institute for Water Research has determined that it is “appropriate to perform a risk
assessment which covers water and sediments in watercourses which receive run-off from artificial
turf pitches.”74

While recycled rubber is a greater source of pollution, newly manufactured rubber also contains
levels of hazardous substances; in the case of zinc and chromium the levels of recycled and newly
manufactured rubber are comparable.75

It is predicted that chemicals leaching from synthetic turf materials occurs slowly, and as a result the
environmental harms may take place over many years.76

Leaching may not be the only source of water contamination from artificial turf. As the artificial turf
is used there is a level of “erosion” that takes place and can result in fine particles that could be
carried to local waterways. This source of contamination needs study.77

The synthetic grass fibers can also be a significant source of pollution, particularly zinc, albeit
significantly lesser amounts leach from the synthetic grass than the rubber infill.78
68 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research(NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,

December 2005, p. 5; NIVA (The Norwegian Institute for Water Research), Evaluation of the Environmental Risks of
Synthetic Turf, 2005, as cited by KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007; KEM, Swedish
Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007
69 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 7.
70 INTRON, Environmental and Health Risks of Rubber Infill, rubber crumb from car tyres as infill on artificial turf,
February 9, 2007.
71 INTRON, Environmental and Health Risks of Rubber Infill, rubber crumb from car tyres as infill on artificial turf,
February 9, 2007.
72 NIVA (The Norwegian Institute for Water Research), Evaluation of the Environmental Risks of Synthetic Turf, 2005, as
cited by KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
73 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 17.
74 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 8.
75 Byggforsk, SINTEF Building and Infrastructure, Potential Health and Environmental Effects Associated with Synthetic
Turn Systems, 2004, as referenced in KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
76 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research(NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 5; NIVA (The Norwegian Institute for Water Research), Evaluation of the Environmental Risks of
Synthetic Turf, 2005, as cited by KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
77 T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems,
December 2005, p. 18.

Page 10 of 12

When talking about the use of ground rubber as a supplement to planting soils the North Carolina
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services sent out a notice identifying the risk that zinc
leaching from the rubber causes a decline in plant growth “directly attributable to zinc toxicity.”79

One Norwegian assessment/presentation reported that “recycled rubber was the major source of
potentially hazardous substances. An exposure scenario where the runoff from a football field is
drained to a small creek showed a positive risk of toxic effects on biota in the water phase and in the
sediment. The risk was mainly attributed to zinc, but also for octylphenol the predicted
environmental concentrations exceeded the no environmental effect concentration.” 80 The
hazardous leaching could result in local environmental effect.81

Conclusion
Given all of the science on the record that demonstrates artificial turf is a threat to health and the
environment, the precautionary principle dictates that artificial turf with crumb rubber infill be
recognized as a threat to public health and safety and the environment and that the ongoing
expansion and construction of crumb rubber turf fields should be prohibited and those fields that
have already been installed should be removed and properly disposed of.

When a community installs a crumb rubber artificial turf field it is forcing children who want to
participate in sports to be forced to expose themselves to its hazards. It is simply neither right nor
fair for communities, with the support or false sense of security given by an acquiescing government
agency, to be making investments that take from parents and kids the ability to decide for themselves
what health hazards they are willing to be exposed to if they want to participate in sports. Advancing
in anyway the construction and expansion of crumb rubber artificial turf fields is forcing an unfair
choice on kids and parents: play sports or protect your health, but you are not allowed to have both.

Respectfully,

Maya K. van Rossum
the Delaware Riverkeeper

P.S. I note, that as a result of my work on this issue, as a parent I have had to pull my son from the
township lacrosse team because they started playing on artificial turf this past year. The health
impacts of artificial turf are too significant and concerning for me, as a parent, to allow my 10 year old
son to play on crumb rubber artificial turf.
78 Byggforsk, SINTEF Building and Infrastructure, Potential Health and Environmental Effects Associated with Synthetic
Turn Systems, 2004, as referenced in KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
79 M. Ray Tucker, Agronomist, Ground Rubber: Potential Toxicity to Plants, Media Notes for North Carolina Growers, North
Carolina Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services, April 1997.
80 Dr. Christine Bjorge, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Artificial turf Pitches – an assessment of the health risks for
football players and the environment, Presentation at the ISSS Technical meeting 2006, Dresden.
81 Dr. Christine Bjorge, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Artificial turf Pitches – an assessment of the health risks for
football players and the environment, Presentation at the ISSS Technical meeting 2006, Dresden.

Page 11 of 12

Attachments:
Submitted as part of this comment are fact sheets and an annotated bibliography that discuss the
research detailed above as well as additional research speaking about the environmental and public
health threats posed by crumb rubber infill artificial turf.

Page 12 of 12

Summary of Research
Assessing the Impacts of Artificial Turf
Updated 4/29/2016

Heat: Research has documented that the surface temperature on artificial turf is dramatically higher than the
surrounding land uses including asphalt. Concerns regarding the excessive temperatures range from the implications
for players who are already exerting themselves to the implications for burns when players or pedestrians come into
contact with the hot surfaces.
1. Petrass, L. A., et al. (2014). Comparison of surface temperatures of different synthetic turf systems and
natural grass: Have advances in synthetic turf technology made a difference. Proceedings of the Institution
of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology.
a. A comparison of surface temperatures of third-generation synthetic turf with a cool climate product
that claims to reduce surface temperatures to surface temperatures of natural grass.
b. Although surface temperatures were lower for the cool climate field compared to other synthetic
turf, both types of artificial turf fields were considerably hotter than natural grass with temperatures
that were between 12° C (53° F) and 22° C (72° F) hotter.
2. Reasor, E. H. (2014). Synthetic Turf Surface Temperature Reduction and Performance Characteristics as
Affected by Calcined Clay Modified Infill. Master’s Thesis, University of Tennessee. Available at:
http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/2750
a. Surface temperatures of artificial turf were between 31° C (88° F) and 57° C (135° F).
b. Although irrigation reduced surface temperatures of artificial turf, increases of 74 to 102% of the
pre-irrigation temperature were observed within 30 minutes after irrigation.
c. Surface temperatures returned to pre-irrigation temperature on all of the treatments between 60
and 120 minutes after irrigation. Therefore, the cooling effect of irrigation will not last the entire
length of an athletic competition.
3. Thoms, A. W. et al. (2014). Models for Predicting Surface Temperatures on Synthetic Turf Playing Surfaces.
Procedia Engineering, 72, 895-900. Available at:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877705814006699
a. Artificial turf surface temperatures ranged from -9.8 to 86.4° C (14 to 188° F) to when ambient air
temperatures ranged from -0.4 to 37.1° C (31 to 99° F).
b. Absorption of solar radiation results in increased temperatures on artificial turf surfaces, and high
rates of solar radiation are absorbed with minimal light reflectance. Therefore, air temperature in
conjunction with solar radiation explained most of the variation in artificial turf surface
temperatures.
4. Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research (2012). Synthetic Turf Heat Evaluation- Progress Report.
January 2012. Available at: http://plantscience.psu.edu/research/centers/ssrc/documents/heat-progressreport.pdf
DELAWARE RIVERKEEPER NETWORK
925 Canal Street, Suite 3701
Bristol, PA 19007
Office: (215) 369-1188
fax: (215)369-1181
drn@delawareriverkeeper.org
www.delawareriverkeeper.org

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

a. This study measured surface temperatures of artificial turf fields between 140.2 and 173.4° F when
air temperatures were between 73 and 79° F.
b. Looking at various color options for infill and temperature, no product significantly reduced surface
temperatures. Small reductions in temperature are insignificant when surface temperatures still
exceed 150° F. This study concluded that “[w]hile marketing materials may claim lower surface
temperatures, no scientific reports exist that substantiate such claims.”
c. Research has not found a good solution for excessive heat levels of turf.
Serensits, T. J. et al. (2011). Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA. Proceedings of the Institution
of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 225(3), 139-146.
a. High surface temperatures found on artificial turf fields can contribute to physiological stress and
cause “serious heat-related illnesses” including heat stress, heat stroke, and burns.
b. The “New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene recognizes excessive surface
temperatures as the most important health concern associated with infilled synthetic turf.”
c. Irrigation of excessively hot artificial turf surfaces only provides cooling benefits for about 20
minutes, with a rebound to within 10 degrees of the pre-irrigation temperature within 3 hours.
d. The use of white crumb rubber as the infill does not resolve the heat issue.
Sciacca, T (2008). The Thermal Physics of Artificial Turf. SynTurf.org. Available at:
http://www.synturf.org/sciaccaheatstudy.html
a. A study comparing temperatures on artificial turf temperatures with air temperature found that
artificial turf ranged from 58 to 75° hotter than measured air temperature.
SportsTurf Managers Association (STMA) (2008). A Guide to Synthetic and Natural Turfgrass for Sports
Fields: Selection, Construction and Maintenance Considerations. 2nd edition. Available at:
http://www.stma.org/sites/stma/files/STMA_Synthetic_Guide_2nd_Edition.pdf
a. Artificial turf gets dramatically hotter than surrounding land uses including asphalt with surface
temperatures as much as 95 to 140° F hotter than natural grass fields whereas the temperature of
natural grass rarely rises above 85° F, regardless of air temperature
Williams, C. F., & Pulley, G. E. (2002). Synthetic surface heat studies. Brigham Young University. Available at:
www.wellesleyma.gov/pages/WellesleyMA_SpragueResources/Synthetic%20Surfaces%20Heat%20Study.do
c
a. Temperature measurements were taken at the surface, above the surface, and below the surface of
artificial turf, natural turf, bare soil, asphalt, and concrete.
b. Surface temperatures of synthetic turf were 37° F higher than asphalt and 86.5° F hotter than
natural turf.
c. Two inches below the surface, synthetic turf was 28.5° F hotter than natural turf.
d. Although irrigation of synthetic turf resulted in a reduction of close to 90°F, temperatures rose 35°
within five minutes and returned to the starting temperature within 20 minutes.
e. “The hottest surface temperature recorded was 200º F on a 98º F day. Even in October the surface
temperature reached 112.4º F.”
f. Brigham Young University has set a surface temperature guideline which restricts play on synthetic
turf fields when surface temperatures are potentially hazardous to athletes. This reduces the
playing season and eliminates any continuous play benefit that is typically mentioned in favor of
artificial turf.
Beard, J. B., & Green, R. L. (1994). The role of turf grasses in environmental protection and their benefits to
humans. Journal of Environmental Quality, 23(3), 452-460. Available at:
https://www.landcarenetwork.org/legislative/TheRoleofTurfgrassesinEnvironmentalProtection.pdf
a. Synthetic surfaces can be up to 39° C (102° F) hotter than natural turf. Natural turf grass provides a
natural cooling affect and helps to dissipate heat from neighboring developed areas.

Page 2 of 10

Health: The impacts of inhalation or ingestion of chemicals continues to be a concern for those playing on artificial
turf. Direct human exposure to the hazardous substances contained in the rubber in-fill of artificial turf is believed
to occur via inhalation, skin contact, and/or ingestion. Furthermore, there are concerns for increased injuries and
bacterial infections when playing on artificial turf.
1. Kim, S., Yang, J.-Y., Kim, H.-H., Yeo, I.-Y., Shin, D.-C., & Lim, Y.-W. (2012). Health Risk Assessment of Lead
Ingestion Exposure by Particle Sizes in Crumb Rubber on Artificial Turf Considering Bioavailability.
Environmental Health and Toxicology, 27, e2012005. http://doi.org/10.5620/eht.2012.27.e2012005.
a. Researchers considered the risks for lead exposure from children ingesting rubber powder resulting
from exposure to crumb rubber infill artificial turf and found that elementary school students had a
hazard index that exceeded 0.1, a level that is considered a “potential for hazard”, with middle and
high school students also suffering exposure levels.

2. Balazs, G. C., et al. (2014). Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Athletes on Synthetic Playing Surfaces
A Systematic Review. The American journal of sports medicine, 0363546514545864.
a. A systematic review of available literature on the risk of ACL rupture on natural grass versus artificial
turf found that there is an increased rate of ACL injury on synthetic playing surfaces for football
players.
3. Celeiro, M., Lamas, J. P., Garcia-Jares, C., Dagnac, T., Ramos, L., & Llompart, M. (2014). Investigation of PAH
and other hazardous contaminant occurrence in recycled tyre rubber surfaces. Case-study: restaurant
playground in an indoor shopping centre. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry,
94(12), 1264-1271.
a. The presence of a large number of hazardous substances were found in both the runoff and vapor
phase of recycled tire playground surfaces.
b. Nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected in the runoff/ cleaning water with total
PAH concentrations in the ppm (parts per million) range.
c. The most toxic PAH, benzo[a]pyrene was detected in extracts from playground surfaces.
d. “The presence and the high concentration of these chemical compounds in playground should be a
matter of concern owing to their high toxicity.”
4. Laible, C., & Sherman, O. H. (2014). Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies of Non-Contact Anterior Cruciate
Ligament Injuries. Bulletin of the Hospital for Joint Diseases, 72(1), 70-5. Available at:
http://www.nyuhjdbulletin.org/mod/bulletin/v72n1/docs/v72n1_7.pdf
a. Since shoe-surface interaction is important for injury prevention, “the optimal surface to prevent
injury is outdoors on natural grass.”
b. Artificial turf has a higher friction coefficient and greater ground reaction force, both conditions that
increase the risk for injury.
c. Furthermore, as temperature increases the shoe-surface friction interaction increases and exposes
athletes to greater risk of injury.
5. Bass, J. J., & Hintze, D. W. (2013). Determination of Microbial Populations in a Synthetic Turf System.
Skyline-The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal, 1(1), 1. Available at:
http://skyline.bigskyconf.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=journal
a. Abrasions, even insignificant ones, from artificial turf can create an entry site for pathogens.
b. The higher abrasion rate for synthetic turf increases the risk of infection, and the microbial
populations found within synthetic turf are a source of pathogens when abrasions occur.
c. Older turf fields have higher microbial populations, as well as higher levels in the higher traffic areas
such as the sidelines. These results indicate that artificial turf poses a greater risk for the spread of
pathogens and infections among student athletes.
6. Llompart, M., Sanchez-Prado, L., Lamas, J. P., Garcia-Jares, C., Roca, E., & Dagnac, T. (2013). Hazardous
organic chemicals in rubber recycled tire playgrounds and pavers. Chemosphere, 90(2), 423-431. Available
at: http://www.elcorreodelsol.com/sites/default/files/chemosphere_maria_llompart.pdf

Page 3 of 10

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

a. An analysis of surfaces containing recycled rubber tires confirmed the presence of hazardous
substances including PAHs, phthalates, antioxidants (e.g. BHT, phenols), benzothiazole, derivatives,
and other chemicals.
b. The vapor phase above the samples confirmed volatilization of many organic compounds
demonstrating that these chemicals can enter the human body through inhalation.
c. The use of recycled rubber tires for play areas, especially facilities for children, should be restricted
or prohibited.
Serensits, T. J., McNitt, A. S., & Petrunak, D. M. (2011). Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA.
Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology,
225(3), 139-146.
a. Synthetic turf is more abrasive than natural turf grass, therefore, “breaks in the skin are more
common, creating a pathway for infection when in contact with an infected surface.”
Shalat, S.L. (2011). An Evaluation of Potential Exposures to Lead and Other Metals as the Result of
Aerosolized Particulate Matter from Artificial Turf Playing Fields, Final Report. Submitted to NJ Department
of Environmental Protection, July 14, 2011. Available at: http://www.nj.gov/dep/dsr/publications/artificialturf-report.pdf
a. In air samples collected from artificial turf during various levels of activity, researchers detected
arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead, all metals with known human toxicity.
b. This research demonstrates that activity by players on the fields could suspend contaminated
particulates into the air that could be inhaled and therefore, human exposure from artificial turf
fields is not limited to dermal.
c. These results “raise some concerns with regard to the potential hazards that may exist for
individuals and in particular children who engage in sports activities on artificial turf fields.”
Van Ulirsch, G. et al. (2010). Evaluating and regulating lead in synthetic turf. Environmental health
perspectives, 118(10), 1345. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2957910/pdf/ehp118-1345.pdf
a. Artificial turf can degrade to form lead containing dust at levels that pose a health risk to children.
b. Due to the lack of research, “…physicians should be aware of synthetic turf as one potential source
of exposure for young children…” and “Health officials investigating elevated blood lead in children
should also be aware of synthetic turf as a potential source of lead exposure.”
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008). CDC Health Advisory. Potential exposures to lead
inartificial turf: Public health issues, actions, and recommendations. June 18, 2008. Available at:
http://www.dhhr.wv.gov/oeps/disease/Documents/Advisory_00275.pdf
a. Artificial turf made of nylon or nylon/ polyethylene blend fibers contain lead and pose a potential
public health concern.
b. The risk for lead exposure is higher for artificial fields that are old, frequently used, exposed to the
weather, or demonstrate signs of abraded, faded, or broken fibers. As turf ages, lead is released in
dust that could then be ingested or inhaled.
c. CDC does not know how much lead the body will absorb. However, lead can cause neurological
development symptoms and behavioral problems. Children less than 6 years old are more affected
by lead than adults and absorb lead more easily.
d. CDC does not understand the potential risks associated with lead exposure from artificial turf but
recommends precautions including aggressive hand and body washing after playing on fields,
washing clothes immediately to avoid tracking contaminated dust to other places, and discouraging
eating and drinking while on turf products.
Han, I. K., Zhang, L., & Crain, W. (2008). Hazardous chemicals in synthetic turf materials and their
bioaccessibility in digestive fluids. Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, 18(6), 600607. Available at: http://www.nature.com/jes/journal/v18/n6/pdf/jes200855a.pdf

Page 4 of 10

a. Samples from rubber granules and from artificial grass fibers were taken at fields of different ages
and analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), zinc, chromium, arsenic, cadmium, and
lead. These samples were then analyzed to determine their bioaccessibility in synthetic digestive
fluids.
b. The rubber granules found in artificial turf fields had PAH levels above health-based soil standards.
Although levels appear to decline over time, this trend can be altered by the fact that new rubber
can be added periodically to compensate for the loss of infill material.
c. There was a “slightly worrisome” level of chromium found in artificial turf fiber samples.
d. Lead in artificial fields can come from the blades of artificial grass, the pigment used for the field
markings and lines, and the infill material. Although there were relatively low concentrations of lead
measured, the researchers were careful to point out: “some health scientists believe that any Pb
[lead] is harmful to children’s neurocognitive development, and that no new Pb should be added to
their surroundings.” Furthermore, the lead present in the rubber granules, while at low levels, was
“highly bioaccessible” to synthetic gastric fluid.
12. Brown, D.R. (2007). Artificial Turf: Exposures to Ground-up Rubber Tires. Environment & Human Health, Inc.
(EHHI). Available at: http://www.ehhi.org/reports/turf/turf_report07.pdf
a. Direct human exposure to the hazardous substances contained in artificial turf occurs via three
pathways: inhalation as chemicals off gas from the turf, skin contact, or ingestion including by
children or infants who come into contact with the material. In the case of allergies (i.e. latex
allergies), inhalation could result in a systemic response, as opposed to a contact response.
b. Extreme temperatures or solvents are not needed to release metals (including zinc, selenium, lead
and cadmium), volatile organic compounds, or semi-volatile organic compounds from the rubber infill of artificial turf into the air or water – release takes place in ambient air and water temperatures.
c. While, “the status of the information about human exposures to recycled tire crumb rubber in-fill …
is not sufficient to determine the safety of the use of the product in situations that involve
continuous episodes of human exposure;” “the available information is sufficient and strong
enough to raise plausible questions with respect to acute toxicity for susceptible persons, and for
cancer risks.”
13. California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) (2007). Evaluation of Health Effects
of Recycled Waste Tires in Playground and Track Products. Report prepared for the Integrated Waste
Management Board. Available at:
http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/publications/Documents/Tires%5C62206013.pdf
a. Based on a review of 46 studies, 49 chemicals that are released from tire crumb were identified.
b. Of the 49 chemicals identified, “seven of the chemicals leached from tire shreds were carcinogens.”
c. OEHHA calculated a cancer risk of 1.2 in 10 million based on a one-time ingestion of the tire crumb
rubber over a lifetime.
d. Chrysene, a PAH and carcinogen, was found to be ingested as the result of hand-to-surface-tomouth transfer from playground surfaces made with recycled tires. Assuming playground use for an
11 year period (from age 1 to 12) there was found to be an increased cancer risk of 2.9 in one million
from the general cancer risk gauge of one in one million
e. Only 31% of the playground surfaces made of recycled tires tested passed the California State
mandated Head Impact Criterion (HIC) of <1,000. In this same study 100% of the playground
surfaces made of wood chips passed the same standard.
14. Crain, W. and Zhang, J. (2007). Rachel’s Democracy and Health News #992: Hazardous Chemicals in
Synthetic Turf, Follow-up Analyses, April 12, 2007. Available at:
http://www.precaution.org/lib/07/prn_synthetic_turf.070405.htm

Page 5 of 10

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

a. Testing on two sites in New York where synthetic turf has been used (the large, 3 year old, Parade
Ground in Brooklyn; the relatively small 5 month old Sara D. Roosevelt Park in Manhattan) found
PAHs at hazardous levels (as per New York standards). Dibenzo (a.h)anthracene, a probable human
carcinogen, was also found at hazardous levels, with two other PAH forms, both possible human
carcinogens, found at hazardous levels at the Parade Ground site.
b. Research into the pathways by which these substances may be absorbed into the bodies of children
and athletes via skin contact, ingestion or other pathways, is very limited with additional research
needed.
Epstein, V. (2007). Texas Football Succumbs to Virulent Staph Infection from Turf. Bloomberg Press,
December 21, 2007. Available at:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=alxhrJDn.cdc
a. Artificial turf is linked with serious and potentially life threatening staph infections including MRSA
(methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus). MRSA can exploit minor skin injuries such as turf
burn, and therefore, MRSA infection rate among players is 16 times higher than the national
average.
KEMI, Swedish Chemicals Agency (2007). Facts: Synthetic Turf. April 2007. Available:
http://www2.kemi.se/upload/trycksaker/pdf/faktablad/fbsyntheticturf.pdf.
a. Tires contain up to 60 different substances which may be bioaccumulative, carcinogenic, reprotoxic,
mutagenic and/or endocrine disrupting.
b. Most PAHs are persistent, bioaccumulative and carcinogenic.
c. Among the metals found in tires that may be of concern are zinc, lead, copper, chromium and
cadmium. Zinc and copper are harmful when absorbed at high levels. Lead can affect reproduction
and development of the nervous system leading to poor cognitive development. Chromium is
carcinogenic and mutagenic. Cadmium is toxic to humans and can contribute to poor liver and
kidney function, as well as osteoporosis.
Mattina, M. I., Isleyen, M., Berger, W., & Ozdemir, S. (2007). Examination of crumb rubber produced from
recycled tires. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT. Available at:
http://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/fact_sheets/examinationofcrumbrubberac005.pd
f
a. Multiple compounds out-gas and leached into water from synthetic turf rubber crumb under
ambient temperatures including benzothiazole (a skin and eye irritant), butylated hydroxyanisole (a
“recognized carcinogen, suspected endocrine toxicant, gastrointestinal toxicant, immune toxicant,
neurotoxicant, skin and sense-organ toxicant”), n-hexadecane (a severe irritant), and 4-(t-octyl)
phenol (“corrosive and destructive to mucous membranes”).
Anderson, M. E. et al. (2006). A case study of tire crumb use on playgrounds: risk analysis and
communication when major clinical knowledge gaps exist. Environmental health perspectives, 114(1), 1.
Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1332647/pdf/ehp0114-000001.pdf
a. A Case Study conducted by a group of physicians and public health professionals working with the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit found
that the research and information necessary is not available to establish “the safety in use with
children” of tire crumb used as playground surfaces.
b. “The use of recycled tire crumb products on playgrounds has had little health investigation. The
major unresolved concern is the potential for latex allergy with short-term dermal exposure.”
Crain, W. and Zhang, J. (2006). Rachel’s Democracy and Health News #871: Hazard Chemicals in Synthetic
Turf. September 7, 2006. Available at:
http://www.precaution.org/lib/06/prn_toxins_in_synthetic_turf.060831.htm

Page 6 of 10

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

a. Analyses conducted at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of Rutgers
University found the crumb rubber from artificial turf to contain high levels of PAHs, as well as zinc
and arsenic.
b. PAHs found to be contained in the crumb rubber “were above the concentration levels that the New
York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) considers sufficiently hazardous to
public health to require their removal from contaminated soil sites. It is highly likely that all six PAHs
are carcinogenic to humans.”
c. “The analyses also revealed levels of zinc in both samples that exceed the DEC's tolerable levels.”
d. The researchers associated with these findings were careful to state “We want to emphasize that
the findings are preliminary. PAHs in rubber might not act the same way as in soil, and we do not yet
have information on the ease with which the PAHs in these rubber particles might be absorbed by
children or adults -- by ingestion, inhalation, or absorption through the skin. However, the findings
are worrisome. Until more is known, it wouldn't be prudent to install the synthetic turf in any more
parks.”
Kazakova, S. V. et al. (2005). A clone of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among professional
football players. New England Journal of Medicine, 352(5), 468-475. Available at:
http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa042859
a. In a study of professional football players from the St. Louis Rams team, all MRSA infections
developed at sites of turf burns.
b. Players reported a higher frequency of abrasions when playing on artificial turf compared to natural
grass.
Begier, E. M. et al. (2004). A high-morbidity outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among
players on a college football team, facilitated by cosmetic body shaving and turf burns. Clinical infectious
diseases, 39(10), 1446-1453. (a study conducted for the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Student
Health Services of Sacred Heart Univ, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Minnesota Department of
Public Health, and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services).
a. In a study of MRSA outbreaks involving college football players, infection was associated with turf
burns from artificial grass. Turf burns increased the risk of infection regardless of the type and
timing of care provided the burn. Turf burns may be facilitating infection by acting as a pathway for
infection.
Shorten, M. R., & Himmelsbach, J. A. (2003). Sports surfaces and the risk of traumatic brain injury. Sports
surfaces. University of Calgary, Calgary, 49-69. Available at:
http://biomechanica.com/docs/publications/docs/Shorten%20-%20Head%20Injury%20Risk.pdf
a. There is double the risk of head traumas such as concussions associated with artificial turf compared
to natural turf, and artificial turf presents a 5 times greater risk of more severe head injury.
b. Concussions (formally described as Mild Traumatic Brain Injury or MTBI) resulting from sports has,
according to the US Centers for Disease Control, reached “epidemic proportions,” and these ’mild’
head traumas, especially a series of concussions, can have long term, negative effects on cognitive
function.
Naunheim, R., et al. (2002). Does the use of artificial turf contribute to head injuries?. Journal of TraumaInjury, Infection, and Critical Care, 53(4), 691-694.
a. The impact-attenuating properties of two artificial fields were compared to a grass outdoor practice
field. Both artificial surfaces were harder compared to the outdoor grass field. It was concluded
that the low impact attenuation of the artificial turf may be contributing to the high incidence of
concussion.
Guskiewicz, K. M., et al. (2000). Epidemiology of concussion in collegiate and high school football players.
The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 28(5), 643-650.

Page 7 of 10

a. In a survey of both high school and collegiate certified athletic trainers representing over 17,000
football players, contact with artificial turf was associated with more serious concussion than
contact with natural grass.

Environment: The pollutant substances found in artificial turf contribute to contamination of soil, plants and aquatic
ecosystems and pose a risk of toxic effects for aquatic and sediment dwelling organisms. The resulting
environmental harm is on-going and long-term, happening over many years. The varying content of tires used for
infill of turf systems makes this threat a moving target. A growing body of scientific analysis is documenting a
concerning level of environmental threat and harm and is further demonstrating the need for more research
regarding artificial turf and its ramifications for the environment.
1. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) (2012). Petition for a Rulemaking on Surface Heat
from Artificial Turf, Submitted by PEER to Consumer Product Safety Commission, Sept 6, 2012. Available at:
http://www.peer.org/assets/docs/doc/9_6_12_PEER_Petition_heat_rulemaking.pdf
a. As well explained by an oft cited petition to the Consumer Product Safety Commission for
rulemaking: “When tires are shredded and pulverized, their surface area increases exponentially, as
does the particulate and gas yield from the tire material. Since tires are made of very harmful
materials, including 24 gases found to be harmful to humans, carbon black, (a carcinogen which
makes up 30% of tires), latex, benzothiazoles, phthalates, lead, mercury, cadmium, zinc and many
other known toxins, when the fields heat up, they become increasingly dynamic. Of primary
concern is the interaction of particles and gases, ‘because when particles adsorb onto the surface of
gases, they become 10-20 times more toxic than the materials themselves.’”
b. Furthermore, artificial turf becomes more toxic as it heats up.
2. Sadiktsis, I., et al. (2012). Automobile Tires A Potential Source of Highly Carcinogenic Dibenzopyrenes to
the Environment. Environmental science & technology, 46(6), 3326-3334. Available at:
http://www.locchiodiromolo.it/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Sadiktsis-et-al-Automobile-TiresPotential-Source-of-Highly-Carcinogenic-2012.pdf
a. The variability in PAH concentrations between different tires is large.
b. Due to “leaching of PAHs from recycled tire rubber material, tires are a source of environmental
pollution of PAHs through their entire lifecycle.”
3. Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (2010). Artificial Turf Study: Leachate and Stormwater
Characteristics, Final Report. Available at:
http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/artificialturf/dep_artificial_turf_report.pdf
a. Stormwater runoff from artificial turf contained zinc, manganese, and chromium at levels toxic to
aquatic organisms.
b. Therefore, there is a potential risk to surface waters from the installation of artificial turf. Zinc levels
could cause exceedance of acute aquatic toxicity criteria. This risk is especially high for smaller
watercourses.
c. Best management practices and treatment (i.e. wetlands, wet ponds, infiltration structures,
compost filter, sand filters, or biofiltration structures) should be used for stormwater runoff from
artificial turf fields that discharge to surface waters.
4. Yaghoobian, N., et al. (2010). Modeling the thermal effects of artificial turf on the urban environment.
Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 49(3), 332-345.
a. An urban temperature model showed an increase in local atmospheric temperatures of up to 4° C
(39° F) in areas where natural grass cover had been replaced with artificial turf.
5. Han, I. K., et al. (2008). Hazardous chemicals in synthetic turf materials and their bioaccessibility in digestive
fluids. Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, 18(6), 600-607. Available at:
http://www.nature.com/jes/journal/v18/n6/pdf/jes200855a.pdf

Page 8 of 10

6.

7.

8.

9.

a. Zinc was found to exceed soil limits and the leaching rate from rubber granules was up to 20 times
more than the leaching rate from agricultural applications of manure and pesticides. “Runoff with
high Zn [zinc] from synthetic turf fields may produce adverse effects to plants and aquatic life.”
KEMI, Swedish Chemicals Agency (2007). Facts: Synthetic Turf. April 2007. Available:
http://www2.kemi.se/upload/trycksaker/pdf/faktablad/fbsyntheticturf.pdf.
a. Hazardous substances found in tires may persist in the environment including polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, phenols, and certain metals.
b. Most PAHs are persistent, bioaccumulative and carcinogenic.
c. Phthalates and phenols are not chemically bound to the rubber and as a result can leach from the
infill material. These chemicals are persistent and bioaccumulative and can have long-term effects
on the environment.
Meil, J., & Bushi, L. (2006). Estimating the Required Global Warming Offsets to Achieve a Carbon Neutral
Synthetic Field Turf System Installation. Athena Institute. Ontario Canada. Available at:
http://sfrecpark.org/wp-content/uploads/AthenaICarbonOffsets.pdf
a. Artificial turf systems have a carbon footprint due to the greenhouse gases emitted during the life
cycle of synthetic turf systems compared to natural grass surfaces.
b. To achieve a 10-year carbon neutral synthetic turf installation, 1861 trees would need to be planted
to offset the field’s carbon footprint.
Källqvist, T. (2005). Environmental risk assessment of artificial turf systems. Norwegian Institute for Water
Research, 19.
a. Recycled rubber varies considerably in its chemical composition, even when from the same
manufacturer.
b. Leaching of contaminants from artificial turf as the result of surface water runoff from precipitation
is a great risk for the environment. It is predicted that chemicals leaching from synthetic turf
materials occurs slowly, and as a result the environmental harms may take place over many years.
There is also a level of “erosion” that takes place and can result in fine particles that could be carried
to local waterways. Chemicals have even been shown to leach from the artificial turf fibers.
c. The leachate from artificial turf can contain a variety of metals (including lead, cadmium, copper,
mercury and zinc) and organic pollutants (including PAHs, phthalates, 4-t-octylphenol and isononyphenol).
d. The runoff from an artificial turf field poses “a positive risk of toxic effects on biota in the water
phase and in the sediment.”
e. Of the organic compounds at issue, octylphenol represents the greatest risk, and possibly could
occur at levels where hormone disrupting effects are a concern.
f. The Norwegian Institute for Water Research has determined that it is “appropriate to perform a risk
assessment which covers water and sediments in watercourses which receive run-off from artificial
turf pitches.”
Thale, S.W. et al. (2004) Potential Health and Environmental Effects Associated with Synthetic Turf Systems-
final report. Byggforsk, Norwegian Building Research Institute. Available at: http://www.issssportsurfacescience.org/downloads/documents/vskyslv2qq_nbiengelsk.pdf
a. While recycled rubber is a greater source of pollution, newly manufactured rubber also contains
levels of hazardous substances; in the case of zinc and chromium the levels of recycled and newly
manufactured rubber are comparable.
b. The synthetic grass fibers can also be a significant source of pollution, albeit significantly lesser
amounts leach from the synthetic grass than the rubber infill

Page 9 of 10

10. Tucker, M.R. (1997). Ground Rubber: Potential Toxicity to Plants. Media Notes for North Carolina Growers,
North Carolina Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services, April 1997. Available at:
http://www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/pdffiles/rubber.pdf
a. When talking about the use of ground rubber as a supplement to planting soils, the North Carolina
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services sent out a notice identifying the risk that zinc
leaching from the rubber causes a decline in plant growth “directly attributable to zinc toxicity.”
11. Quoting Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott, Washington State University - Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About
Artificial Turf and Natural Grass. (n.d.) Available at: http://plasticfieldsfornever.org/ArtificialTurfBooklet.pdf
a. “There is no question that toxic substances leach from rubber as it degrades, contaminating the soil,
flora, and fauna and aquatic systems.”
12. Turfgrass Resource Center (n.d.) Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass. Available at:
http://plasticfieldsfornever.org/ArtificialTurfBooklet.pdf
a. Part of artificial turf maintenance is the regular replenishment of the infill. Some of the infill is
merely settling, but some of it is washing away or literally “walking away” with players after use.
The effects of this “runaway” infill are unknown and more research is needed to draw conclusions–
where is it going and what impacts is it having?
b. Maintenance of artificial turf can include application of algaecides or disinfectants to keep the
surface clean and application of fabric softener to mask the odor of the artificial turf. What is the
final destination of these chemicals and their implications for the environment and those coming
into contact with them while playing on the fields?
c. There is no indication that artificial turf drains more effectively for purposes of a stormwater
infiltration system than natural grass. In addition, infiltration systems are designed to work with
whatever surface coating they receive from natural grass to porous paving. Although there is no
assumed benefit from an infiltration perspective of natural turf or artificial turf, in many cases the
complex systems designed for artificial turf fields have experience problems, work incorrectly, or
inefficiently.

Page 10 of 10

Fact Sheet

Artificial/Synthetic Turf
While professional sports are turning away from artificial turf, it is gaining ground and
use at the local level at schools and community fields. Producers of artificial turf
make claims of environment, health and safety benefits associated with artificial turf –
when they make these blanket claims they are not giving the full picture.
In terms of environment, health and safety, the jury is still very far out
on artificial turf. There continues to be information documenting harm in
each of these arenas. Most of all, there is a widespread demonstration
and recognition that in terms of environmental, health and safety threats
from artificial turf, much more study, analysis and consideration is
needed. And whatever the final outcome of the research, manufacturers neglect the
reality that as much as they try to mimic natural grass, artificial turf is not grass, and
cannot provide the same natural feel, natural look, natural smell and environmental
benefits that natural grass provides.
Artificial Turf is generally comprised of plastic fibers (generally made of polyethylene,
polypropylene or nylon) attached to a polypropylene or polyester plastic webbing. A
combination of sand and rubber, or sometimes rubber alone, fills between the fibers.
The source for the rubber infill is generally recycled tires. Sometimes newly
manufactured rubber granulate is used but the cost is so much greater than the
recycled tire form that it is generally not the substance used. New developments in
artificial turf technology seem continually in the works.
Water Quality:

While it seems well recognized that there is a limited level of assessment and
investigation into the environmental impacts associated with artificial turf, a growing
body of scientific analysis is documenting a concerning level of environmental threat
and harm and is further demonstrating the need for more research regarding artificial
turf and its ramifications for the environment.
Synthetic turf is generally made with rubber from waste tires. Recycled rubber varies
considerably in its chemical composition, even when from the same manufacturer.1
Hazardous substances found in tires may persist in the environment including
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates and certain metals. These
substances may be bioaccumulative, carcinogenic, reprotoxic, mutagenic and/or
endocrine disrupting.2 The chemicals in waste tires are of such concern that a report
published by the Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate recommends: “waste tyres should
not be used for synthetic turf surfaces.” 3
• Most PAHs are persistent, bioaccumulative and carcinogenic.4
• Phthalates are generally used as solvents and plasticisers in plastics. Phthalates
are not chemically bound to the rubber and as a result can leach from the infill
material.5
• Phenols likewise are not chemically bound to the rubber and so can leach.
Phenols too are persistent and bioaccumulative and can have long-term effects
on the environment.6
• Among the metals found in tires that may be of concern are zinc, lead, copper,
chromium and cadmium. While zinc and copper are essential for living
organisms, when absorbed at high levels they become harmful. Lead can affect
reproduction, development of the nervous system leading to poor cognitive
development, and is a particular threat to fetuses and young children.
Chromium is carcinogenic and mutagenic. Cadmium is toxic to humans and if
taken in can contribute to poor liver and kidney function, as well as
osteoporosis. 7
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station conclusively found four compounds
which out-gassed and leached into water from synthetic turf rubber crumb under
ambient temperatures:
Ø Benzothiazole (a skin and eye irritant),
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 7.
2
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
3
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
4
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
5
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
6
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
7
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
1

Page 2 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

Ø Butylated hydroxyanisole (a “recognized carcinogen, suspected endocrine
toxicant, gastrointestinal toxicant, immune toxicant, neurotoxicant, skin and
sense-organ toxicant”),
Ø n-hexadecane (a severe irritant) &
Ø 4-(t-octyl) phenol (“corrosive and destructive to mucous membranes”).8
As rubber degrades it can leach toxic substances which can contaminate soil, plants
and aquatic ecosystems.9 Study has concluded that the use of tires in artificial turf
has the potential to pollute our environment with PAHs, phenols and zinc10 and that
runoff from an artificial turf field draining to a local creek can pose “a positive risk of
toxic effects on biota in the water phase and in the sediment.”11 Other metal
contaminants found to leach from tire crumb rubber include zinc, selenium, lead and
cadmium.12 Zinc has also been shown to leach from the artificial turf fibers.13
Extreme temperatures or solvents are not needed to release these metals, volatile
organic compounds or semi-volatile organic compounds from the rubber in-fill of
artificial turf into the air or water – release takes place in ambient air and water
temperatures.14
Leaching of substances as the result of surface water runoff from precipitation has,
by some researchers, been predicted to be the greatest risk for the environment from
artificial turf. 15 Study shows there is a risk of local effects for aquatic and sediment
dwelling organisms in impacted water courses. 16 Recycled rubber, and associated
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Examination of Crumb Rubber Produced from
Recycled Tires, August 2007; Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to GroundUp Rubber Tires, 2007.
9
Quoting Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott, Washington State University -- Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts
About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass; T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research(NIVA),
Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 17.; Connecticut
Agricultural Experiment Station, Examination of Crumb Rubber Produced from Recycled Tires.
10
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research(NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 5; T. Edeskar, Lulea University of Technology, Technical and
Environmental Properties of Tyre Shreds Focusing on Ground Engineer Application, 2004 as cited in
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
11
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 6.
12
Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
13
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 17.
14
Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
15
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 5; NIVA (The Norwegian Institute for Water Research),
Evaluation of the Environmental Risks of Synthetic Turf, 2005; KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts:
Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
16
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research(NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 5; NIVA (The Norwegian Institute for Water Research),
Evaluation of the Environmental Risks of Synthetic Turf, 2005, as cited by KEM, Swedish Chemicals
8

Page 3 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

leachate, has been found to contain a variety of metals (including lead, cadmium,
copper, mercury and zinc), as well as organic pollutants such as PAHs, phthalates, 4-toctylphenol and iso-nonyphenol. 17 The leaching of zinc has been determined to be of
major environmental concern.18 The leaching of zinc increases as the rubber infill
weathers over time,19 it is likely this is the same for other contaminants. While Zinc
contributes the most risk, phenols (specifically octylphenol) and PAHs are also of
concern. 20 Of the organic compounds at issue, Octylphenol represents the greatest
risk, and possibly could occur at levels where hormone disrupting effects are a
concern. 21 The varying content of tires makes this threat a moving target.
The Norwegian Institute for Water Research has determined that it is “appropriate to
perform a risk assessment which covers water and sediments in watercourses which
receive run-off from artificial turf pitches.”22
While recycled rubber is a greater source of pollution, newly manufactured rubber also
contains level of hazardous substances; in the case of zinc and chromium the levels of
recycled and newly manufactured rubber are comparable.23
It is predicted that chemicals leaching from synthetic turf materials occurs slowly, and
as a result the environmental harms may take place over many years.24
Leaching may not be the only source of water contamination from artificial turf. As
the artificial turf is used there is a level of “erosion” that takes place and can result in

Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007; KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April
2007
17
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 7.
18
INTRON, Environmental and Health Risks of Rubber Infill, rubber crumb from car tyres as infill on
artificial turf, February 9, 2007.
19
INTRON, Environmental and Health Risks of Rubber Infill, rubber crumb from car tyres as infill on
artificial turf, February 9, 2007.
20
NIVA (The Norwegian Institute for Water Research), Evaluation of the Environmental Risks of
Synthetic Turf, 2005, as cited by KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
21
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 17.
22
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 8.
23
Byggforsk, SINTEF Building and Infrastructure, Potential Health and Environmental Effects Associated
with Synthetic Turn Systems, 2004, as referenced in KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic
Turf, April 2007.
24
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research(NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 5; NIVA (The Norwegian Institute for Water Research),
Evaluation of the Environmental Risks of Synthetic Turf, 2005, as cited by KEM, Swedish Chemicals
Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
Page 4 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

fine particles that could be carried to local waterways. This source of contamination
needs study.25
The synthetic grass fibers can also be a significant source of pollution, particularly
zinc, albeit significantly lesser amounts leach from the synthetic grass than the rubber
infill.26
Concerns about the environmental and health effects of synthetic turf in European
countries is so great that standards and/or guidelines have been set or are under
consideration. For example: Germany has set standards for the use of synthetic turf
including a maximum allowable level of pollution or contamination of water and soil,
with a requirement of regular sampling to ensure these standards are not exceeded.
Allowable pollution levels include: lead 0.04 mg/l, cadmium 0.005 mg/l; chromium
0.05 mg/l, mercury 0.001 mg/l and zinc 3.0 mg/l or 0.5 mg/l depending on the
testing method used. 27 Holland has also suggested appropriate language for a
standard applicable to use of synthetic turf including a ban on the use of carcinogens,
mutagenic, reprotoxic, persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic, or very persistent and
very bioaccumulative substances in the surface layer of the turf and a limitation on
the level of substances in the rubber infill that may cause cancer, may cause heritable
genetic damage, may cause cancer by inhalation, are toxic or harmful to aquatic
organisms or may cause long term affects on the aquatic environment, that may
impair fertility or cause harm to unborn children. Sweden has set guidelines and
limiting values for some of the substances that are present in synthetic turf,
specifically as it relates to air pollution, soil contamination and water pollution. 28 And
because vehicle tires contain levels of several substances of “very high concern”, the
recycling and use of tires in synthetic turf is apparently in conflict with the Swedish
environmental objective of A Non Toxic Environment.29
Part of artificial turf maintenance is the regular replenishment of the infill. There is a
need for research into the loss of existing infill – where is it going and what impacts is
it having?30
Maintenance of artificial turf can include application of algaecides or disinfectants to
keep the surface clean. 31 Maintenance could also include application of fabric
T. Kallqvist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Environmental Risk Assessment of
Artificial Turf Systems, December 2005, p. 18.
26
Byggforsk, SINTEF Building and Infrastructure, Potential Health and Environmental Effects Associated
with Synthetic Turn Systems, 2004, as referenced in KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic
Turf, April 2007.
27
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
28
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
29
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
30
Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass.
25

Page 5 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

softener to mask the odor of the artificial turf. 32 What is the final destination of
these chemicals and their implications for the environment and those coming into
contact with them while playing on the fields? More information is needed on this
subject as well.
Stormwater:
There is no indication that artificial turf drains more effectively for purposes of a
stormwater infiltration system than natural grass. In addition, infiltration systems are
designed to work with whatever surface coating they receive from natural grass to
porous paving. It should be noted that while generally there can be no assumed
benefit from an infiltration perspective of natural turf or artificial turf, there are
instances where schools have experienced problems with the drainage of their artificial
turf fields. 33
Natural grass provides a level of evapotranspiration, pulling water out of the soil and
subsurface and releasing it to the air, providing benefits in reducing the volume of
runoff that results from a site and/or needs to be addressed by other stormwater
management strategies. Artificial turf has no evapotranspiration capabilities.
Grass does provide a level of pollution filtering and therefore water quality protection
for nearby waterways. While this filtering may be limited in the case of turf grass;
such filtering is nonexistent with artificial turf.
Heat Island Effect – for Human Health and Surrounding communities:
Extreme heat is a health concern. Studies document that the surface temperature on
artificial turf is dramatically increased as compared to surrounding land uses including
asphalt.
In a 2002 study it was found that “the surface temperature of the synthetic turf was
37° F higher than asphalt and 86.5° F hotter than natural turf.” 34 A study published
in the Journal of Health and Physical Education and Recreation showed “surface
temperatures as much as 95 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit higher on synthetic turf than
natural turfgrass when exposed to sunlight.” 35 Random sampling at Brigham Young
University identified temperatures ranging from 117.38 to 157 degrees on artificial
turf while neighboring natural grass areas were in the range of 78.19 to 88.5 degrees
Fahrenheit. “Two inches below the synthetic turf surface was 28.5° F hotter than
Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass.
Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass.
33
Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass.
34
Dr. C. Frank Williams and Dr. Gilbert E. Pulley, Synthetic Surface Heat Studies, Brigham Young
University.
35
SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields,
Selection, Construction and Maintenance Considerations.
31
32

Page 6 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

natural turf at the surface.”36 And still another study comparing temperatures on
artificial turf temperatures with air temperature found that artificial turf ranged from
58 to 75 degrees hotter than measured air temperature.37 While irrigation provided
significant cooling for the synthetic turf (lowering the temperature from 174° F to
85° F) after only 5 minutes the temperature quickly rose again to 120°F; after 20
minutes it rose to 164°F.38
Concerns regarding the excessive temperatures range from the implications for
players who are already exerting themselves playing in such excessively high
temperatures, to the implications for burns when players or pedestrians come into
contact with the hot surfaces, to the implications for small children who may come
into contact with the extremely hot surfaces during non-sporting events. Particularly
when installed in already built up areas, what affect does the extreme heat associated
with artificial turf have on the surrounding community in terms of temperature?
Natural grass, by comparison, provides a natural cooling affect and helps to dissipate
heat from neighboring developed areas.39 “The temperature of natural grass rarely
rises above 85 degrees Fahrenheit, regardless of air temperature.” 40
The heat impacts of artificial turf need to be considered in the context of today’s
changing climate. Global climate change is expected to dramatically increase the
number of days over 100 degrees communities in our region experience. Depending
on how aggressively global warming gasses are reduced in coming years, communities
nearby Philadelphia will begin to experience in the range of 10 days (in lower emission
scenarios) to 30 days (if higher emission scenarios continue to prevail) over 100o.41
By later in this century seasonable temperatures are projected to rise 6oF to 14oF in

summer (depending again on emission reductions achieved in the future). 42
Educators and decisionmakers selecting artificial turf based on its long-term
viability and community impacts should consider the affect of global climate
change to magnify the heat impacts of artificial turf.
Dr. C. Frank Williams and Dr. Gilbert E. Pulley, Synthetic Surface Heat Studies, Brigham Young
University.
37
T. Sciacca, The Thermal Physics of Artificial Turf, January 2008.
38
Dr. C. Frank Williams and Dr. Gilbert E. Pulley, Synthetic Surface Heat Studies, Brigham Young
University.
39
James B. Beard & Robert L. Green, The Role of Turfgrasses in Environmental Protection and Their
Benefits to Humans, J. Environ Qual. 23:452-460 (1994).
40
SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields,
Selection, Construction and Maintenance Considerations.
41
Union of Concerned Scientists, Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast l New Jersey,
2007.
42
Union of Concerned Scientists, Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast l New Jersey,
2007.
36

Page 7 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

Health Issues:
Direct human exposure to the hazardous substances contained in the rubber in-fill of
artificial turf is believed to occur via three pathways: inhalation, skin contact, or
ingestion including by children or infants who come into contact with the material.43
In October 2006 and January 2007, respectively, two sites in New York where
synthetic turf has been used (the large, 3 year old, Parade Ground in Brooklyn; the
relatively small 5 month old Sara D. Roosevelt Park in Manhattan) were analyzed. This
testing found PAHs at hazardous levels (as per New York standards) at each of the
sites. At both sites dibenzo (a.h)anthracene, a probable human carcinogen, was found
at hazardous levels, with two other PAH forms, both possible human carcinogens,
found at hazardous levels at the Parade Ground site. Research into the pathways by
which these substances may be absorbed into the bodies of children and athletes via
skin contact, ingestion or other pathways, is very limited with additional research
needed.44
A study by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)
summarized 46 studies that identified 49 chemicals which are released from tire
crumb. Of the 49, “seven of the chemicals leached from tire shreds were carcinogens.
OEHHA calculated a cancer risk of 1.2 in 10 million based on a one-time ingestion of
the tire crumb rubber over a lifetime.”45 While there are limited studies which assert
that recycled tire crumb are stable in the gastrointestinal tract and that therefore this
is not a pathway for exposure, there are other studies which contradict these
findings.46
Concerns have been raised about the potential implications of recycled tire in-fill for
individuals with latex allergies and that inhalation could result in a systemic response,
as opposed to a contact response.47
While, “the status of the information about human exposures to recycled tire crumb
rubber in-fill … is not sufficient to determine the safety of the use of the product in
situations that involve continuous episodes of human exposure;” 48 “the available

Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
Rachel’s’ Democracy & Health News #992, Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, Follow-up
Analyses, April 12, 2007.
45
Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007 citing
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), Evaluation of Health Effects of
Recycled Waste Tires in Playground and Track Products, January, 2007.
46
Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
47
Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
48
Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
43
44

Page 8 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

information is sufficient and strong enough to raise plausible questions with respect to
acute toxicity for susceptible persons, and for cancer risks.”49
There is great debate about whether artificial turf can increase exposure to, and
infection from, MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus). Reports including
a December 21, 2007 article in the Bloomberg Press reporting the affliction of an 18
year old football player from MRSA as the result (according to the boy’s doctor) of an
abrasion he received from playing on artificial turf, and citing other findings linking
MRSA infections with artificial turf,50 are a great concern for parents and sports
players alike. Defenders of artificial turf often refer to studies like that of the Penn
State Department of Crop and Soil Sciences which finds that Staphylococcus aureus is
commonplace in the human environment, including on both artificial turf and natural
grass fields.51 But even this study acknowledges that there is no conclusive evidence
currently available that the source of bacteria causing the infections of sports players
is not artificial turf. In addition, the study does not consider the link between burns
sustained while playing on artificial turf and available bacteria as a pathway for
infection. New studies are emerging that demonstrate that turf burns may be
facilitating infection by acting as a pathway for infection.52 Study has found that turf
burns increased the risk of infection regardless of the type and timing of care
provided the burn. 53
Concussions (formally described as Mild Traumatic Brain Injury or MTBI) resulting from
sports has, according to the US Centers for Disease Control, reached “epidemic
proportions.”54 “’Mild’ head traumas, and especially a series of such minor
concussions can have long term, negative effects on cognitive function.” 55 Study has
documented that artificial turf increases the risk of MTBI over natural turf,
Environment & Human Health, Inc., Artificial Turf, Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires, 2007.
Texas Football Succumbs to Virulent Staph Infection from Turf, December 21, 2007, Bloomberg
Press.
51
Penn State Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, A Survey of Microbial Populations in Infilled
Synthetic Turf Fields.
52
A High Morbidity Outbreak of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Players on a College
Football Team, Facilitated by Cosmetic Body Shaving and Turf Burns, study conducted 2004 for
Connecticut Dept of Public Health, Student Health Services of Sacred Heart Univ, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Minnesota Dept of Public Health, Los Angeles County Dept of Health Svces; Dr.
S.V. Kazakova et.al., A Clone of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Professional Football
Players, The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol 352:468-475 No. 5, Feb. 3, 2005.
53
A High Morbidity Outbreak of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Players on a College
Football Team, Facilitated by Cosmetic Body Shaving and Turf Burns, study conducted 2004 for
Connecticut Dept of Public Health, Student Health Services of Sacred Heart Univ, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Minnesota Dept of Public Health, Los Angeles County Dept of Health Svces.
54
Dr. M. Shorten, J.A. Himmelsbach, BioiMechanica, Sports Surfaces and the Risk of Traumatic Brain
Injury citing the US Centers for Disease Control.
55
Dr. M. Shorten, J.A. Himmelsbach, BioiMechanica, Sports Surfaces and the Risk of Traumatic Brain
Injury.
49
50

Page 9 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

approximately doubling that risk, as well as causing a greater degree of trauma.56
According to study, artificial turf presents a 5 times greater risk of the more severe
head injury than natural turf, although it is still unknown the particular characteristics
of the two surfaces that cause the difference in head injury incidence. 57
Costs:
It is generally agreed that artificial turf costs more to install than natural grass, while
natural grass costs more to maintain. Installation and maintenance costs for each
must be assessed on a case by case basis depending on site specific conditions. But
generally speaking, when the installation and maintenance costs of artificial turf are
assessed for the life span of the turf, particularly when the cost of disposal is added,
the cost of installing and maintaining natural grass is far less. The guaranteed life
and/or lifespan of artificial turf is 8 to 10 years.58 Some attempt to claim a longer life
in order to assert a lower annual cost.59 Comparative cost figures for artificial turf
and natural grass include:
Artificial Turf

Source: San Francisco
Rec and Parks 60
Installation
Annual Maintenance
Cost of Disposal
Average annual cost for
guaranteed life of 8 years.
Average annual cost for life
of 10 years
Average annual cost for life
of 15 years (maximum life
span seen asserted in the

Natural Grass

$800,000

$260,000

$6,000
Unknown but significant as a
hazardous waste
$106,000

$42,000
$0

$86,000

$68,000

$59,333

$59,333

$74,500

Dr. M. Shorten, J.A. Himmelsbach, BioiMechanica, Sports Surfaces and the Risk of Traumatic Brain
Injury.
56

Dr. M. Shorten, J.A. Himmelsbach, BioiMechanica, Sports Surfaces and the Risk of Traumatic Brain
Injury. See also K.M. Guskiewica, N.L. Weaver, D.A. Padua, W.E. Garrett Jr., Epidemiology of Concussion
in Collegiate and High School Football Players, Sep-Oct 2000 & Does the Use of Artificial Turf
Contribute to Head Injuries, The Journal of Trauma-Injury, Infection and Critical Care, Oct 2002 for the
finding that artificial turf increases the level of injury in comparison to natural grass fields.
58
Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass.
59
San Francisco Recreation & Parks, Natural and Synthetic Turf: A Comparative Analysis, December 20,
2005.
60
San Francisco Recreation & Parks, Natural and Synthetic Turf: A Comparative Analysis, December 20,
2005.
57

Page 10 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

literature)

Source: Facts About
Artificial Turf and
Natural Grass 61
Cost of construction and
maintenance per sq. ft.

Cost of disposal per sq. ft.
Springfield College case
study installation and
maintenance average annual
cost during 8 year
guaranteed life of artificial
turf – no disposal costs
included

Source: A Guide to
Synthetic and Natural
Turfgrass for Sports
Fields. 62
Cost of installation per
square foot

Annual Maintenance
Disposal per square foot –
note this cost does not
include the cost of
transportation or landfill

$7.80 – $10.75

$1.75 - $2.25
$105,000
($800,000 install & annual
maintenance of $5,000)
For a 10 year life the figure
is $85,000;
for 15 years it is $58,377

$7.80 to $10.75

$5,000 to $25,000
$1.75 to $2.25

With high quality soil
amendments
$6.50 – $7.95
With native soils
$2.50 – $5.25
$0
$78,000
($400,000 install &
$28,000 annual
maintenance)
For a 10 year life the figure
is $68,000;
for 15 years it is $54,666

$2.50 to $5.25 if done with
native soils
$3.50 to $5.25 if done with
combination of native soils
and sand.
$6.50 to $7.95 if done with
sand and drainage
$4,000 to $11,000 as per
the case studies provided
$0

Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass.
SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields,
Selection, Construction and Maintenance Considerations. While the cost figures in this document focus
on the southeast, the figures provide a sound comparative for the relative cost figures provided.
61
62

Page 11 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

surcharges for
environmentally controlled
products
Artificial turf made from rubber contains a number of hazardous substances. As a
result disposal is neither easy nor cheap. It is important to identify and consider the
cost of disposal when considering an investment in artificial turf. The life expectancy
of artificial turf generally ranges from 8 to 10 years63 – therefore disposal of artificial
turf should be amortized over this time frame.
Miscellaneous:
Artificial Turf is available for use immediately upon installation. Natural Turf generally
requires 2 growing seasons before it should be heavily used.64
One of the biggest supporting assertions for artificial turf is the increased level of
playing time it provides. While natural grass may not equal artificial turf in playing
time, natural soil and grass science has progressed significantly, greatly increasing its
durability for sports. Modern natural grass sports fields include sand in their soil
profile to resist compaction and a combination of grass varieties. Natural grass is
becoming the preferred surface for a number of professional sports teams.
Natural grass fields require regular maintenance including, mowing and watering, and
may also result in the use of fertilizers and potentially herbicides. But there are less
environmentally harmful alternatives available for maintenance including electric
mowing equipment and environmentally sensitive lawn care strategies that do not rely
on environmentally harmful chemicals. A number of schools, including Radnor
Township, Delaware County, PA, have successful policies that prevent the use of
dangerous chemicals on school grounds.
Artificial turf also requires regular maintenance. Artificial turf maintenance includes
sweeping, dragging and watering to provide a clean and uniform appearance.65 In
addition, as the result of wear, the infill may need periodic replenishment. 66
Management of an artificial turf field requires special knowledge inseam repair and
snow removal. 67 Special solvents and cleansers are needed to remove tough debris. 68
Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass.
Communication with Nancy Bosold, Extension Educator, Turfgrass Management, Penn Stat
Cooperative Extension, Berks County, Aug 15, 2007.
65
SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields,
Selection, Construction and Maintenance Considerations.
66
SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields,
Selection, Construction and Maintenance Considerations.
67
SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields,
Selection, Construction and Maintenance Considerations.
63
64

Page 12 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

Artificial turf is at risk of damage from plastic bottles, cigarettes and/or gum as well
as general trash thrown on the field. When damaged special repairs may be needed.
Artificial turf also becomes a recipient of a variety of bodily fluids which cannot be
cleansed by natural action as is the case with natural grass. Maintenance can include
application of algaecides and fabric softener to mask the odor of the artificial turf. 69
Artificial turf systems that claim chemical treatment is not required do not seem to
provide a mechanism for handling the germs associated with the bodily fluids on the
turf when there is an absence of rain or when it is captured and reused in newly
emerging artificial turf cooling systems.
It is important to note that the environmental, health and safety impacts
of artificial turf are in need of further study by independent experts.
Until such time as there are conclusive findings regarding the
environmental, health and safety impacts of artificial turf the
Precautionary Principle would direct decisionmakers away from artificial
turf and towards the traditional use of natural grass for sports and public
play fields.

Updated: February 25, 2008
Dated: September 9, 2007

SportsTurf Managers Association, A Guide to Synthetic and natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields,
Selection, Construction and Maintenance Considerations.
69
Turfgrass Resource Center, Facts About Artificial Turf and Natural Grass.
68

Page 13 of 13
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet, 9/9/07

Artificial
 Turf
 Fact
 Sheet
 Temporary
 Addendum.

Chrysene,
 a
 PAH
 and
 carcinogen,
 was
 found
 to
 be
 ingested
 as
 the
 result
 of
 hand-­‐to-­‐surface-­‐to-­‐mouth

transfer
 from
 playground
 surfaces
 made
 with
 recycled
 tires.

 Assuming
 playground
 use
 for
 an
 11
 year

period
 (from
 age
 1
 to
 12)
 there
 was
 found
 to
 be
 an
 increased
 cancer
 risk
 of
 2.9
 in
 one
 million

(2.9
 X
 10-­‐6).

 This
 risk
 is
 greater
 than
 the
 general
 cancer
 risk
 gauge
 of
 one
 in
 one
 million
 (1X10-­‐6).1

 This

research
 would
 seem
 to
 suggest
 that
 repeat
 exposure
 over
 time
 to
 the
 chemicals
 released
 from

artificial
 turf
 increases
 the
 associated
 increase
 in
 cancer
 risk.

Only
 31%
 of
 the
 playground
 surfaces
 made
 of
 recycled
 tires
 tested
 in
 one
 research
 study
 passed
 the

California
 State
 mandated
 Head
 Impact
 Criterion
 (HIC)
 of
 <1,000.

 In
 this
 same
 study
 100%
 of
 the

playground
 surfaces
 made
 of
 wood
 chips
 passed
 the
 same
 standard.
 2

When
 talking
 about
 the
 use
 of
 ground
 rubber
 as
 a
 supplement
 to
 planting
 soils
 the
 North
 Carolina

Department
 of
 Agriculture
 and
 Consumer
 Services
 sent
 out
 a
 notice
 identifying
 the
 risk
 that
 zinc

leaching
 from
 the
 rubber
 causes
 a
 decline
 in
 plant
 growth
 “directly
 attributable
 to
 zinc
 toxicity.”3

A
 Case
 Study
 conducted
 by
 a
 group
 of
 “physicians
 and
 public
 health
 professionals
 working
 with
 the
 U.S.

Environmental
 Protection
 Agency’s
 Region
 Pediatric
 Environmental
 Health
 Specialty
 Unit”
 found
 that

they
 could
 not
 secure
 the
 research
 and
 information
 necessary
 to
 establish
 the
 safety
 in
 use
 with

Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Evaluation of Health Effects of Recycled Waste
Tires in Playground and Track Products, January 2007.
 Note
 -­‐-­‐
 the
 1.2
 in
 10
 million
 cancer
 risk
 found
 in
 the

OEHHA
 study
 was
 considered
 by
 the
 authors
 to
 be
 an
 acceptable
 level
 of
 risk
 as
 it
 falls
 below
 the
 general
 cancer
 risk
 gauge

-­‐6
of
 one
 in
 one
 million
 (1X10 ).
2
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Evaluation of Health Effects of Recycled Waste
Tires in Playground and Track Products, January 2007. Please note that in this study 32 recycled tire
playground surfaces were tested as compared to only 5 wood chip playground surfaces.
3
M. Ray Tucker, Agronomist, Ground Rubber: Potential Toxicity to Plants, Media Notes for North
Carolina Growers, North Carolina Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services, April 1997.
1

children
 of
 tire
 crumb
 used
 as
 playground
 surface.4

 “The
 use
 of
 recycled
 tire
 crumb
 products
 on

playgrounds
 has
 had
 little
 health
 investigation.

 The
 major
 unresolved
 concern
 is
 the
 potential
 for
 latex

allergy
 with
 short-­‐term
 dermal
 exposure.”
 5

 “No
 published
 information
 is
 available
 specifically

regarding
 exposure
 to
 crumb
 rubber
 constituents
 from
 use
 of
 the
 product
 on
 playgrounds.”
 6

Analyses
 conducted
 at
 the
 Environmental
 and
 Occupational
 Health
 Sciences
 Institute
 of
 Rutgers

University
 found
 the
 crumb
 rubber
 from
 artificial
 turf
 to
 contain
 high
 levels
 of
 PAHs,
 as
 well
 as
 zinc
 and

arsenic.7

 PAHs
 found
 to
 be
 contained
 in
 the
 crumb
 rubber
 “were
 above
 the
 concentration
 levels
 that

the
 New
 York
 State
 Department
 of
 Environmental
 Conservation
 (DEC)
 considers
 sufficiently
 hazardous

to
 public
 health
 to
 require
 their
 removal
 from
 contaminated
 soil
 sites.
 It
 is
 highly
 likely
 that
 all
 six
 PAHs

are
 carcinogenic
 to
 humans.”
 8

 “The
 analyses
 also
 revealed
 levels
 of
 zinc
 in
 both
 samples
 that
 exceed

the
 DEC's
 tolerable
 levels.”
 9

 The
 researchers
 associated
 with
 these
 findings
 were
 careful
 to
 state
 “We

want
 to
 emphasize
 that
 the
 findings
 are
 preliminary.
 PAHs
 in
 rubber
 might
 not
 act
 the
 same
 way
 as
 in

soil,
 and
 we
 do
 not
 yet
 have
 information
 on
 the
 ease
 with
 which
 the
 PAHs
 in
 these
 rubber
 particles

might
 be
 absorbed
 by
 children
 or
 adults
 -­‐-­‐
 by
 ingestion,
 inhalation,
 or
 absorption
 through
 the
 skin.

However,
 the
 findings
 are
 worrisome.
 Until
 more
 is
 known,
 it
 wouldn't
 be
 prudent
 to
 install
 the

synthetic
 turf
 in
 any
 more
 parks.”
 10

M.E. Anderson et al, A Case Study of tire Crumb Use on Playgrounds: Risk Analysis and
Communication When Major Clinical Knowledge Gaps Exist, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol 114,
No. 1, January 2006.
5
M.E. Anderson et al, A Case Study of tire Crumb Use on Playgrounds: Risk Analysis and
Communication When Major Clinical Knowledge Gaps Exist, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol 114,
No. 1, January 2006.
6
M.E. Anderson et al, A Case Study of tire Crumb Use on Playgrounds: Risk Analysis and
Communication When Major Clinical Knowledge Gaps Exist, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol 114,
No. 1, January 2006.
7
Junfeng Zhang, professor and acting chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health,
the School of Public Health, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers
University & William Crain, professor of psychology at The City College of New York, president of
Citizens for a Green Riverside Park, Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, 2006, analyses conducted
at at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of Rutgers.
8
Junfeng Zhang, professor and acting chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health,
the School of Public Health, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers
University & William Crain, professor of psychology at The City College of New York, president of
Citizens for a Green Riverside Park, Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, 2006, analyses conducted
at at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of Rutgers.
9
Junfeng Zhang, professor and acting chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health,
the School of Public Health, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers
University & William Crain, professor of psychology at The City College of New York, president of
Citizens for a Green Riverside Park, Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, 2006, analyses conducted
at at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of Rutgers.
10
Junfeng Zhang, professor and acting chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health,
the School of Public Health, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers
University & William Crain, professor of psychology at The City College of New York, president of
Citizens for a Green Riverside Park, Hazardous Chemicals in Synthetic Turf, 2006, analyses conducted
at at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of Rutgers.
4

Connecticut
 is
 currently
 considering
 legislation
 to
 provide
 $250,000
 of
 funding
 for
 a
 study
 into
 the

toxicity
 of
 artificial
 turf
 athletic
 fields.11

One
 Norwegian
 assessment/presentationconcluded
 that
 while
 indoor
 artificial
 turf
 fields
 were
 not

generally
 an
 elevated
 health
 risk,
 studies
 to
 date
 could
 not
 eliminate
 the
 concerns
 associated
 with

development
 of
 airway
 allergies
 and
 made
 a
 point
 of
 noting
 “a
 link
 between
 exposure
 to
 phthalates

and
 the
 development
 of
 asthma/allergies”.
 12

 Phthalates
 is
 one
 of
 the
 contaminants
 of
 concern
 found

in
 artificial
 turf
 crumb
 rubber.
 13

The
 Norwegian
 assessment/presentation
 also
 reported
 that
 “recycled
 rubber
 was
 the
 major
 source
 of

potentially
 hazardous
 substances.

 An
 exposure
 scenario
 where
 the
 runoff
 from
 a
 football
 field
 is

drained
 to
 a
 small
 creek
 showed
 a
 positive
 risk
 of
 toxic
 effects
 on
 biota
 in
 the
 water
 phase
 and
 in
 the

sediment.

 The
 risk
 was
 mainly
 attributed
 to
 zinc,
 but
 also
 for
 octylphenol
 the
 predicted
 environmental

concentrations
 exceeded
 the
 no
 environmental
 effect
 concentration.”
 14

 The
 hazardous
 leaching
 could

result
 in
 local
 environmental
 effect.15

Of
 interest
 –
 William
 Carin,
 OpEd,
 NY
 Times,
 Turf
 Wars,
 September
 16,
 2007.

An Act Concerning a Study of the Toxicity of Artificial Turf Athletic Fields, Raised Bill No. 361,
February Session 2008.
12
Dr. Christine Bjorge, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Artificial turf Pitches – an assessment of
the health risks for football players and the environment, Presentation at the ISSS Technical meeting
2006, Dresden.
13
KEM, Swedish Chemicals Agency, Facts: Synthetic Turf, April 2007.
14
Dr. Christine Bjorge, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Artificial turf Pitches – an assessment of
the health risks for football players and the environment, Presentation at the ISSS Technical meeting
2006, Dresden.
15
Dr. Christine Bjorge, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Artificial turf Pitches – an assessment of
the health risks for football players and the environment, Presentation at the ISSS Technical meeting
2006, Dresden.
11

Page 1 of 1

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:35 PM
Received: May 02, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 03, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8pem-rune
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0069
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Marc Elrich
Address: 20850
Email: councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov

General Comment
See attached file(s)

Attachments
ME comment re federal review of AT

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa18ec&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

MONTGOME RY COUNTY CO UNCI L
R O C K V I L L E , M A R Y L AN D
Comment on “Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill”
From: Montgomery County, Maryland Councilmember Marc Elrich (At-large)
Date: May 2, 2016
As an elected official, I have been confronted with the issue of whether artificial turf playing
fields are safe and whether public funds should be used to construct and maintain these fields. I
represent the almost one million residents of Montgomery County, Maryland; our county is one
of the wealthiest and best-educated counties in the country. My staff and I have grappled with
questions surrounding artificial turf for years, and the more we have examined the issue, the
more we realize how little is known and how few questions can be adequately answered.
I appreciate the attempt by the federal agencies to tackle this issue, and on behalf of many of my
constituents and based on years of reviewing research and conversations with scientists, parks
managers, school administrators, elected officials, residents and other concerned individuals, I
make the following comments, observations and requests. I have five major points and then
follow them with additional information to support those points.
1. Clarify that the questions and goals outlined in this study will not answer the question of the
true safety/toxicity of AT with tire crumb infill. Characterizing chemical composition and
“exposure potential” are insufficient tools. This study will not satisfactorily answer the
question: are artificial turf fields safe for children to use over the long-term? An
epidemiological study is necessary. Only a long-term controlled epidemiological study could
provide meaningful answers about human safety. University of Washington soccer coach
Amy Griffin continues to collect names of soccer players, other athletes and other frequent
users of artificial turf fields (like marching band participants). This information raises
serious concern, and the federal agencies need to consider how they can collect information
that could analyze actual uses and outcomes.
2. Any and all toxicity studies must address and examine cumulative and combined effects of
toxic chemicals. Artificial turf contains a variety of chemicals that interact with each other
and in the body. Without studying their synergistic effects, the study will exclude some
important considerations. (See below for scientific comment on this issue.)
3. All potential health impacts should be viewed specifically and separately for children.
Studies should examine exposure for children. “Environmental exposure for children is quite
different. They take in much more of everything than adults. Their brains and nervous
systems are developing quite rapidly – referred to as “unique windows of vulnerability.”
(Joel Forman, MD, Mt. Sinai Medical School, Program Director of the Pediatric Residency

Program, Children's Environmental Health Center) Towards that end, I urge you to consult
extensively with Dr. Forman, Dr. Phillip Landrigan and other researchers associated with the
Childrens Environmental Health Center at Mt. Sinai Medical School.
4. For a federal study to be useful to local jurisdictions and residents, it must acknowledge and
address the myriad of issues and concerns that are inextricably intertwined. The chemical
composition of crumb rubber infill is an important issue, but it is not the only issue. The
blades, carpet, carpet backing and the color of the blades are all integral to any meaningful
assessment. Other issues should be examined and acknowledged: the heat impact for the
field users as well as serious environmental concerns, including the “heat island” effect and
impacts on waterways, aquatic life and wildlife.
5. Every step of the way, the involved federal agencies must be mindful of their possible biases.
I would refer you to the EPA website announcing this study: “Limited studies have not
shown an elevated health risk from playing on fields with tire crumb, but the existing studies
do not comprehensively evaluate the concerns about health risks from exposure to tire
crumb.” (https://www.epa.gov/chemical-research/federal-research-action-plan-recycled-tirecrumb-used-playing-fields) Such a statement is misleading and should be deleted. Results
from “limited studies” have been mixed. If “limited studies” refers to EPA’s prior studies, it
should be noted that they were not simply limited but also quite possibly flawed, and
therefore, not an appropriate basis for any general statements.
(http://www.peer.org/news/news-releases/epa-retracts-synthetic-turf-safety-assurances.html)

Additional information and commentary:
Regarding points 1 and 2 above:
How we think about levels of concern of chemicals is changing and evolving.
A recently published scientific paper, “What Can Epidemiological Studies Tell Us about the
Impact of Chemical Mixtures on Human Health?” explains:
“Although there is growing concern that exposure to chemical mixtures during critical
periods of human development could increase the risk of adverse health effects including
allergic diseases, cancer, neurodevelopmental disorders, reproductive disorders, and
respiratory diseases, researchers primarily study chemicals as if exposure occurs
individually. This one-chemical-at-a-time approach has left us with insufficient
knowledge about the human health effects of exposure to chemical mixtures.” [Emphasis
added.] http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/15-10569/
Another study from 2015 suggests that the combination of “safe” chemicals may increase
cancer risk:
“Our analysis suggests that the cumulative effects of individual (non-carcinogenic)
chemicals acting on different pathways, and a variety of related systems, organs, tissues
and cells could plausibly conspire to produce carcinogenic synergies.” [Emphasis added.]
http://carcin.oxfordjournals.org/content/36/Suppl_1/S254.full?sid=db47f5ec-47a2-4879bf30-6da9c076003d#ref-8

COUNCIL OFFICE BUILDING, 100 MARYLAND AVE. ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850 - 240/777-7966

2

In commenting on the above study, the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences, Linda Birnbaum (who was not involved in the study), said
“….We live in a chemical soup,…Considering the safety of individual chemicals is a lot like
looking at the trees, but missing the forest, Birnbaum said. When doing research to determine
chemical safety, “we’ve got to start thinking more about what reality is,” she said. This could
mean sweeping changes in rules about the levels of chemicals considered safe in drinking water,
food, and air. I’d like to see regulators and policy makers start looking at the totality of the
exposure instead of one chemical at a time,” she said. [Emphasis added.] (“Combinations of
'safe' chemicals may increase cancer risk, study suggests,” Los Angeles Times, by Sasha HarrisLovett, 7/1/15 http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-chemical-combinationssafety-cancer-20150626-story.html)
While the 2015 report is important and significant, this general idea and information is not new.
As the President’s Cancer Panel pointed out in its 2008-2009 annual report, federal
environmental laws not only leave many known carcinogens completely unregulated, they also
“fail to address the potential hazards of being exposed to combinations of chemicals”. [Emphasis
added] (Environmental Working Group, http://www.ewg.org/research/rethinkingcarcinogens/executive-summary)
The true impact of chemical exposure could take decades to be measured.
A telling example is a study of 9,300 daughters born to mothers who had been exposed to the
pesticide DDT, which was banned in 1972 because of its effects on the environment, especially
the eggs of the bald eagle. EPA labeled DDT as a probable carcinogen, and multiple studies
linked DDT exposure to breast cancer, but then a 2014 meta-analysis found no significant
association. But then this mother-daughter study showed that the prior studies were looking at
the wrong generation – the daughters of women exposed to DDT - were associated with almost a
fourfold increase in breast cancer, independent of the mother's history of breast cancer. The
study, which covered a span of 54 years, also determined that those with higher levels of
exposure were diagnosed with more advanced breast cancer. The study results are dramatic, but
they took 54 years. (“Startling link between pregnant mother’s exposure to DDT and daughter’s
risk of breast cancer,” by Ariana Eunjung Cha, The Washington Post, 6/17/15
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/06/16/ddts-breast-cancer-legacypregnant-mothers-exposure-linked-to-four-fold-increase-in-daughters-risk/ and
http://press.endocrine.org/doi/10.1210/jc.2015-1841)
You will not have “safety” answers in 2016 or one or two years later. Please acknowledge this
fact and address epidemiological questions.
Further points to consider:
Federal agencies should not reference “prior studies” without including and acknowledging the
following studies, which raise serious concern about artificial turf. One study raises the
possibility of inhalable lead.
The study states “…if the lead is present to any appreciable extent in the wipes it will likely
be present in the breathing zone of players who are active on these fields, and that
furthermore, these levels potentially exceed ambient EPA standards. (“An Evaluation of

COUNCIL OFFICE BUILDING, 100 MARYLAND AVE. ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850 - 240/777-7966

3

Potential Exposures to Lead and Other Metals as the Result of Aerosolized Particulate
Matter from Artificial Turf Playing Fields Submitted to:Alan Stern, Dr.P.H. New Jersey
Department of Environmental ProtectionSubmitted by: Stuart L. Shalat, Sc.D. (July 14,
2011) http://www.nj.gov/dep/dsr/publications/artificial-turf-report.pdf) Note that many
facilities would not allow testing.
Other studies have raised serious concerns about tire crumb and lead exposure.
A 2014 study found lead and other toxins in the both the plastic rug and tire crumb infill.
Lead was also was found in simulated body fluids meaning there is little or no protection of
any kind against the lead getting out of the material into the body. "Since it is possible that
children may be exposed to potentially high concentrations of lead while using artificial turf
fields we recommend, at a minimum, all infill and fibers should be certified for low or no
lead content prior to purchase and installation."
("Bio-accessibility and Risk of Exposure to Metals and SVOCs in Artificial Turf Field Fill
Materials and Fibers" Brian T. Pavilonis, Clifford P. Weisel, Brian Buckley, and Paul J.
Lioy http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4038666/pdf/nihms565643.pdf 2014)
No two fields are alike because each field contains 30,000 to 40,000 ground up tires, which
come from a multitude of manufacturers.
“Every turf field has to be analyzed in detail to be sure it doesn’t have a problem,’
said Paul Lioy, a professor of environmental and occupational medicine at the Robert
Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey.” [Emphasis added.] (“Feds promote
artificial turf as safe despite health concerns,” by Thomas Frank USA Today, 3/16/2015
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/03/15/artificial-turf-health-safetystudies/24727111/)
"Not surprisingly, the shredded tires contain a veritable witch’s brew of toxic
substances," Gaboury Benoit, Ph.D., Yale Professor of Environmental Chemistry and
Engineering. (“Study: Artificial turf contains carcinogens,” by Tony Spinelli, 7/3/15
http://www.theridgefieldpress.com/48210/study-artificial-turf-containscarcinogens/#ixzz47WNF1FSf)
Additionally, the information required from field managers around the country is time-intensive
as outlined in the Federal Register, and the attempt to reach a maximum of 40 fields nationally is
insufficient. So the time required from the individuals is large and the amount of information
collected will not be much more than anecdotal.
The fields heat is a health hazard. It is hotter than asphalt and much hotter than grass.
At the Women’s World Cup in Edmonton, Canada, in June 2015, the air temperature was 75
degrees, and “the heat from the carpet approaching 120 degrees at kickoff…Research, partly
funded by the city of Las Vegas, found artificial turf above 122 degrees is considered unsafe for
sustained athletic use and that, depending on the air temperature, turf can get as hot as 180
degrees…This was a temperature where if you put your hand down on it, you could only hold it
for five seconds or so before it would burn,” Dale Devitt, director of the Center for Urban Water
Conservation at the University of Nevada Las Vegas told the Vegas Sun. [Emphasis added.]

COUNCIL OFFICE BUILDING, 100 MARYLAND AVE. ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850 - 240/777-7966

4

(“The artificial turf at the Women’s World Cup was reportedly 120 degrees at kick off,” by
Marissa Payne, The Washington Post, 6/6/2015
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2015/06/06/the-artificial-turf-at-thewomens-world-cup-was-reportedly-120-degrees-at-kick-off/)
Environmental impacts of artificial turf should also be noted.
Artificial turf fields create “heat islands” – an environmental hazard.
The extreme heat “is not only a hazard for users, but also can contribute to the ‘heat island
effect,’ in which cities become hotter than surrounding areas because of heat absorbed by
dark man-made surfaces such as roofs and asphalt.” (“Synthetic Turf: Health Debate Takes
Root” by Luz Claudio, Environmental Health Perspectives 2008 March; 116(3): A116–
A122. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2265067/
“Columbia University climate researcher Stuart Gaffin analyzed thermal images generated
from NASA satellite maps of New York City. He wanted to figure out how urban trees may
help cool down neighborhoods. When Gaffin noticed a bunch of hot spots on the maps,
he assumed they were rooftops…two turned out to be turf fields" says Gaffin. In
retrospect, he says he should have realized that, because they're a perfect sunlight-absorbing
system.” (“High Temps On Turf Fields Spark Safety Concerns,” by Allison Aubrey,
National Public Radio, 8/7/2008
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93364750)
Artificial turf appears to contribute to elevated levels of zinc in the water.
“There is a potential risk to surface waters and aquatic organisms associated with whole
effluent and zinc toxicity of stormwater runoff from AT fields.” (“Artificial Turf Study,
Leachate and Stormwater Characteristics,” July 2010 Conn. Department of Environmental
Protection
“Crumb rubber derived entirely from truck tires may have an impact on aquatic life due to
the release of zinc. For the other three types of crumb rubber, aquatic toxicity was found to
be unlikely.” Pg. 2
“Zinc concentrations are higher than the surface water standards.” Pg. 29
(“An Assessment of Chemical Leaching, Releases to Air and Temperature at Crumb-rubber
Infilled Synthetic Turf Fields” May 2009 from staff at NY State Department of
Environmental Conservation)
Plastic artificial turf blades will likely disintegrate and degrade with some ending up in bodies of
water and in the food of wildlife either directly or via landfills; plastics of various sizes are
already threatening aquatic life. The impacts of larger sized plastics is more widely known, but
now more is being discovered about the serious effects of microplastics. (“Ingested microscopic
plastic translocates to the circulatory system of the mussel, Mytilus edulis (L).” by Browne
MA1, Dissanayake A, Galloway TS, Lowe DM, Thompson RC, Environmental Science &
Technology, 7/1/2008 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18678044) “As plastic breaks into
smaller pieces, it is more likely to infiltrate food webs. In laboratory and field studies, fish,
invertebrates and microorganisms ingest micrometer-sized particles…” (“Classify plastic waste

COUNCIL OFFICE BUILDING, 100 MARYLAND AVE. ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850 - 240/777-7966

5

as hazardous,” by Chelsea M. Rochman, Mark Anthony Browne, Eunha Hoh, Hrissi K.
Karapanagioti, Lorena M. Rios- Mendoza, Hideshige Takada, Swee Teh, Richard C. Thompson.
Nature, 2/14/13.)
Confusion over focus of the undertaking:
While the official federal register announcement does not mention playgrounds, the EPA’s
website explaining this study refers to “this coordinated Federal Research Action Plan on
Recycled Tire Crumb Used on Playing Fields and Playgrounds…”
(https://www.epa.gov/chemical-research/federal-research-recycled-tire-crumbs-used-playingfields) It would be better to included playgrounds, especially since children are particularly
vulnerable to toxic chemicals, but at a minimum the information disseminated should be
consistent between postings.
Conclusion:
As should be apparent from the above information and comments, my staff, constituents and I
have spent numerous hours reviewing these issues. I am deeply concerned that the study as
designed will offer the false hope of absolute answers. We may not know for many years the
true and complete impacts of artificial turf fields. I have concluded that we should adhere to the
precautionary principle and minimize use of artificial turf fields. Instead, we need to focus our
research and energy on improving natural grass fields, which already can be designed to
withstand heavy rains and avoid rain-outs. Increasing knowledge and experience is helping
expand the usage of these fields. The public focus should be on the best practices that give the
greatest use of natural grass fields with the least amount of fertilizers, pesticides and water.

COUNCIL OFFICE BUILDING, 100 MARYLAND AVE. ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850 - 240/777-7966

6

Page 1 of 1

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:38 PM
Received: May 02, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 03, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8pen-xk2y
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0073
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Sarah Evans
Address: 10029
Email: sarah.evans@mssm.edu
Organization: Children's Environmental Health Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount
Sinai

General Comment
See attached file(s)

Attachments
Mount Sinai CEHC Comment on ATSDR-2016-0002

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa1dad&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Children’s Environmental Health Center
Department of Preventive Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1217
New York, NY 10029-6574

May
 2,
 2016

Leroy
 A.
 Richardson,
 Information
 Collection
 Review
 Office

Centers
 for
 Disease
 Control
 and
 Prevention

1600
 Clifton
 Road
 NE.,
 MS-­‐D74
 Atlanta,
 Georgia
 30329.

Federal
 eRulemaking
 Portal:
 Regulation.gov

Re:
 Docket
 No.
 ATSDR-­‐2016-­‐0002

To
 Whom
 It
 May
 Concern:

We,
  the
  Children’s
  Environmental
  Health
  Center
  (CEHC)
  of
  the
  Icahn
  School
  of
  Medicine
  at
  Mount

Sinai,
 strongly
 support
 the
 Federal
 Research
 Action
 Plan
 on
 Recycled
 Tire
 Crumb
 Used
 on
 Playing
 Fields

and
 Playgrounds.

 It
 is
 our
 hope
 that
 this
 study
 will
 exhaustively
 address
 data
 gaps,
 characterize
 crumb

rubber
  constituents,
  assess
  exposure
  pathways
  under
  realistic
  play
  conditions,
  and
  consider
  health

effects
  to
  vulnerable
  populations.

  Based
  upon
  the
  presence
  of
  known
  toxic
  substances
  in
  tire

rubber,
  the
  CEHC
  has
  issued
  a
  call
  for
  a
  moratorium
  on
  the
  use
  artificial
  turf
  generated
  from

recycled
 rubber
 tires
 pending
 comprehensive
 safety
 studies.

As
 pediatricians,
 epidemiologists,
 and
 laboratory
 scientists
 at
 the
 Children’s
 Environmental
 Health

Center
 of
 the
 Icahn
 School
 of
 Medicine
 at
 Mount
 Sinai,
 which
 hosts
 one
 of
 10
 nationally
 funded

Pediatric
 Environmental
 Health
 Specialty
 Units,
 we
 have
 received
 numerous
 phone
 calls
 from

concerned
 parents
 and
 physicians
 regarding
 the
 wide
 scale
 use
 of
 recycled
 rubber
 surfaces
 on
 school

grounds
 and
 in
 park
 properties.

 This
 led
 us
 to
 conduct
 a
 review
 of
 the
 risks
 and
 benefits
 of
 artificial

playing
 surfaces,
 during
 which
 we
 found
 significant
 gaps
 in
 the
 evidence
 supporting
 the
 safety
 of

recycled
 rubber
 turf
 products.
 The
 hazards
 associated
 with
 recycled
 tire
 rubber,
 coupled
 with
 the

unique
 vulnerability
 of
 children
 have
 led
 us
 to
 recommend
 that
 these
 products
 never
 be
 used
 as

surfaces
 where
 children
 play.

The
 major
 chemical
 components
 of
 recycled
 rubber
 are
 styrene
 and
 butadiene,
 the
 principal

ingredients
 of
 the
 synthetic
 rubber
 used
 for
 tires
 in
 the
 United
 States1.
 Styrene
 is
 neurotoxic
 and

reasonably
 anticipated
 to
 be
 a
 human
 carcinogen2.

 Butadiene
 is
 a
 proven
 human
 carcinogen
 that
 has

1

 Denly
 et
 al
 A
 Review
 of
 the
 Potential
 Health
 and
 Safety
 Risks
 from
 Synthetic
 Turf
 Fields
 Containing
 Crumb
 Rubber
 Infill.

May
 2008.

 http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/eode/turf_report_05-­‐08.pdf

2

 ATSDR
 Toxicological
 Profile
 for
 Styrene,
 November
 2010.
 http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp53.pdf.

Children’s Environmental Health Center
Department of Preventive Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1217
New York, NY 10029-6574

been
 shown
 to
 cause
 leukemia
 and
 lymphoma3.

 Shredded
 and
 crumb
 rubber
 also
 contain
 lead,

cadmium,
 and
 other
 metals
 known
 to
 damage
 the
 developing
 nervous
 system4,5.
 Potentially
 harmful

chemicals
 have
 been
 detected
 in
 the
 air
 above
 rubber
 turf
 such
 as
 benzathiazole
 and
 polycyclic

aromatic
 hydrocarbons
 (PAHs),
 both
 of
 which
 are
 linked
 to
 cancer6.

Recommendations:
 To
 be
 informative,
 comprehensive
 studies
 should
 consider,
 at
 a
 minimum:

•   Exposure
 assessment
 under
 realistic
 playing
 conditions.

Studies
 should
 consider
 weather
 conditions
 such
 as
 extreme
 heat,
 potential
 for
 increased

exposures
 as
 turf
 degrades
 over
 time,
 as
 well
 as
 extended
 exposure
 times
 that
 may
 occur
 when

rubber
 pellets
 are
 transported
 home
 on
 the
 bodies
 and
 clothing
 of
 players.

•   All
 possible
 routes
 of
 exposure:
 inhalation,
 ingestion
 and
 dermal
 absorption.

Individuals
  are
  exposed
  to
  harmful
  substances
  when
  crumb
  rubber
  pellets
  touch
  their
  skin
  or

are
  swallowed,
  and
  possibly
  from
  breathing
  chemicals
  released
  into
  the
  air
  from
  the
  surface.

While
  manufacturers
  claim
  that
  a
  number
  of
  scientific
  studies
  indicate
  low
  risk
  of
  harm
  from

recycled
  tiring
  playing
  surfaces,
  these
  studies
  were
  not
  conducted
  in
  a
  rigorous
  manner

comprehensive
 enough
 to
 prove
 safety.

•   Potential
 health
 effects
 not
 only
 of
 individual
 chemicals,
 but
 also
 of
 mixtures
 of
 chemicals
 to

determine
 their
 additive
 and
 synergistic
 effects.

It
 is
 important
 to
 note
 that
 risk
 of
 harm
 due
 to
 exposures
 from
 recycled
 rubber
 turf
 has
 been

assessed
 only
 for
 single
 chemicals,
 yet
 children
 are
 exposed
 to
 numerous
 harmful
 chemicals
 in

aggregate
 during
 play
 on
 these
 surfaces.

 It
 is
 widely
 recognized
 that
 carcinogens
 and
 other

environmental
 toxins
 act
 in
 an
 additive
 or
 multiplicative

 fashion,
 making
 risk
 assessment
 of
 the

chemical
 mixtures
 present
 in
 recycled
 rubber
 critical
 for
 a
 comprehensive
 safety
 assessement7.

3

 International
 Agency
 for
 Research
 on
 Cancer,
 2008.
 http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol100F/mono100F-­‐
26.pdf

4

 Timothy
 Ciesielski
 et
 al.
 Cadmium
 Exposure
 and
 Neurodevelopmental
 Outcomes
 in
 U.S.
 Children.
 Environ
 Health

Perspect.
 2012
 May;
 120(5):
 758–763.

 27.
 doi:
 10.1289/ehp.1104152

5

 CDC
 (2012)
 Low
 Level
 Lead
 Exposure
 Harms
 Children:
 A
 Renewed
 Call
 for
 Primary
 Prevention.

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/acclpp/final_document_010412.pdf

6

 Connecticut
 Department
 of
 Public
 Health
 (2010)
 Human
 Health
 Risk
 Assessment
 of
 Artificial
 Turf
 Fields
 Based
 Upon
 Results

from
 Five
 Fields
 in
 Connecticut.
 http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/artificialturf/dph_artificial_turf_report.pdf

7

 Goodson
 WH
 et
 al
 2015.
 Assessing
 the
 carcinogenic
 potential
 of
 low-­‐dose
 exposures
 to
 chemical
 mixtures
 in
 the

environment:
 the
 challenge
 ahead.
 Carcinogenesis
 36(Suppl
 1):S254–S296.

Children’s Environmental Health Center
Department of Preventive Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1217
New York, NY 10029-6574

•   The
 unique
 vulnerability
 of
 very
 small
 children
 as
 well
 as
 individuals
 in
 certain
 “Windows
 of

Susceptibility”
 such
 as
 pregnancy
 and
 the
 pubertal
 period.

Children
 and
 fetuses
 are
 particularly
 sensitive
 to
 exposure
 to
 toxic
 chemicals
 due
 to
 their

developing
 organ
 systems
 and
 immature
 enzymatic,
 hepatic,
 and
 renal
 function.
 In
 addition,

children’s
 developmentally
 appropriate
 hand
 to
 mouth
 behaviors,
 high
 respiratory
 rates

compared
 to
 adults,
 and
 close
 proximity
 to
 the
 ground
 lead
 to
 increased
 potential
 for
 toxins
 to

be
 inhaled,
 absorbed
 through
 the
 skin
 and
 even
 swallowed
 by
 children
 who
 play
 on
 recycled

rubber
 surfaces.

Thank
 you
 for
 the
 opportunity
 to
 provide
 you
 with
 our
 professional
 opinion.

 We
 would
 be
 more
 than

happy
 to
 answer
 any
 questions
 that
 you
 might
 have.

Kind
 Regards,

Robert
 Wright,
 MD,
 MPH

Director,
 Mount
 Sinai
 Children’s
 Environmental
 Health
 Center

Sarah
 Evans,
 PhD,
 MPH

Research
 Scientist

Children’s
 Environmental
 Health
 Center

Homero
 Harari
 ScD,
 MSc

Research
 Scientist

Children’s
 Environmental
 Health
 Center

Page 1 of 1

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:39 PM
Received: May 02, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 03, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8peo-o930
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0074
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Jean Barish
Address: 10028
Email: jeanbbarish@hotmail.com

General Comment
Attached are my comments regarding Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb
Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
FR Doc # 2016-03305
Thank you for your consideration.
Jean B Barish, Esq., MS

Attachments
FR Doc # 2016-03305

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa2584&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

JEAN B BARISH, Esq., MS
jeanbbarish@hotmail.com
212-249-5060
May 2, 2016

Leroy A. Richardson
Information Collection Review Office
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE, MSD-74
Atlanta, GA 30329
Re: Docket No. 2016-03305
Dear Mr. Richardson:
Thank you for this opportunity to comment on the proposed Federal research on the toxicity of synthetic
turf athletic fields with rubber tire crumb infill. I have worked as a research scientist, a consumer
advocate, and an attorney specializing in health care law. I am also affiliated with several environmental
organizations that have been concerned about this issue. One of these organizations, Action for
Nature, recognized Claire Dworsky as an AFN Eco-Hero for her study on the toxicity impact of synthetic
turf with rubber tire crumb. (http://actionfornature.org/2011_winners.aspx;
http://www.scgh.com/featured/success-stories/4th-graders-research-reveals-dangers-of-artificialturf/nggallery/image/image-463)
Rubber tires are a complex blend of materials and chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic,
neurotoxic, eye and throat irritants, and toxic to many organ systems. These chemicals include but are
not limited to polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); phthalates; volatile organic compounds
(VOCs); heavy metals including lead, zinc, iron, manganese, and mercury; nanoparticles such as
carbon black; and dioxin. Additionally, a great deal of dust and particulate matter, including
nanoparticles, are created during play on an artificial turf field. All of this harmful material can enter the
body by inhalation, ingestion, dermal contact and eye contact. Other health and safety concerns
include sports injuries; infections from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); overheating
of the fields; and; disposal problems. Finally, the use of artificial turf with rubber tire crumb also raises
environmental concerns.
Many cities and school districts have chosen not to install turf with rubber tire crumb after considering
the health and environmental risks. For example, the City of New York Parks and Recreation and
Department has not used rubber tire crumb infill since 2008. And in 2009 the Los Angeles Unified
School District served manufacturers of artificial turf with Proposition 65 Notices claiming that artificial
turf with SBR infill contains unacceptable levels of lead and carbon black. LAUSD no longer uses turf
with rubber tire crumb. Several school districts in Sonoma County in Norther California have also
decided not to use rubber tire crumb infill, and the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department is
planning to replace worn out fields with safer, organic infill. These are just a few examples of schools
and municipalities throughout the country that no longer use synthetic turf with rubber tire crumb.

Leroy A. Richardson
May 2, 2016
Page 2

In view of the growing concern about the health and environmental hazards of these fields, your
research should be done rigorously and thoroughly. To assure the studies will provide meaningful
information, please consider the following recommendations:
Study Recommendations
It is important that samples of rubber tire crumb are taken from an adequate number of fields
throughout the country. There are many variables that must be considered to assure adequate
sampling, including but not limited to the following: age of the fields; weather conditions to which the
fields are exposed such as temperature, humidity, precipitation; use of the fields; age of the fields;
source of the tire crumb; location on the field from which the samples are taken. Rubber tire crumb
comes from a huge variety of tires that have been manufactured all over the world. This lack of
homogeneity of the rubber tire crumb must be accounted for in your research.
Numerous studies have identified several categories of chemicals found in rubber tire crumb, including
but not limited to: polyaromatic hydrocarbons; phthalates; dioxins; semivolatile compounds;
nitrosamines, and; heavy metals. These should all be measured.
Rubber tires contain nanotubules. These should be measured.
There is also off-gassing of volatile compounds on synthetic turf fields, as well as the dispersal of
particulates into the air. These volatiles and particulates should also be measured on indoor and
outdoor fields under various ambient and play conditions when the fields are in use.
There is growing concern about the health risks of exposure to nanoparticles and carbon black. These
particles are able to cross biological membranes such as the blood-brain barrier and access cells,
tissues and organs. The risk of exposure to nanoparticles and carbon black should be studied.
(Nanoparticles – known and unknown health risks. Peter HM Hoet, Irene Brüske-Hohlfeld and Oleg V
Salata. Journal of Nanobiotechnology 20042:12.
http://jnanobiotechnology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1477-3155-2-12). See also:
“Understanding the mechanism of toxicity of carbon nanoparticles in humans in the new millennium: A
systemic review,” Mukesh Sharma. Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, vol.
14(1), 2010, web publication June 24, 2010, abstract available at
http://www.ijoem.com/article.asp?issn=00195278;year=2010;volume=14;issue=1;spage=3;epage=5;aulast=Sharma ; Peter Gehr “Nanoparticles
can penetrate brain tissue,” on the website of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) (also
BAFU in German), March 2010, available at
http://www.bafu.admin.ch/dokumentation/umwelt/10649/10659/index.html?lang=en ; “Toxic Potential of
Materials at the Nanolevel,” Mädler,and Ning Li, Science, 3 February 2006: 622- 627, abstract at
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/311/5761/622.

Leroy A. Richardson
May 2, 2016
Page 3

In addition to surveying field representatives to determine facility use and characteristics, please survey
players, coaches, and spectators. This will provide more reliable information regarding field uses and
conditions.
In addition to air monitoring, dermal sampling, and urinalysis, mucous membranes such as the oral
cavity, nasal passages, and conjunctiva of players should also be sampled. Dermal sampling should
include all exposed areas of the body, including the face and scalp.
Exposure characterization should also include contact with clothing and shoes, and the impact that has
on the spread of material off-site. This is especially important since many people report that rubber tire
crumb is tracked into cars and homes, and that players’ clothing is covered with black dust after a
game.
The risk of increased skin, muscular and joint injury caused by synthetic turf versus natural turf should
be studied.
All impact studies should account for demographic variations in users of the fields, including age,
gender, and race.
One of the adverse health impacts of artificial turf fields is related to the fact that the fields get much
hotter than natural grass fields. Synthetic surface undesirably absorbs, retains and emanates heat at
temperatures and rates that can be dangerous. (https://www.pitchcare.com/magazine/concerns-overheat-stress-on-3g-surfaces.html) The health hazards of playing on these hot fields should be studied.
Analysis of the health hazards of rubber tire crumb must also analyze the cumulative risk of exposure to
the synthetic turf with rubber tire crumb, defined in the US EPA document “Framework for Cumulative
Risk Assessment” as “the combined risks from aggregate exposure (i.e., including all relevant routes) to
multiple agents or stressors.” (U.S. EPA 2003. Framework for Cumulative Risk Assessment. PA/630/P02/001A. Washington, DC)
Please review the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for the manufacturer of rubber tire crumb and
evaluate these for information about health and safety hazards.
In addition to an analysis of the constituents of rubber tire crumb and exposure levels, the synthetic turf
fibers also contain chemicals of concern, including but not limited to phthalates, quaternary ammonium
bocides, BPA, acetone, elastomers, and heavy metals. A chemical analysis of a representative sample
of turf fibers should be done.

Leroy A. Richardson
May 2, 2016
Page 4

Other Considerations
The following comments are also submitted for your consideration:
Epidemiological Studies
There is a growing data base of soccer players exposed to fields with rubber tire crumb that have
developed cancer. Notably, there is a disproportionate number of young people lymphomas in this
population. (http://www.ehhi.org/turf/cancer_patterns_1114.shtml) Epidemiological research is
necessary to more accurately assess the health impacts of playing on artificial fields with rubber tire
crumb. This research should study the incidence of cancer, as well as allergies, asthma and other
respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, autoimmune diseases, neurological conditions, skin
conditions, and the like. There is already a great deal of information about the components of rubber
tire crumb. Epidemiological research is the next step that should be taken to determine whether
exposure to these toxins on the playing field increases the risk of cancer and other health problems.
The testing your agency proposes will never capture what is really going in the real life exposures of a
generation of young people. A national agency such as NCI or CDC has the resources to do the
necessary epidemiological research. It should begin as soon as possible in order to protect a the young
people who are now playing on these fields.
Animal Studies
Several experts I have spoken to have recommended that your research includes animal studies in
order to better assess exposure risks. Please include animal studies in this project or explain why you
do not plan to include it.
Environmental Impacts
Rubber tire crumb can also impact the environment, especially if the field is built above an aquifer.
Chemicals from rubber tire crumb can leach into this underlying aquifer, as well as spill into waste
water, poisoning drinking water and impacting aquatic life. Additionally, synthetic turf fields with rubber
tire crumb can impact the ecosystems where they are installed. Accordingly, please address the
following issues in your research:
Include consideration of the impact of these fields on rainwater and other waters that flow through the
turf that will pick up particulates that could then enter the public water system or adjoining waterways.
Include consideration of the impact of these fields on all animal species in the surrounding ecosystems.

Leroy A. Richardson
May 2, 2016
Page 5

Disposal
The environmental impact of disposal of the fields and the rubber tire crumb infill should also be
studied. It is important to understand the regulatory control of the disposal of these fields. Do they end
up in landfills? Can they be recycled? What is the impact of the particulates on the environment when
they must be removed at the end of their lifespan or the repurposing of the fields?
Precautionary Principle
The Precautionary Principle stands for the proposition that when an activity raises threats of harm to
human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and
effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.
(http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001395/139578e.pdf) Much has been written about the
Precautionary Principle, but in its simplest terms it means that there is a social responsibility to protect
the public from exposure to harm when scientific investigation has found a plausible risk. These
protections can be relaxed only if further scientific findings emerge that provide sound evidence that no
harm will result.
You are encouraged to apply the Precautionary Principle in analyzing the data from your studies.

Thank you for your consideration of these comments.
Sincerely,
Jean B Barish, Esq., MS

Page 1 of 1

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:41 PM
Received: May 02, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 03, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8peq-eye3
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0076
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Glen Sjoblom
Address: 22066
Email: gsjoblom@cox.net

General Comment
See attached file(s)

Attachments
CDC letter

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa34bd&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road N. E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30329
I am writing to you as a former Director of the EPA Office of Radiation
Programs and with considerable career expertise in the area of
environmental and occupational risk assessment.
An issue before CDC, EPA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission
at this time is whether to continue the use of crumb rubber in artificial
turf fields. There are now some 12 thousand of these playing fields all
over America, and a typical field uses crumb rubber particles made by
pulverizing perhaps 30,000 used tires, approximately 1 million pounds
per field. This use of used tires began in a small way about 30 years ago,
when there had been public outcry to EPA over fires involving used tires
in landfills and in piles of used tires.
The early studies of this use of crumb rubber were mainly aimed at
developing another method of disposal of used tires, well before the
development of more modern methods of hazardous waste
management. These early studies were superficial and did not make a
critically objective examination of the exposure pathways by which
volatile chemicals and tiny particulates would be released and exactly
how they would expose our young athletes, and what the effects would
likely be.
Your agency must now make the determination of whether to continue
to allow this use of tire crumb. I believe that the EPA has been and is
conflicted, by virtue of the historical proponents of this use within the
EPA Office of Solid Waste. CDC has the necessary expertise in all the
areas of toxicology, epidemiology, cancer registry, exposure
measurements and risk analysis, and does and must not be burdened by
the mistakes of the past.
In the United States, there is a growing public concern that allowing this
use of crumb rubber was a huge mistake by EPA. There are perhaps a
dozen carcinogens which have been reported in the rubber particles, as
well as the main constituents of rubber polymer, 1,3 butadiene and
1

carbon black. The fields can reach over 150 degrees, and disturbing the
crumb rubber including thermal deterioration of the material, can
release large amounts of very small particulates, and volatile chemicals,
which can reach deeply into lungs of young athletes, while they are
under physical exertion.
The studies of the past have not even determined or examined the high
exposure scenarios involving athletes diving into the field surface,
resulting in repeated high ingestion and inhalation. This is not a chronic
low-dose situation, but an intermittent high dose situation. The
previous studies have mainly involved sampling above the undisturbed
fields, and a few have tried using breathing zone monitors. A much
better understanding of the actual exposure scenario is needed, through
inquisitive observation of conditions of play and investigation, followed
by careful design of the quantitative measurements that will truly
determine actual intakes.
Many of the chemicals in tire crumb are suspected to be human
carcinogens, and the best toxicologists should be asked to estimate risk
factors, particularly for the diseases that have been reported. There
have been a substantial and growing number of actual health effects and
deaths, which have been reported among soccer players, particularly
young goalies in Washington State. A few useful documents are shown
below:
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/03/18/i-team-health-concernsraised-over-artificial-turf-fields/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91svvfuF7iY
It is important to use conservative assumptions, because the critical
population group is younger and therefore more sensitive to the
chemicals and particulates.
The health effects experience in the tire making industry should be
useful as background, since many of the same substances are involved,
albeit in a much better controlled industrial environment, in which
2

some occupational exposures are acknowledged as a condition of
employment.
CDC should determine if there are additional cancer clusters in other
parts of the country, in addition to the reports from Washington State.
It is not acceptable to only test the crumb rubber in the laboratory as
has been done in the past. The ongoing studies should be specifically
directed to measuring the airborne volatile organic chemicals and fine
particulates being released from several existing fields that have been in
place for many years. One such field is located at Mira Costa High
School in Manhattan Beach, California, where my 12 year old grandson
plays flag football. When I observed a game there in December, there
was a very noticeable odor of rubber, as well as large amounts of
surface particulate material, and a cloud of fine black dust resulting
from the athlete’s feet. Even in December, the surface was hot from the
solar radiation on the black surface, and this undoubtedly degrades and
volatizes the complex moist rubber polymer and produces a mixture of
organic materials, both volatile and very small particulates. I have read
reports stating surface temperatures of 150-200 degrees F. I became
very concerned when I observed the current situation.
The protocol for the new studies should include use of traditional fine
air particulate samplers and volatile samplers on several fields with
degraded surfaces, during athletic games, as well as in breathing zone
monitoring of athletes playing. Standard methods should be used for
this monitoring, and I suggest the application of the PM-10 and PM-2.5
analysis methods for particulates. The only truly acceptable exposure
level determined by these methods is NO actual exposure to our young
athletes, but the level of 50 micrograms per cubic meter air standard
may be a useable starting point.
In Fairfax County, Virginia, where I live, there are many of these fields,
but the Great Falls Citizens Association refused to go along with the use
of crumb rubber, and the Local Lacrosse Association found another fill
material. I am also aware that Montgomery County, Maryland has
passed an ordinance allowing only natural fill materials on playing
fields, and have shown that there are acceptable substitute materials
which have the same playability features, without the adverse health
3

implications. This year, the Virginia Legislature considered a three-year
moratorium on the use of crumb rubber, and while it was tabled
pending the ongoing risk analysis, the close vote in committee indicates
a growing recognition continuing use of this material is not acceptable.
I strongly recommend that you will pay close attention to the design of
ongoing studies, and subsequently make the correct the risk
management decision, and require the phase out the use of this material
in playing fields.
Sincerely,

Glen L. Sjoblom
815 Seneca Rd.
Great Falls, Virginia 22066

4

Page 1 of 3

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:43 PM
Received: May 02, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 03, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8per-o6x7
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0079
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Jonathan Damm
Address: 20191
Email: jondamm@yahoo.com

General Comment
Dear Federal Agencies:
I am a concerned parent with a background in environmental law and a lacrosse player and
coach. Because of my education, I understand and appreciate the dangers inherent with repeated
exposure to toxins. Since I am a coach and player, I have also spent many hours on tire crumb
fields. I have witnessed how children are exposed to the fine particulate. After reading all the
available literature, my wife and I concluded the risks far outweigh any benefits of using fields
with tire crumb. Regardless of your final conclusions, it is clear that tire crumb is beyond our
capacity to thoroughly investigate - as I will discuss below. So we will never let our three young
children play on tire crumb. A generation of young Americans relies on you for similar
protection.
Later this year, when the federal government issue its preliminary statement regarding the
safety of tire crumb on synthetic turf fields, the most important messages to communicate to
concerned parents are: 1) Tire Crumb is a "Moving Target" - tire manufacturers frequently
change tire ingredients. So any formal study conclusion only speaks to existing fields. Any field
installed after a study, or any field not studies, may contain chemicals that were not examined in
past studies - including any federal study. So for all the millions of dollars of resources the
federal government is about to spend on this study, any conclusions can only speak to actual

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa2055&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 2 of 3

fields that were studied. A study can only be backwards looking by its very nature since there
can be zero confidence that manufacturers will not change tire ingredients. This must be clearly
communicated. 2) Compound based risk assessment can only be done on chemicals and
compounds that have regulatory risk frameworks. Tire crumb contains numerous chemicals and
compounds with no regulatory risk frameworks. Therefore, any formal study will necessarily
contain significant data gaps. 3) Given that tire crumb contains multiple chemicals and
compounds with no risk frameworks, epidemiological studies and animal studies are the only
available methods of study to overcome this intrinsic problem. If there are no significant
epidemiological studies undertaken or planned, this must be communicated. If there are no
animal studies planned, this must be communicated.
If the three points of focus above were communicated clearly and prominently, it would help
educated field users to truly understand that sometimes, a problem is beyond our ability and
present capacity to accurately make predictions or draw conclusions regarding safely. If the
federal government was realistic in this endeavor, it would recognize this from the very start.
And given what we know about the multiple carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxins in this
material, the government should conclude from the start that tire crumb is simply too risky to
use in such close proximity to children.
Sweden Concluded that Tires should Not be Used
Such a position would not be novel or unprecedented. The Swedish agency tasked with
reviewing tire crumb on synthetic fields recommended that tires should not be used as material
on synthetic turf fields for exactly these reasons. Sweden wisely concluded that given the
complexity and the inherent unknowns regarding tire crumb use on turf fields, they simply
should not be used.
"Tyres contain substances of very high concern
Tyres contain several substances that are substances of very high concern. These substances
maypersist in the environment, they may be bioaccumulative, carcinogenic, reprotoxic, or
mutagenic. This is true of, for example, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates
and certain metals. These substances should not be released into the environment and thus
waste tyres should not be used for synthetic turf surfaces.
KemI's Recommendations:
Do not select synthetic turf that contains substances of very high concern when laying new
surfaces
Material that contains substances of very high concern should not be used, as specified by the
environmental objectives of the Swedish parliament. This means that granulate formed from
recycled rubber should not be used when laying new surfaces of synthetic turf. The Norwegian
authorities have issued a similar recommendation."
http://www.wellesleyma.gov/pages/WellesleyMA_SpragueResources/Swedish%20Study.doc
In addition to Sweden and Norway, whole countries that have recommended that tires not be
used on turf fields, municipalities like as New York City have has banned tire crumb since 2009
for their schools and parks.

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa2055&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 3 of 3

Similarly in 2009, the L.A. Unified School district has banned tire crumb. The list grows larger
by the week. In early 2015, Montgomery County, Maryland's most populous, banned tire crumb
by a unanimous vote of the council.
Please honor the precautionary principal and recommend a complete ban on the use of tire
crumb on turf fields and playgrounds. See attached for full comments.
Regards,
Jonathan Damm

Attachments
Comments on ASTDR 2016-0002 by Jonathan Damm

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa2055&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Comments on ASTDR 2016-0002-0003
Federal Research Action Plan on
Recycled Tire Crumbs Used on Playing Fields and Playgrounds
Submitted to Federal Register May 2, 2016
By Jonathan R. Damm
Dear Federal Agencies:
I am a concerned parent with a background in environmental law and a lacrosse player
and coach. Because of my education, I understand and appreciate the dangers inherent
with repeated exposure to toxins. Since I am a coach and player, I have also spent
many hours on tire crumb fields. I have witnessed how children are exposed to the fine
particulate. After reading all the available literature, my wife and I concluded the risks far
outweigh any benefits of using fields with tire crumb. Regardless of your final
conclusions, it is clear that tire crumb is beyond our capacity to thoroughly investigate –
as I will discuss below. So we will never let our three young children play on tire crumb.
A generation of young Americans relies on you for similar protection.
Later this year, when the federal government issue its preliminary statement regarding
the safety of tire crumb on synthetic turf fields, the most important messages to
communicate to concerned parents are: 1) Tire Crumb is a “Moving Target” – tire
manufacturers frequently change tire ingredients. So any formal study conclusion only
speaks to existing fields. Any field installed after a study, or any field not studies, may
contain chemicals that were not examined in past studies – including any federal study.
So for all the millions of dollars of resources the federal government is about to spend
on this study, any conclusions can only speak to actual fields that were studied. A study
can only be backwards looking by its very nature since there can be zero confidence
that manufacturers will not change tire ingredients. This must be clearly communicated.
2) Compound based risk assessment can only be done on chemicals and
compounds that have regulatory risk frameworks. Tire crumb contains numerous
chemicals and compounds with no regulatory risk frameworks. Therefore, any
formal study will necessarily contain significant data gaps. 3) Given that tire crumb
contains multiple chemicals and compounds with no risk frameworks, epidemiological
studies and animal studies are the only available methods of study to overcome this
intrinsic problem. If there are no significant epidemiological studies undertaken or
planned, this must be communicated. If there are no animal studies planned, this
must be communicated.
If the three points of focus above were communicated clearly and prominently, it would
help educated field users to truly understand that sometimes, a problem is beyond our
ability and present capacity to accurately make predictions or draw conclusions
regarding safely. If the federal government was realistic in this endeavor, it would
recognize this from the very start. And given what we know about the multiple
carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxins in this material, the government should
1

conclude from the start that tire crumb is simply too risky to use in such close proximity
to children. The following links provide examples of chemicals of concern in tire crumb.
http://www.albany.edu/ihe/Synthetic_Turf_Chemicals.php
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/22352997/
http://www.ehhi.org/turf/new_study_jun2015.shtml http://southlakesturf.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/02/Pg-31.jpg
http://southlakesturf.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Attachment-1-Crumb-RubberChemicals.pdf
Sweden Concluded that Tires should Not be Used
Such a position would not be novel or unprecedented. The Swedish agency tasked with
reviewing tire crumb on synthetic fields recommended that tires should not be used as
material on synthetic turf fields for exactly these reasons. Sweden wisely concluded that
given the complexity and the inherent unknowns regarding tire crumb use on turf fields,
they simply should not be used.
Tyres contain substances of very high concern
Tyres contain several substances that are substances of very high concern.
These substances maypersist in the environment, they may be
bioaccumulative, carcinogenic, reprotoxic, or mutagenic. This is true of, for
example, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates and certain
metals. These substances should not be released into the environment and thus
waste tyres should not be used for synthetic turf surfaces.
KemI’s Recommendations:
Do not select synthetic turf that contains substances of very high concern
when laying new surfaces
Material that contains substances of very high concern should not be used, as
specified by the environmental objectives of the Swedish parliament. This means
that granulate formed from recycled rubber should not be used when laying new
surfaces of synthetic turf. The Norwegian authorities have issued a similar
recommendation.
http://www.wellesleyma.gov/pages/WellesleyMA_SpragueResources/Swedi
sh%20Study.doc
In addition to Sweden and Norway, whole countries that have recommended that tires
not be used on turf fields, municipalities like as New York City have has banned tire
crumb since 2009 for their schools and parks. http://www.nydailynews.com/newyork/city-yields-ground-crumb-rubber-turf-wars-article-1.389543
Similarly in 2009, the L.A. Unified School district has banned tire crumb.
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/2009-06-10-artificial-turf_N.htm
The list grows larger by the week. In early 2015, Montgomery County, Maryland’s most
populous, banned tire crumb by a unanimous vote of the council.
http://www.mymcmedia.org/councilmember-berliner-applauds-council-turning-the-page2

on-artificial-turf/ Recently, the city of Hartford, CT banned Tire Crumb as well.
http://ctmirror.org/2016/02/12/a-shifting-ground-for-artificial-turf-in-connecticut/
There are many other communities taking similar action. A Google search will provide
you with plenty of evidence. Industry lobbyists and representatives will likely tell you that
these are just reactionary measures because of sensational headlines of anecdotal
news about goalies with cancer. I will discuss the goalies with cancer below. First,
Sweden and Norway took their precautionary measures in 2006, well before the news
about goalies with cancer in 2014. It was enough for them to understand what is in tire
crumb. They didn’t need to conduct a generation long experiment to decide if it is safe.
They erred on the side of caution, which is a reasonable measure given the multiple
chemicals of concern, carcinogens, PAHs, VOCs, phthalates, heavy metals and
endocrine disruptors. All these things are in tire crumb. There is no debate about that.
Over the last ten to twenty years, parents have been increasingly aware that they
should take reasonable steps to protect their kids from having toxins bioaccumlate in
their kids’ bodies. So countries and municipalities that are avoiding tire crumb are not
simply acting because they are scared, they are taking prudent and reasonable
measures to minimize exposure to dangerous toxins. BPA and phthalates are good
examples. These chemicals are not banned by EPA and really not heavily regulated as
far as I understand.
Exposure
But the science is pretty clear at this point that we should protect children from
unnecessary exposure to endocrine disruptors. When developing kids are on a tire
crumb field, they often ingest tire crumb. They either ingest actual particles or they
ingest micro particles that get mixed into their sweat as it runs over their skin and into
their mouth. The attached document from the safe healthy playing fields coalition
illustrates how small particles actually are. The picture below is from the attachment.
But look at how small the dust is. The larger black spot is a highly magnified piece of tire
crumb. The specs are microscopic dust. The picture of the woman illustrates how easily
the dust can be transferred from a field to a sweaty person and into their mouth.

3

They inhale fine tire crumb dust. They inhale VOCs. They absorb chemicals and oils
from tire plasticizers either directly through their skin or in open wounds. It gets in their
noses. It gets in their eyes. There are multiple exposure routes.
Bioavailability
Based on limited study, industry representatives like to assert that the chemicals in tire
crumb are somehow not bioavailable. But there are studies that contradict that. For
example, there is a study from South Korea that concludes that lead in EPDM rubber
particulate is indeed bioavailable. It should not be any different for metals in particulate
and dust like tire crumb. “Conclusions - Results of this study confirm that the
exposure of lead ingestion and risk level increases as the particle size of crumb
rubber gets smaller.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3278598/
So it is reasonable for parents to take precautions in their daily lives to protect their
children from toxins. People wash fruit, they off-gas products, they avoid flame
retardants, and they avoid endocrine disruptors and PAHs in their children’s products.
The list goes on. So when municipalities ban tire crumb, they are simply acting in the
same reasonable and cautious way that their populations act every day. Why would
parents want to take reasonable steps to protect their children from harmful
toxins in their daily lives, then turn around and expose their kids to all the same
chemicals of concern and even worse? It does not make sense to take one step
forward and two steps back.
Avoiding tire crumb is not a reactionary measure to sensational news; it is wisdom and
common sense. Using tire crumb where kids play is reckless and out of step with a
growing population of educated American’s approach to toxins around children. It is
truly mind boggling that there are individuals in the federal government that consider
this even remotely as a good idea.
Every day, we learn how toxins bioacumulate in the body. Folks take careful steps to
protect their families. By even pretending that somehow a field full of all the same
chemicals of concern could be tolerable under any circumstance is just plainly behind
the times. The only reason there has not already been a mass revolt is that there has
not been an opportunity to educate the millions of people that need the education. But if
the same people who avoid BPA and phthalates in their childrens’ products actually
learned in detail just how full of toxins their kids’ fields are, they would put it all together.
So please don’t pretend that somehow different rules apply just because kids are
running around an exercising. It is illogical to think that exercising somehow mitigates
the harms and risks. If anything, it makes it worse.

4

Goalies with Cancer – Only 5000 blood Cancers a Year
What about those soccer goalies with cancer? Anything short of a serious statistical
analysis would be too bad. It appears that there are only around 5000 blood cancers a
year under the age of 24. There are now over 100 goalies on Amy Griffin’s list. Most
have blood cancers. Given so few kids with blood cancers in a given year, it seems very
unlikely that one person would be able to put together a list of so many people with two
things in common 1) plays one particular position (goalie), and 2) plays mostly on one
particular kind of field (tire crumb). And there are still not that many tire crumb fields
nationally – around 12,000. So Amy Griffins list should be taken very seriously.

http://www.cancer.gov/research/progress/snapshots/adolescent-young-adult
Carbon Black
Any investigation must also look closely at carbon black. Carbon black makes up about
1/3 of a tire. That means about 1/3 of a tire crumb field is also carbon black. Carbon
black is a known animal carcinogen and a possible human carcinogen. Nanoparticles in
carbon black have been theorized to present asbestos like concerns.
http://www.turfandrec.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2986 If this is
not looked at very closely, it would be a monumental oversight. Will the study look
closely at carbon black exposure?
Carbon Nanotubes
“Inhaling carbon nanotubes could be as harmful as breathing in asbestos, and its
use should be regulated lest it lead to the same cancer and breathing problems that
prompted a ban on the use of asbestos as insulation in buildings, according a new study

5

posted online . . . by Nature Nanotechnology.”
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/carbon-nanotube-danger/
"[Ti]res enhanced with CNT (carbon nanotubes) appear to have improved mechanical
properties, such as tensile strength, tear strength and hardness of the composites, by
almost 600%, 250% and 70% respectively, comparing with those of the pure SBR
composites (styrene‐butadiene rubber)." http://www.iosrjournals.org/iosrjmce/papers/vol11-issue4/Version-1/B011410711.pdf
This concern with carbon nanotubes goes back to the “Moving Target” concern I
discussed in the first page of this document. Tires are waste products that are not
designed for use, ingestion, inhalation and absorption by children. Any slew of
potentially carcinogenic material could make their way into the next generation of tires,
and probably will. This should be unacceptable from the start.
Past studies have been negligent in how they collect data. They underestimate
exposure. The 2008 EPA study set up a particle collector and had kids run by
periodically. The particle collector was surrounded by a small 3 foot fence. That is not
realistic exposure replication. In order to replicate a goalies exposure, you would literally
have to kick the tire crumb fly-out into the collector again and again for hours and hours.
Past studies also use simulated body fluids that do not accurately extract all the
chemicals in tire crumb. The Yale study found 12 carcinogens.
http://www.ehhi.org/turf/findings0815.shtml Industry critics claim that Yale used to harsh
an extraction method. But there is no debate that the carcinogens were present. One
can make an argument that prior extraction methods based on simulated body fluids
were not stringent enough.
I am attaching the written testimony of Dr. Wright from the Mount Sinai Children’s
Environmental Health Center.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/101177270/CEHC%20RB%205139%20Testimony
%20Feb%2016%202016.pdf
It says it all. In short:
1. "Given the hazards associated with recycled tire rubber, it is our recommendation that
these products never be used as surfaces where children play."
2. "[W]e found significant gaps in the evidence supporting the safety of recycled rubber
turf products."
3. "Children are uniquely vulnerable to harmful exposures from recycled rubber
surfaces."
4. "In the absence of convincing evidence of safety, we recommend that children not
play on recycled rubber surfaces that contain known carcinogens and neurotoxins and
support a ban on the use of these products."

6

I hope the federal government takes the same reasonable position. Even if you do not,
a large portion of the population will continue to act prudently and will avoid using fields
with tire crumb. You might as well act responsibly and protect those that do not have the
fortune to be as educated on the dangers of bioaccumulated toxic exposure.
Heat - 120 degrees
A few comments on heat - I read that the fields would be tested at two temperatures.
One would be at room temperature or average outdoor temp. The other would be at a
higher temperature to mimic a hot day. I hope you paid attention to the temperatures at
the women’s soccer world cup. The temperatures of the turf were not just hot, they were
astonishingly hot. It was measured at 120 degrees! So please measure it at that
temperature. Anything else would be a sham.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2015/06/06/the-artificial-turf-atthe-womens-world-cup-was-reportedly-120-degrees-at-kick-off/
Industry MSDS
The Synthetic Turf Council has a MSDS that makes clear there are certain precautions
that their installer should take. They include washing frequently, wearing a respirator,
and wearing eye protection to name a few (see next page). But importantly, this is the
industries own material. How can they be asserting on the one hand that children are
safe to play on tire crumb and then at the same time, warning their installers to take
very deliberate and thorough measures to protect themselves from tire crumb as they
install it?
It is very puzzling to try to understand how this material is safe for players who get the
same if not more exposure than installers. Kids who roll in tire crumb, eat tire crumb,
drink tire crumb in sweat, inhale tire crumb, absorb tire crumb, and grow up on tire
crumb are getting absolutely no warnings like the installers. It is a terrible injustice and
wildly hypocritical.

7

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yvszy6bgtsis39a/STC%20MSDS.pdf?dl=0

8

Why should kids not receive the same warnings when they get even more exposure
than installers? When parents are educated on this seeming hypocrisy, they see right
through industry assertions that the material is safe. If you conclude that tire crumb is
safe as well, you will have to explain why installers receive special warnings about
wearing respirators and washing.

9

There should be signs on every field that provide the same warnings to parents and
players.

These are just some thoughts that hopefully provide some insight as to why you should
categorically conclude that tire crumb is too risky to use where children play. Please do
the right thing and recommend that there be a moratorium on the use of tire crumb on
synthetic turf fields and playgrounds.
Please consider attachments 1 and 2 as a fully incorporated part of this document and
part of my formal comments as well.
Regards,
Jonathan R. Damm
Reston, VA 20191
jondamm@yahoo.com
Vermont Law School, JD, MSEL ‘99

10

Attachment 1

11

12

13

14

15

Attachment 2
Comments on ASTDR 2016-0002-0003
Federal Research Action Plan on
Recycled Tire Crumbs Used on Playing Fields and Playgrounds
Submitted to Federal Register May 2, 2016

SAFE AND HEALTHY PLAYING FIELDS COALITION www.safehealthyplayingfields.org
A grass roots coalition working for healthier alternatives for children and communities

INTRODUCTION
On behalf of the millions of children, parents and athletes who play field sports in the US at schools,
parks, athletic facilities and playgrounds, thank you for agreeing to study the potential harm caused by
playing on or being near athletic fields with surfaces made waste tires. There are more than 12,000 of
these playfields in place (15,000 according to the website of a large company that installs them), and
they are being installed at a rate we estimate to be about 3000 a year. By our calculations, 12,000 fields
currently present 2,380,000 tons or 4,760,000,000 pounds of loose, unencapsulated tire crumb on their
field surface. (See our Table of Runoff and Material Volumes attached.) Tens of thousands of students
and young athletes play on those fields, many more thousands have direct or indirect contact with the
material. It is a public health issue of substantial importance.

The following lists our comments on the proposed study. We argue that the fields present known
carcinogenic, pathogenic, and mutagenic material in a high surface area, pulverized form that is more
toxic than whole tires, and should never have been allowed near children, or adults, because of risk of
ingestion and inhalation exposure to all the ingredients in tires. On warm, sunny days the surface
temperature routinely reaches over 150F, which presents direct, well-known heat injury risks to
children. The heat increases off-gassing of the tire components, increasing the likelihood of pulmonary

16

exposures, and creates a complex dynamic in the children’s exposure zone immediately above a field
that has not been correctly modeled or studied yet. The material lacks uniformity, or any regulatory or
exposure controls. We assert that it is impossible to assure even a single tire crumb field is free of
inhalation and ingestion risk of dangerous particulate and gases inherent in tires, tire crumb, and add-in
composites; and that dangerous and unwanted exposures from lead, benzothiazoles, 12 carcinogens,
phthalates, carbon black and other materials, can happen with every use. The data gaps are enormous,
and we hope CDC/CPSC/EPA will recognize there is no way the tire crumb industry can protect any
player, on any field, from the potential for dangerous exposures with normal use. We argue that not
enough scrutiny was placed on this material.

NOTE: The Safe and Healthy Playing Fields Coalition is a grass roots group of scientists, public health
professionals, toxicologists, neurobiologist, educators, plastics engineers, medical doctors, waste
management and remediation professionals, coaches, researchers, and parents who donate their own
time and skills towards helping communities and individuals assess risks to their communities from tire
crumb field use. We do not have a lobbying firm, law firm, hired laboratory, consultant, or revenuegenerating source (such as tire crumb), and rely solely on the skill of researchers who donate time to
compile our comments. That said, we have found compelling data that refutes almost all claims of
safety, and when we asked for additional time to compile the information, we were given two weeks,
but denied additional time. Hence, we are working at a disadvantage, and hope that during this study
year, we will have time and opportunity to substantiate our concerns, and share our research with the
study officials. One of our comments below explains our requests for a conference or virtual meeting
that allows more disclosure and discussion.

Our comments are listed in numerically and organized into: 1. General Comments, 2. Characterization
and methodology comments; 3.Summary List of requests, and a number of supporting documents are
also submitted as part of our comments.

PART I: GENERAL COMMENTS:

17

1. CPSC/CDC/EPA should use their existing authority to immediately reclassify tire crumb
athletic fields as a children’s product, since thousands of fields have been installed in schools
that serve hundreds of thousands of children.

2. We have grave concerns about their safety to human health and the environment, since known
carcinogenic and pathogenic components in the field material yield into both air and water pathways,
and provide ample opportunity for both chronic low dose exposures with every use of the field to
lead, chromium, mercury, zinc, PAH, VOC, carbon black, styrenes, benzothiazoles, and plastics; and
more intermittent, but dangerous high dose exposures from “HOTSPOTS” of component material.
(See comments on Characterization). Each of the fields has material that is known to cause cancer,
illnesses, and injury in humans; and leachate from runoff causes several negative impacts on the aquatic
ecosystems. We believe that the potential for human illness (including several cancers) from both low
dose and high dose exposures to the ingredients in tires is staggering. Basic logic favors our position.
Based on the known potential for exposures to children, and the finding of a group of 200 soccer players
with cancer (the group represents the reach of a single charismatic soccer coach), an immediate
moratorium on new construction of the fields should be put in place with the existing authority of
CDC/CPSC/EPA, until the tire crumb fields can be shown to be safe to inhale and ingest.

3. The tire crumb recycling industry, which appears “green” in its efforts to sell millions of used tires
in “repurposed” shredded form, in fact enables a direct transfer of the contamination burden of waste
tires from landfills/collection sites (in the US and abroad) to the play surfaces of 12,000 schools and
sports centers, where tens of thousands of children and adults have direct contact with the toxins in
tire crumb materials on the field surface, and these exposures could happen with every single contact.

4. For the most part, the schools and sports centers do not have resources to conduct toxicity due
diligence; meaning, they do not have access to a toxicologist who reads the industry studies with their
health as the only priority. Purchasers rely on the tire crumb recycling industry statements, industry
studies, and industry funded websites that claim toxicology assessment and public health guidance. The
sales material can be striking, and the studies appear convincing on the surface, but our study groups
have found significantly misleading information about the safety and actual risk of harm from the tire

18

crumb fields to all users, particularly children. They are likely unaware that claims that the fields are
“SAFE TO INSTALL; SAFE TO PLAY” have been repealed.

5. PEER Filings. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility have filed a number of complaints
and documents that argue for a repeal of endorsements of tire crumb safety from EPA/CPSC, and those
statements were in fact repealed; but most schools and potential purchasers are unaware of the
removal of endorsements and claims of safety. The PEER filings are an excellent source for telling the
toxicity story and regulatory story of this product. We respectfully request that the entire file of
complaints and responses to the complaints, and other supporting material be entered into the record
for ASTDR 2016-0002-0003.

The full list of documents for the ASTDR 2016-002-0003 collection and record can be found here:
http://www.peer.org/campaigns/public-health/artificial-turf/news-releases.html. Please include all
in that list, and all supporting materials.

6. Formal legal requests have been made to classify the tire crumb fields as a children’s product since
children use them, and sales and marketing material are very clear about tire crumb fields are for
children. CDC/CPSC/EPA should use their existing authority to explicitly label the fields as children’s
products. (Please refer to PEER filings for details and supporting arguments:
http://www.peer.org/campaigns/public-health/artificial-turf/news-releases.html)

7. CLASSIC CANCER CLUSTER APPEARANCE: SOCCER PLAYERS
Parents and schools may have trusted the “Safe to Play” statements, but the parents of the 200 young
women and men, who played intense soccer and were stricken with cancer do not trust those claims
anymore.

The case of over 200 young soccer players who used tire crumb fields and contracted cancer, strongly
indicates a classic cancer cluster, though the cases have not undergone the formal validation process,
not yet. That is because a process for the collection of this information, does not exist yet for either
cancer victims, or for other illnesses, head injuries, and heat injuries/illness from the fields.

19

8. We respectfully request that an official study of the soccer player cancer cluster be initiated by CDC
immediately.

Through our activist network, we learned about these cases, which were reported to the NBC news link,
or directly to a single, trusted concerned soccer coach. EHHI reported as follows:
______________________________________
“New Cancer Numbers Among Soccer Players on Synthetic Turf,
April 2016

It is important to remember that the only people counted in the numbers below are those who have
known to call Amy Griffin. There is still no government agency tracking the cancers among the athletes
who have played on synthetic turf. We know the actual numbers of athletes who have played on
synthetic turf and contracted cancer have to be much greater than those who have known to report
their illness to Amy Griffin.

In January of 2016, there were 159 cancers reported among soccer players; now (April 2016) there are
166. Ninety-seven of those in January were goalkeepers; now there are 102. Sixty-one percent of the
soccer players with cancer are goalkeepers. As of this writing, 220 athletes of various sports who have
played on synthetic turf have cancer; 166 soccer players who have played on synthetic turf also have
cancer.

166 Soccer Players who have played on synthetic turf and have cancer



102 are goalkeepers (61% are goalkeepers)



64 soccer players with lymphomas, 39 are goalkeepers (61%––over half are
goalkeepers)



10 soccer players with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 7 are goalkeepers (70%––over half)
20



54 soccer players with Hodgkin lymphoma, 32 are goalkeepers (60%––over half)



41 total leukemias, 24 are goalkeepers (59%––over half)



16 total sarcomas, 7 are goalkeepers (44%)



12 thyroid, 9 are goalkeepers (75%––over half)



11 brain––5 are goalkeepers (45%)



9 testicular––6 are goalkeepers (67%––over half)



4 lung––3 are goalkeepers (almost all are goalkeepers)

Remaining are OTHER rare cancers.”
Source: Various; Victim parent volunteers, EHHI primary collection; 4/2016 (ongoing)
_____________________________________________________________

All the victims were frequent users of turf fields, spending multiple hours a week in close contact with
the material in the fields. All were in their mid-twenties or younger.

9. The self-reporting to a trusted coach, is also an indication that the actual illness rates are not yet
being properly assessed or managed by any hospital, medical system, or group; there is no “home” for
this information, yet. The 200+ cancer victim count is likely the reach of a single coach with the help of
a link in broadcast media, and a fraction of the actual count of victims of cancer or other serious
illnesses. Better investigation and creating a “safe” place to report serious and intermittent illness will
uncover many more victims, and provide needed perspective on the accuracy of risk assessment for this
product.

10. The CDC and appropriate agencies should issue a directive asking for adequate screening for
injury and disease. That US hospital and medical systems are not yet set up to collect this data is a
contributing factor; and concurrently, screening for synthetic field use should be part of a responsible
screening protocol. To our utter dismay, we learned from pediatric oncologists in our group that at least
some oncologist are prohibited from screening victims/patients for tire crumb field use; the screening
must be part of the approved protocol, and tire crumb product is not yet included..

21

11. In fact, the number of all injuries from tire crumb fields should be collected and analyzed to
include, but not be limited to: head injury and concussion; joint injuries (multiple); heat injury; blood
cancer; lymphomas; testicular cancer; pulmonary illness; neurological impairment; kidney disease;
diabetes; brain disease and cancers. These findings need to be documented, and the children who
suffer from them should be screened for tire crumb field use and proximity. No doctor or oncologist
should be prevented from asking questions, screening for, or questioning the safety of this product or
contact with this product. We believe there are many more heat related illnesses, head injuries, and
endocrine system disruptions directly resulting from exposure to the fields than what is being reported.

12. REQUEST MORE INVESTIGATION INTO EXISTING AND POTENTIAL CANCER CLUSTER: We ask that
the multiagency group takes steps to expedite the process of collecting epidemiological data and
verification of the current soccer player cluster, and other potential clusters, to include field
maintenance workers who rake the fields, field installers who pour the millions of pounds of material
onto field surfaces, school custodians, high contact users of any kind, and school children in buildings
adjacent to the fields. Residences near the fields should be considered in the scope of the study or
subsequent studies. In our own informal assessment, and using SEER database and known levels of
cancer victims, we found the potential for 7-11 cancer clusters. We respectfully ask the CDC experts to
look into this possibility and take the necessary steps to prevent additional injury and cancers.

13. NEED FOR EXPLICIT PROTECTION FROM RETRIBUTION: Sadly, the families, coaches, and school
leaders who have reported illnesses do so with concern for retribution from the tire crumb industry,
school boards, university administrations, and even sports league administrators, and may need
explicit protection and remedy against retribution. Researchers who study the potential for harm tell
us that they do not have protection from retribution from tire crumb field industry proponents. Even in
our own group, public health and medical professionals must make statements of concern anonymously
to protect themselves from retribution––professionally and personally from industry proponents.
Adequate protections need to be established to protect the professionals and parents who speak out.

14. PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN IS NOT A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS. Children have a unique
vulnerability to toxic exposures––both intermittent high exposures––and to low dose exposures, and if
we are aware of a carcinogenic presence, then we are responsible for using a precautionary principle,
and removing that exposure risk. With due respect, this is not a cost-benefit analysis that will show a

22

percentage of children will get sick (cost) vs. tournaments played or jobs created (benefit). It is a
decision made by a civil society that upholds protection for children’s health above all other industry
priorities, and a recognition that tens of thousands of children, if not hundreds of thousands, are already
being exposed to material with known carcinogenic, and harmful materials on school turf fields.

15. The CDC/CPSC/EPA should recognize that the fields serve children, acknowledge that there are zero
safety controls on the material and the potential exposures, and immediately acknowledge tire crumb
fields as children’s products, and use your existing authority to regulate them as children’s products.
Therefore, we emphatically REQUEST THAT THE CPSC/EPA/CDC USE EXISTING AUTHORITY TO
IMMEDIATELY CLASSIFY ARTIFICIAL TURF AS A CHILDREN’S PRODUCT, SINCE THOUSANDS OF
CHILDREN ALREADY USE THE FIELDS, IN THOUSANDS OF SCHOOLS.

Since children and adults are already being exposed on tire crumb fields to the materials in tires, we ask
for an immediate moratorium on further construction of tire crumb based or recycled rubber based
artificial turf fields until adequate assurances that tire crumb particulate, off-gassing, and combinations
are safe for children to inhale and safe for children to ingest.

Your three agencies do not need to conduct a study to know with absolute certainty that tires were
not designed to be inhaled by children, and we should protect children, at any length, from chronic or
lose dose carcinogenic exposures.

Even if we cannot model or know (or will we ever know) the exposures to each child, each day (and we
will never know), we do know with certainty that:

1. Carcinogens are in tires.
2. Shredded, pulverized tire crumb contains everything in tires, and more ingredients,
including: carbon black, phthalates, VOCs, PAHs, benzothiazoles, lead, chromium, zinc,
nanoparticle additives, proprietary additives, 12 known carcinogens, 90 materials
known to be harmful to human and environmental health, (EHHI)
3. The material can be inhaled when playing and ingested with contact, or intermittent
adjacent contact.

23

4. Every single direct or indirect use has the potential for exposure to hotspots and low
dose chronic exposures to multiple scenarios of these materials.
5. The exposures could impact children, school buildings, and surrounding areas;
contamination travels to cars, homes, and even children’s bedrooms.
6. It is both within the authority and the responsibility of your three agencies to take
immediate action to protect the public, especially children, from known carcinogenic,
pathogenic exposures.
.
Only a complete moratorium on their use will protect the millions of children, athletes and bystanders
from inhalation and ingestion of the materials that yield from tire crumb synthetic turf fields.

16. It is also evident that tire crumb will never be safe unless ALL tire ingredients, all “recipes”, the
manufacturing of tires, and then preparation of materials for fields are controlled from a toxicity
perspective. This level of voluntary cooperation from the tire manufacturing industry will, of course,
never happen.

17. ONLY UNIFORM MATERIAL SAFE TO INHALE AND INGEST IS APPROPRIATE FOR SCHOOL FIELDS ;
UNTIL THEN, A MORATORIUM. When the play surface material is uniform, consistent, and controlled,
when it is tested by an adequate study with pediatric toxicology assessments to be safe for ingestion
and inhalation, and results are peer reviewed following IRB standards, then we may consider a synthetic
turf field might be safe. Until then, tire crumb should be rejected from any casual or unnecessary
contact with children or adults.

18. RECONSIDERATION: A reconsideration of the moratorium could occur when the industry can
demonstrate a uniform, non-carcinogenic, non-inhalable, non-ingestible alternative that does not
present PAH, VOCs, phthalates, lead, chromium, mercury, 1,3-benzothiazoles, butadiene, styrenes,
carbon black (in particulate, gaseous form, or any form to children); and the product undergoes strict,
peer-reviewed study by independent qualified toxicologists who have a mandate to protect children’s
health and the health of the environment above the interests of industry. The hypothetical product
should be subject to regular reviews and quality control determinations to ensure safety over the life of
the synthetic field. Safety Data Sheets should be provided and accessible for every user. If waste tires

24

are used, the controls requested above will never be possible, since the tire material, by definition, is a
composite of many toxins in unknown quantities and with unknown impacts.

PART TWO: CHARACTERIZATION OF TIRE CRUMB COMMENTS

1. SCALE AND SCOPE: Tire crumb potential to individuals, buildings, surrounding areas and stormwater
for contamination is enormous.

2. PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE: SCALE AND SCOPE CONCEPTS
The potential for contamination from tire crumb is a growing public health issue, in terms of the relative
size of the product and its mass; the total number of potential fields; and their basic contact with
students, athletes, school personnel, buildings, communities, and streams/storm water.

To give an idea of the existing volumes of material, the field runoff and children affected or who may be
affected, we have developed reference tables, and the summary is attached to this filing These tables
indicate the scope and scale, and demonstrate that these are not isolated fields, nor tiny exposure
potentials. The quantities of material are enormous. The source and reasoning is explained, but the
tables are designed for your model development and quick reference.

3. ENORMOUS QUANTITIES ON EACH FIELD SURFACE .
To give an idea of the scale, a modest soccer field uses 30,000 waste tires. According to a randomly
selected company selling packaged tire crumb infill for original or replacement treatments, 30,000 tires
makes about 396,667 pounds of lbs of material. According to our calculations, the volume for 2” thick
field is about 525 cubic yards, However, a large football field, three times the size of a small soccer
field, could use 1,000,000 pounds of tire crumb material.

4. The tires are shredded, pulverized into crumb of various sizes, and the shredded material is poured on
top of a plastic “grass” carpet. Importantly, the material is loose, unencapsulated and can loft into the
air when struck by a ball or foot, or body. We estimate that, depending on the school, each field has

25

regular, daily contact with at least 1000 athletes and students. At sports events, busy tournaments, or
with active use, a field can have contact with many, many more.

5. No fields we found have mandated capture of the leachate or particulate at the field.

6. TOTAL FIELD VOLUMES POTENTIAL:. The universe of potential tire crumb playfields is
approximately 200,000 - 220,000 schools and athletic facilities in the US, based on number of schools.
The potential reach of exposure from use of these fields is in the millions of children, millions of adults,
hundreds of thousands of exposed buildings and adjacent soils, and hundreds of thousands of public
easements and storm water access points (we estimate 1:1 ratio for field to point source drainage).

7. TABLE RUNOFF AND VOLUMES: SUMMARY OF KEY METRICS

For reference, we analysed fields by sport type, by Metropolitan Service Area, and calculated the
volumes for rainfall (by city), and for amount of tire crumb material on a field surface.

Key metrics are the following:



Estimated tire crumb per 85,000 sq feet field and 2” deep tire crumb infill is 525
cubic yards, 396,667 pounds, or 198 tons per field.



The total amount of tire crumb material on surface of 12,000 fields is
estimated to be 6,296,296 cubic yards, or 4,760,000,000 pounds or 2,380,000
tons that are currently in sports centers and schools in April 2016..



Runoff is calculated by city and field size, but the total runoff for fields in the
top 50 MSAs is 15,006,99,787 gallons.

26



Total Runoff for 12,000 fields based on number of fields per MSA, accounting for
rainfall in that MSA, and added together for 2016 is: 23,370,639,827 gallons… for
a single year.

The calculations were made to illustrate the scale and scope of this product, and to characterize the
reach of exposures from the field surface into the airway, and into the water pathway.

8. INGREDIENTS IN TIRE CRUMB: Lack Of Uniformity, High Variation, Multiple Toxins
Tire crumb appears to be a composite material, heterogenous with multiple known carcinogens,
pathogens, and mutagens. The material is not uniform, comes from multiple sources and lots, and can
be mixed with plastics and materials of unknown origin. The material can have anticlumping agents,
flame retardant additives, paint, and strengthening or characteristic enhancing additives. Shredding of
tires can cause small pieces of steel or metals to be included in the material from steel belted tires.
Some tire crumb is from newer depositories from recalled tires, some from landfills, and some have
been subjected to a variety of weather and conditions. Leachate and off gassing could be variable, with
the expectation that newly installed/poured material off-gassing is higher than from an older field, but
we expect those rates would vary with the age of the tires from which the tire crumb was made.

9. HETEROGENEOUS, MULTIPLE TOXINS, UNKNOWN ORIGIN: To say that tire crumb infill comes from
multiple sources, is an understatement: dispensaries, landfills in the US, landfills abroad, collection
centers, factory waste from China, factory waste from the US and abroad. Some of the newer marketed
blends included multi colored sport shoe waste, shoe factory waste, and many unidentified synthetic
materials. Just as tire companies may add anything to their “recipe” for a tire, an infill provider may
offer materials that could have anything added into the blend. Tire plugs, tire polishes, tire coatings, and
materials picked up on the roads should be considered. And even if it is known that there are only tires
in the blend, there is a broad variation in the ingredients based on the use of the tire, and the
manufacturer. Those tires may look the same, but from a toxicity standpoint their variation and the
unknowns in the “recipe” create a margin of uncertainty that makes any claim of known safety for
inhalation or ingestion impossible. If a vendor says he or she knows what is in a lot of tire crumb, and
that is known to be safe, then they ignored the materials in the product. Since we never know what is

27

in any field for sure, and if we know that they have tire crumb, they cannot be demonstrated safe for
children to inhale, ingest, nor play upon.

10. What Is In Tires? SOME GROUPS WENT LOOKING

Since it was difficult from MSDS or any other source to identify the components in tires or tire crumb,
some groups studied them directly.

11. Environment and Human Health Inc, and Yale University Study
EHHI, Inc. in cooperation with Yale University studied samples of rubber mulch, and new tire crumb with
the intent of characterizing their ingredients.
The summary text of their characterization study is found here:
http://www.ehhi.org/turf/metal_analysis2016.shtml
http://www.ehhi.org/turf/findings0815.shtml

The EHHI/Yale Study list of components found is explained this way:

The shredded rubber tire playground mulch samples tested were provided by the manufacturer and
were purchased in new bags of rubber mulch for use in gardens and playgrounds. The rubber tire infill
for synthetic turf fields was obtained as new infill material from installers of synthetic turf fields. There
were 5 samples of infill from 5 different installers of fields and 9 different samples of rubber mulch
taken from 9 different unopened bags of playground mulch.

RESULTS
There were 96 chemicals found in 14 samples analyzed. Half of those chemicals had no
government testing on them - so we have no idea whether they are safe or harmful to health. Of

28

those chemicals found that have had some government testing done on them these are the findings
with their health effects.

TWELVE (12) KNOWN CARCINOGENS
2-Mercaptobenzothiazole/ Carcinogen, toxic to aquatic life
9,10-Dimethylanthracene/ Carcinogen, respiratory irritant and can cause asthma
Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate/ Carcinogen, may cause damage to fetuses
Fluoranthene / Carcinogen, Fluoranthene is one of the US EPA's 16 priority pollutant, A PAH.
Heptadecane/ Carcinogen
2-mercaptobenzothiazole / Carcinogen
Phenol, 4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)/Carcinogen
Phenanthrene/ Carcinogen - A PAH
Phthalimide/ Carcinogen, skin, eye and lung irritan. A Fungicide
Pyrene, 1-methyl- /Carcinogen
Tetratriacontane /Carcinogen, eye and skin irritant. Can cause systemic damage to central nervous
system.
Pyrene/ Carcinogen, toxic to liver and Kidneys, a PAH
Carbon Black/ Carcinogen
Carbon Black makes up to 20% to 30 % of every tire. It is used as a
reinforcing filler. Carbon Black is listed as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC).

Carbon Black, as such, was not analyzed by the Yale Study because Carbon Black is made up of a

29

number of chemicals – some of which were found in the Yale study.
Carbon Black is not one chemical -- it is made up of many chemicals - often of petroleum products.
Furthermore, carbon black has no fixed composition, even of the many compounds it contains. Carbon
black from different sources will have
differing compositions. In our method, carbon black will register as
a series of substances extracted from it. There is no carbon black
molecule, it is a mixture.

TWENTY (20) KNOWN IRRITANTS

1,4-Benzenediamine, N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenylIrritant - causes skin and eye irritation, toxic to aquatic life
1,4-Benzenediamine, N-(1-methylethyl)-N'-phenylIrritant - causes skin and eye irritation, toxic to aquatic life
2(3H)-Benzothiazolone
Irritant - causes skin and lung irritantation
2-Dodecen-1-yl(-)succinic anhydride
Irritant - causes eyes, skin and lungs irritation
3,5-di-tert-Butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde
Irritant - causes irritation to eyes, skin and lungs.
Anthracene
Irritant - causes skin, eye and respiratory irritation. Breathing it can irritate the nose, throat and lungs
causing coughing and wheezing.

30

Benzenamine, 4-octyl-N-(4-octylphenyl)Irritant - causes eye and skin irritation
Benzenesulfonanilide
Considered hazardous, very little testing has been done on it.
Benzothiazole, 2-(methylthio)Irritant - causes Skin and eye irritation.
Dehydroabietic acid
Toxic to aquatic organisms
Docosane
Irritant - causes Skin irritation
Hexadecanoic acid, butyl ester
Irritant - causes eye, skin and lung irritant. Can cause reproductive effects.
Methyl stearate
Irritant - causes eye, skin and lung irritation.
Octadecane
Irritant - causes kin, eye and respiratory irritation
Octadecanoic acid also known as Stearic acid
Irritant - causes skin, eye and respiratory irritation
Oleic Acid
Irritant - causes skin and eye irritation
Phenol, 2,2'-methylenebis[6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-ethylIrritant - causes skin, eye and respiratory irritation

31

Tetradecanoic acid
Toxic to aquatic organisms. Skin and eye irritant.

Anthracene, 2-methyl-

Acute aquatic toxicity, Not much data available - what there is shows it to be an eye, skin and lung
irritant

Anthracene, 9-methylAcute aquatic toxicity, serious eye irritant

13. Carbon Black

Carbon black plays an extraordinary role in tires, and in their toxicity and potential for harm from
exposures. Well known from decades of air pollution studies, urban epidemiological studies, carbon
black causes lung cancer, brain cancer, kidney cancer, heart disease, neurological disorders, and
cognitive degenerative disease.

A known carcinogen (WHO), we have found variations in percentages of the amount of carbon black in
a tire, from 30%-68%. (EHHI/Yale Study; NY STUDY, .pdf, pp19-20.) Carbon black breaks down into many
sized particles, including PM10/PM2.5. That size particle was shown to cause several types of cancer,
including brain cancer, kidney cancer, kidney disease, bladder cancer, and neurological disease and
cognitive impairment disorders. (CITE; Harvard Mexico Studies and Urban Cohort Studies) We know for
sure that carbon black is in tires, in part from simple observation of color.

32

14. THE NY STUDY CHARACTERIZES TIRE CRUMB THIS WAY:
“The components of Firestone’s and Dow Chemical Company’s rubber are summarized in technical
specification documents. Although they are only two of many different rubber manufacturers, a
similarity between the two vendors is readily apparent, even between three different types of rubber,
solution-SBR, cold polymerized emulsion SBR, and high cis2-4 polybutadiene rubber. In general, the
following similarities were observed between the two manufacturers for the compounds used to
produce the rubber:

• The polymer used to produce solution-SBR contained approximately 18-40% bound styrene.

• The oil content in the polymer ranged from 27.3-32.5% in solution-SBR and cold polymerized emulsion
SBR. Oils used include aromatic oil, high viscosity naphthenic oil, and treated distillate aromatic extract
oil.

• Besides the polymer used, the other components of the rubber were similar between manufacturers
and the relative proportions (parts by weight) of these other components ranged as follows:

o Carbon black: 50.00 – 68.75
o Zinc oxide: 3.00
o Stearic acid: 1.00 – 2.00
o Sulfur: 1.5 – 1.75
o N-tert-butyl benzothiazole sulfonamide (TBBS): 0.9 – 1.50
o Naphthenic or aromatic oil: 5.00 – 15.0

33

The components summarized above are the principal components of the major type of rubber (SBR)
used for the manufacturing of crumb rubber and therefore have the potential to have a significant
presence in crumb rubber. As discussed in subsequent sections of this report, some of these
components have been found to be prevalent in crumb rubber, including zinc (from the zinc oxide),
benzothiazole compounds (from TBBS), and PAHs (possibly from the oils used). These compounds may
be attributed to the SBR used in the manufacturing of crumb rubber.”

15. Phthalates are a regulated toxin, and PEER filings covered some of the toxicity and regulatory
discussion. Please refer to http://www.peer.org/campaigns/public-health/artificial-turf/newsreleases.html

16. ZINC

Coastal Marine Resource Center Study, found fatal levels of zinc in leachate from tire crumb fields. This
amount would cause fatal impacts to aquatic ecosystem within 48 hours. This is a notable amount, and
though was assessed in terms of environmental health, indicates presence.

Menichini and Abate Study: “Zn concentrations (1 to 19 g/kg) and BaP concentrations (0.02 to 11 mg/kg)
in granulates largely exceeded the pertinent standards, up to two orders of magnitude”. “Zinc and BaP
concentrations are high in rubber largely exceeding the Italian soil standards”.

17. METALS: MERCURY, CHROMIUM, ARSENIC

The highest median values were found for Zn (10,229 mg/kg), Al (755 mg/kg), Mg (456 mg/kg), Fe
(305 mg/kg), followed by Pb, Ba, Co, Cu and Sr. The other elements were present at few units of mg/kg.
The highest leaching was observed for Zn (2300 μg/l) and Mg (2500 μg/l), followed by Fe, Sr, Al, Mn and

34

Ba. Little As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb and V leached, and Be, Hg, Se, Sn, Tl and W were below
quantification limits. Data obtained were compared with the maximum tolerable amounts reported for
similar materials, and only the concentration of Zn (total and leached) exceeded the expected values.

18. LEAD, POLITICS and CHILDREN

The problem is synthetic turf is NOT REGULATED as a children's product by the CPSC thwarting the
ability to apply lead regulations that CPSC could enforce.

Lead was identified in synthetic turf fields as early as 2008 but was not addressed in any systemic way
due to lack of standards or required testing (although the CPSC could have required the testing
mandated for children's products since 2008). The CPSC has chosen not to mandate this children's
product testing for synturf and in fact advised the industry about not having it designated as a children's
product < http://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2009/03/artificial-turf-tale-of-lead-levels.html> .

This has led to a "buyer beware" situation especially after the CPSC tested synthetic turf carpets, found
lead at varying levels depending on sample age, and astoundingly concluded the whole synthetic turf
system was, always and everywhere, safe not just for adults but for children. The assumptions were
based on inappropriate modelling for blood lead levels from a meager sampling and the troubling
finding presupposes that there is, a safe level of blood lead, which most pediatricians and lead experts
agree there is not safe level.

To this day the synthetic turf industry cites the still CPSC-posted "OK to Install, OK to Play on" press
release which should never have been posted to begin with, has been disavowed, in front of US
Congress, by CPSC commissioner Kaye and is an embarrassment to government science, policy and
public health

35

19. By contrast, The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in contrast warned and continues to warn the "
there is no safe level of lead" to expose children.

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/>

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/information/healthy_homes_lead.htm.
“No safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Lead exposure can affect nearly every system
in the body. Because lead exposure often occurs with no obvious symptoms, it frequently goes
unrecognized"

In 2010 Van Ulirsch et al ( Environ Health Perspect. 2010 Oct;118(10):13459

22. And for the past 2 years the company FieldTurf has, with impunity, noted its synturf fields contain
lead during testimony on various bills in the Maryland State House.

The latest admission documented on video:

"....asked point-blank by one delegate, “Is there lead in your products? The executive
answered, “There’s lead in a lot of things in this world.”.... “Yes, there’s lead in our
products." In spite of this admission and the fact that the legislation in question was
meant to post the CDC prescribed warnings about minimizing lead and other toxin
exposures from the synturf and tire waste products, and in spite of the fact that the
legislation had strong and broad input and support, the legislation was not even allowed
to come up for a vote in committee by the committee chair.

23. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility compiled the literature as of early 2012 on
lead
see: and
specifically: 2012-07-12_lead-limits-needed-on-tire-crumb-playgrounds (NOTE if you go to PEER.ORG
news releases: click on public health and "artificial turf" to find the actual filings with many links}

37

Unfortunately for the children, fields with high lead remain. But those responsible for protecting
children are kept in the dark. NO ONE IS MONITORING OR REGULATING ARTIFICIAL TURF FOR LEAD OR
OTHER TOXINS in either old or new fields, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
(see
For example as reported in that article:

Dr. Shalat's New Jersey State Study (2012) on artificial turf found lead in the field dust in the respirable

38

air space of a robot and real player- highly variable but sometimes very high (note most facilities would
NOT LET THEM TEST).

2014
" Bio-accessibility and Risk of Exposure to Metals and SVOCs in Artificial Turf Field Fill Materials and
Fibers" , Brian T. Pavilonis1,Clifford P. Weisel1, Brian Buckley1, and Paul J. Lioy1

QUOTE from Pavilonis et al:."Since it is possible that children may be exposed to potentially high
concentrations of lead while using artificial turf fields we recommend, at a minimum, all infill and

39

fibers should be certified for low or no lead content prior to purchase and installation."

*The main out-comes of concern from Pavilonis et al:

a) the finding of lead, and chromium in both the tire crumb and the plastic rug and
simulated body fluids at sometimes extremely high levels *EVEN IN NEW FIELD
CARPETS.*

b) Benzothiazole derivatives and 4-(tert-octyl) phenol were also found in in the
simulated body fluids. Both are probable carcinogens (the subject of another fact sheet).

QUOTE: "Lead was detected in almost all field samples for digestive, sweat, and total
extraction fluids with digestive fluid extract of one field sample as high as 260 mg/kg.
Metal concentrations were not markedly different across the three different sample
types (new infill, new turf fiber, tire crumb field sample). However, one of the *new*
turf fiber samples contained relatively large concentrations of chromium (820 mg/kg)
and lead (4400 mg/kg) compared to the other samples tested…the variability of lead
contained in the infill material is large and can span more than two orders of
magnitude* . One field [tire crumb] sample did contain a high lead level (260 mg/kg)
which was on the same order of magnitude as the NJ DEP cleanup value (400 mg/kg).”

In summary: Lead-free is the only acceptable level for child products (and indeed for
people in general). There is NO safe level of lead for children. And yet many of our
children are playing often, if not daily, on fields that may contain lead and certainly do
contain many other toxic substances. Finding ANY lead in any play area for children of
any age is unacceptable. As the CDC notes: Every effort should be made to eliminate ALL
unnecessary sources of lead in the environment, especially a child's environment. *Lead
in artificial turf is not only totally unnecessary but dangerous to health AT ANY
LEVEL*.
40

28. Other sources of information on Lead in tire crumb fields:

www.ehhi.org/turf/
www.safehealthyplayingfields.org
www.synturf.org

[FOOTNOTE SYN TURF]Where on the Synturf page on lead you can find:
No. 36] Mayo Clinics tips to protect children from lead in artificial turf. April 2015.
No. 35] Durham, New Hampshire: Lead scare at UNH, s Memorial Field. November 2012.
No. 34] Beware of lead content in exotic color artificial turf fields! September 2012.
No. 33] Odessa, Texas: Eager fans will not be given pieces of the artificial turf field. September 2012.
No. 32] U.S. Federal panel increases child protection against lead. February 2012.
No. 31] UNLV researcher spreads word about the need to test artificial turf fields. December 2010.
No. 30] Environmental Health Sciences study (2010): Deteriorating synthetic turf dust containing lead
may pose a risk to children. October 2010.
No. 29] Concord, Mass.: Town replaces fake grass fields, officials insist nothing is wrong with the lead
levels! July 2012

28. TWELVE (12) CARCINOGENS found and HOW DO THEY INTERACT:
The Yale Study identified the presence of so many carcinogenic materials in a single material that it
raises many more questions about interaction of PAHs with metals, and combination impacts. The

41

interaction of the PAHs and benzothiazoles with other materials in the fields needs to be characterized
and addressed

29. Strengthening Additives: Nanoparticles
We would also ask for information and clarity about tire strengthening additives of any kind that were
built into the material anytime in the past 30 years, these would have been added to tires.
[http://nice.asu.edu/nano/carbon-black-and-amorphous-silica-tires]

Similarly, we request that the tire manufacturing industry explain their use of nanoparticle products, of
any kind, including the type and size, source company and source country, and ask for an explanation
about how:

a. they can be quantified in the product, and
b. how can they be cleaned up if they are released when the tire crumb and or
plastic “grass” carpet degrades?
c. We would also like to understand what material characterization of their
behavior in tires performance,
d. And or their behavior once they are released into the environment.
e. We ask for any epidemiological due diligence that was conducted by any tire
company on nanoparticle use prior to using them in a commercial product.
f. Plans for continued use and safety precautions tire companies will impose upon
themselves
g. Epidemiological studies conducted on these particles in tires

30. Plastics, Microplastic Fibers, Microbeads, and Small Particulate Plastics

Assessment of microfiber particulate and small particulate plastics needs to be assessed in
characterization studies.

42

31. Flame Retardants

Flame retardants can be added to a tire in production, or applied post production in a shipping setting or
possibly as tire crumb. Since flame retardants are known carcinogens with health issues of concern, and
will be on the surface of the waste tire crumb, tire infill providers need to know if they are present, and
purchasers need to know that the material contains flame retardants prior to purchase.

32. Tires and Tire Crumb Additives
Myriad products exist to clean, protect, condition, and color tires. We wonder if they are components
of tire crumb?

33. Road Waste Picked Up By Tires
Tires spend their lives on roadways, of course, and can pick up many materials in their travels. Debris,
hydrocarbons, ….

34 CARINOGENIC, PATHOGENIC, and MUTAGENIC ingredients in tires cannot be removed by
shredding tires into tire crumb and must be assumed to be accessible.

35. Tire crumb and repurposed rubber appear to be the same thing, with interchangeable use… but
are they the same? We would like clarification.

We would like clarification about the distinction between the tire crumb, repurposed crumb rubber,
and crumb rubber. Specifically if using the term “repurposed rubber crumb” implies uniformity of
ingredients? Does that term imply tires are not used? If so, what are the ingredients in repurposed
rubber crumb and how do they differ from tire crumb?

43

36. We would also like access to all MSDS/SDS of tire crumb manufacturers and tire companies, and
the ability to ask questions about how and where they were made, variations on lots, source and
composite addendums. It is difficult to locate them.

37. EXEMPTION ON LISTING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS: We would like to understand why tire
companies have an exemption on their need to list ingredients under Section 2: Hazardous Materials of
an MSDS/SDS. We were unable to find the source of that exemption, if it has a deadline, and whether
your study group thinks it is an obstacle to understanding and characterizing risk of exposure from tires
and tire crumb.

38. Of those MSDS that we located, several, like this Michelin North America Material Safety Data Sheet
for Michelin, Uniroyal, BF Goodrich, says in “Section 2 HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS: Note: Tires meet
the definition of article as defined by the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200)
and are exempt from MSDS requirements.”

There was clearly no mention of 1,3 butadiene, carbon black, POHs, VOCs, benzothiazoles, or any
plasticizers, nor metals, styrene, sulphur, known irritants, or well… anything. Since that section also
outlines corrosive, combustible and waste treatment, it is important for more than this issue. We
explicitly ask CDC/CPSC/EPA if they can use their existing authority to require tire crumb companies and
tire companies to provide ingredient information.

39. SOURCE MATERIAL UNKNOWN: MSDS/SDS CANNOT REPRESENT WHOLE FIELD. Tire crumb comes
from many tires, and many sources. Since not a single tire crumb field can accurately list or track which
tires were source materials, or what other mixed in components, and there is no accountability from
tire crumb recycling industry for the shredded product, then MSDS/SDS cannot be accurate for a whole
field due to variability. Therefore, the burden of “proof” of risk lays squarely on the ability of the
purchaser (schools, sports directors, booster clubs) to assess risk… of a very very complex product. So,

44

if the exemption stays in place, we will know for sure that we cannot know what is in a tire crumb based
field.

40. TREATMENT TO SHOW NO PARTICULATE OR BREAKDOWN: SHOW US.
As for studies that claim that their product has been treated (such as cryogenic treatment) to not break
down into dangerous particulate, we are deeply skeptical, and would ask for proof. We also ask for
assay testing over a period of at least several summer weeks. We ask for the researchers to simulate the
pounding over 10 years and assess the particulate characteristics and particle size. That testing in fact is
being done right now… in thousands of children across the country. Simple observation on a player
body, on the sideline benches, or under a microscope shows consistent breakdown into particulate.

41. SHREDDED, PULVERIZED, HIGH SURFACE AREA FORM OF TIRES and ADD INS is LIKELY MORE TOXIC
THAN WHOLE TIRES.
Unfortunately, because it is shredded, pulverized, and in loose and unencapsulated form, tire crumb has
exponentially more surface area than whole tires (Thomas, Gupta study; ) and we are concerned the
material is very likely more toxic––possibly many times more toxic––in the school field form than whole
tire form, since the increased surface area provides more opportunity for molecules to escape. We
know for sure that the increased amount of surface area in tire crumb makes the material in tire crumb
more available to the breathing and exposure zones, and to runoff.

42. CRUMB IS SURROUNDED BY DUST PARTICULATE:
Accurate characterization technique must include a study of the particulate that surrounds tire
crumbs, and steps must be taken to make sure that the sampling process does not inadvertently
remove that dust and particles. We found several examples of the samples being washed, some in
unbuffered water, prior to their analyses being done. Of course, that removes the particulate that
concerns us the most. Distribution of the particulate size and type is important. Those particulate
can become aerosolized by numerous gases and we ask that attempts are made to properly model
this dynamic under high heat conditions, primarily.

45

46

47

43. VERY COMPLEX PICTURE From TOXICOLOGY PERSPECTIVE: Tire crumb material is complex from a
toxicology perspective, largely due to the chemical complexity presented by multiple known toxic
components and variation. It has been described as a “toxic soup” of ingredients for which we have no
consistent data on proportions or levels. Characterization of ingredients’ margin of error is unknown..

Testing must be done at the field levels using accepted sampling plans that have been statistically
shown to be valid. Not fields have been tested in sufficient detail to determine or rule out any
exposures or risks. A look at testing protocols for lead in urban soil sites illustrate the level of
attention required and show the degree that current testing has fallen short of that needed for
decision making for children’s health.
44. CONTACT PATTERNS, FIELD USE and ADJACENT BUILDING CONTAMINATION
Exposure is likely determined by ingredients in surface, activity, and number of children or users on
field. Each school or community field has high use and high contact patterns, such as hosting contact
sports, like football, lacrosse, soccer, and baseball, athletic camps, workshops and practices. In those
sports, children dive into the field materials. As a child runs or skids or slide tackles, a column of
material rises up, as does the dust and particulate that surround the tire crumbs themselves.

Testing for exposure need to list weather conditions including humidity, wind speed, and
precipitation, temperature on field surface and ambient air temperature. Number of children on
field, and activity level of that play needs to be recorded, video would be most interesting.

Children of all ages use the fields for multiple sports, recreation and school events. Artificial turf tire
crumb fields abound in elementary schools and at indoor and outdoor sports centers where children of
all ages and all stages of development play soccer, lacrosse, football, track, cheerleading, band, and use
the field for general recreational school activities. In the fields with which we are familiar, families with
members of all ages use the fields; and the community holds events, picnics, special fairs, and activities.
Some fields are immediately adjacent to a school building.). That there are many uses, and probably
many levels of contact and exposure is an important part of characterizing exposures, but both low dose
exposures AND high contact exposure scenarios and use need to be examined, with appropriate
epidemiological process.

48

45.. SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND SURROUNDING AREAS ARE CONTAMINATED with a great deal of tire
crumbs. The fields appear to lose from 1-30 tons of material over their 8-10 year life, and some of it
goes directly into buildings, cars, and then homes. This impact needs to be studied as an inadvertent
consequence.

46. CANNOT ARGUE NO INHALATION OR INGESTION RISK or SAFETY FOR EVEN A SINGLE FIELD. We
argue that given the unique characteristic of nonuniformity, known carcinogenic materials, breakdown
into particulate/dust, no known source of origin, and no accurate studies on complex interactivity of
those components in the children’s exposure zone, in the tire crumb as it is installed today in 12, 000
fields, not a single field installer, nor material provider can demonstrate that the material is safe from
inhalation and ingestion during normal use, active use, and on hot days.

47. EVERY USE COULD POSE A TOXIC EXPOSURE and it would be irrational to argue otherwise. We
argue that due to the high variability of toxins in the tire crumb substrate (from tires, unknown
additives, and factory waste add-ins), and lack of any control of the material, well-known sampling
techniques will NOT accurately predict risks to human health.

48. CHILDREN CANNOT AVOID THE EXPOSURES: Since school children cannot self-advocate and take
responsibility for staying off a field if directed to be there by coaches or school officials or parents, we
must assume that children cannot avoid the exposures when they play on those fields.

49. CANNOT CLAIM THAT EXPOSURES WILL NOT OCCUR. Absolutely no way to responsibly claim that
ingestion and inhalation of particulate from the material will NOT occur to those children.

50. HOTSPOTS of intermittent dangerous exposures are possible, and should be expected and
searched for in every field.

We must assume that tires have different “recipes” based on their type of use. Therefore, knowing the
type of tire used in tire crumb, and each tire “recipe” would be helpful in assessing characterization of

49

ingredients. However, there is no way to ever know what tires, or what material is in any field, and
therefore, an MSDS/SDS cannot be representative of any field, or even any meaningful part of a field.
Alarmingly, the high variability in the ingredients presents worrisome “hotspots” potential, where the
hotspots might be missed in sampling but even a single exposure could have very serious impacts for a
child who has the unfortunate luck to dive into that hotspot. PAH’s may be more prevalent, and
present dangerous levels for installation period of the field, and for some unknown period of time
afterwards, and considered a “hotspot”, then the consistent release of PAHs in the subsequent years
could mean low dose, chronic exposures. Both need to be examined.

51. Lead, chromium, mercury and arsenic could be hotspot sources, based on which tires were used,
and how they were treated prior to being placed in the field.

52. For example, when we asked about the source of lead in tire crumb fields, an infill vendor explained
to us that a) lead could be in any field as an ingredient of the tires, of the treatment of tires, and b) once,
they were aware of a shipment of tires that was treated with an anticlumping material that contained
lead and the whole lot had lead, and c) that some lots had flame retardants added as well. They would
never really know, but “most purchasers never ask”, according to the infill material vendor. If an MSDS
was required, an additional charge was to be imposed, since MSDS were not available from the
materials they acquired from China or other countries. We have collected many more examples of the
worrisome unknown ingredients in our fields and can share with the study teams, if requested. While
this information is anecdotal, that is the point: we have no idea what is in any field, for sure.

53. Another example, but this is not anecdotal: in a primary study field exposures in CT, a researcher
found that the children’s monitors showed benzene. Since there is no safe level of exposure for
benzene, and in fact, tires are not expected to have benzene, the field was sampled more closely, until
that “hotspot” was located. The original source of that benzene was not determined, but it was next to
a busy parking lot where cars’ exhaust may have been a source as they turned the corner, or possibly
the tire crumb material had been previously stored in an area with benzene in surrounding
environment, or perhaps it was picked up from contact on roads. We will never know. That finding
suggests that the carbon black in the tires can adsorb additional toxins present near tires or tire crumb,
and could release that material as the fields are pounded with running feet, or possibly on a hot day.

50

The proper characterization of this material needs to account for adsorption characteristics of carbon
black, and other interactions

54. The point is, that it is impossible to locate hotspots for all toxins in every field, and incorrect to
extrapolate the risk for a whole field from a single sample or even multiple samples, since every
sample is unique. So, while hotspots can easily be missed in a field, the unfortunate child that dives
into that particular part of a field has an exposure that can actually be life threatening, but missed in
its entirety in the sampling based risk assessment.

55. In fact, since the tire crumb creates multi sized “dust” particles, and off gases, it is impossible to
prove that even a single field is safe from inhalation or ingestion exposures from tire dust particulate,
off-gassing components, multiple toxins and combinations of toxins, and heat.

56. Importance of the Heat Factor: Source of direct injury and chemical catalyst

HOT HOT HOT HOT EXTREMELY HOT FIELDS
Grass playfields remain close to the temperature of ambient air, and are often much cooler. Asphalt
playgrounds used to have a use limit of 141F and many schools remove children from playgrounds
when temperatures get hot. With tire crumb based turf fields, surface temperatures can soar on even
mild sunny days.

Tire crumb fields “superheat” to levels that are routinely over 150F on a sunny spring day, and in a
recent study conducted on a sunny day Utah, found to be close to boiling point, 190F, according to the
Penn State Field Turf Heat Study. The study found that tire crumb field surfaces are hotter than ambient
air, and increase in heat in a non-linear function with each additional degree Kelvin of heat, hence the
designation “superheating”. To draw an example, on a Labor Day Weekend in DC area, with ambient
temps of 82F, the field surface temperature hit 164F by noon on several fields used in a busy,
tournament for about 1000 children, both boys and girls, ages 8-15. Those levels are known to melt
plastic cleats, require tubs of water on the sidelines to cool down shoes, and create heat-related injury

51

including heat stroke, nausea, heat exhaustion, and dehydration in children and all users. It is not
unusual for children players to vomit, faint, and suffer dehydration from hot conditions on the fields.

57. Marketing and sales for these fields tout their usability in all conditions as a benefit (more practice
and play hours), but in fact, the heat build up on fields makes them very uncomfortable during many
days and conditions. In DC, there are over 100 days of sunshine each year, and most are during the
spring, summer and fall, making the fields uncomfortably hot and possibly dangerously hot for a third of
a year. A calculus should be made on the percentage of safe days to play based on field yield risk, and
heat.

58. Tire crumb fields do not have any protection from heat, and so they are irrigated to be cooled
down, but the effect is temporary.

59. To our knowledge, there has been no well known place for doctors nor parents to report heat
injury, though they are commonplace. (This author specifically remembers a hot, poor air quality day in
August in 2014 in Washington DC when during a single practice, 4 soccer players vomited, another child
was taken to the hospital after passing out, and another sidelined himself against the coach’s wishes,
due to extreme dizziness and nausea.)

60. Reluctance to Report? Yet, it is curiously uncommon for school teachers, coaches and parents to
remove the children from the fields, due to temperature. We cannot explain that in rational terms.

We have also noted another curious effect: as football, soccer and lacrosse increase in popularity and
competition in the US, competition for spots on high performance teams is fierce. There is a perception
from strong sales and marketing of the fields, that the turf fields present a competitive edge for a
school, a club or even a teenager trying to get into college, and are worth the high price paid. As
psychologist Dr. Wendy Miller, explains, “ it is a culture where high performance parents, players and
schools might be willing to overlook these injuries, thinking that to complain would jeopardize their
child’s access to a competitive team. This thinking could easily lead to the silencing of reporting of
injuries.”

52

Heat injury reporting needs to be included in the survey questionnaires, and victims of heat injury and
illnesses need to have a place to report, with impunity.

61. HEAT MAKES THE CHEMICAL DYNAMICS ABOVE A FIELD VERY COMPLEX
In addition to the serious issue of direct injury from hot playfields to young children, or anyone, the
super hot fields present a very challenging chemical situation.
Dr. David Brown, ShD, toxicologist, professor and former Deputy Director of Public Health Practice
Group at ATSDR/ CDC explains that, “the unintended, and largely unstudied chemical consequences of
what comes off such an enormous quantity of high surface area material, in amounts and sequence that
is scientifically accurate is very difficult to predict and model. Since the chemicals in the area above the
field could change instantaneously, the conditions are critically important (number of players,
temperature, time from last rainfall, etc.), as is the sampling methodology. But no one has been able to
come close to modeling the actual yield, we only know the materials by characterization with samples,
and that variation in samples is so broad as to almost be meaningless, since it could be easy to miss
harmful exposures.”

62. Analyzing the field yield on a hot day is very complex, and challenging to even trained toxicologists.
The superheating of the fields makes gases yield at faster rates as temperatures on the tire crumb
surface increases. So, as a day heats up, it is very likely that the yield increases directly with temperature
increase; a hot day creates more gases. Based on well understood scientific laws, we presume that the
gas yield from the field at surface temperature of 50F (a cloudy day in January in DC) would be
considerably less than a field surface temperature of 158F measured last week. If more gases are
escaping the surface, then there are more “opportunities” for particulate to adsorb onto the surface of
the gases, creating very dynamic series of compounds, none of which would be recommended to
inhale.. The changes in the chemical composition over the fields as their temperatures rise is very
difficult to test and model. These changes happen in an instant… as a threshold is reached… and the
exposures can increase sharply. It is a very sophisticated and difficult challenge to model. But what is the
most important is not only that the 24 gases that escape tire crumb (Norway Study) create dangerous
mixtures but those gas/particulate mixtures, (and air) create a vector for deep lung exposures of all the

53

materials in the tire crumb field. So, on poor air quality days, when there are many children on the field
and a lot of stirring up of the material, the fields could present enormous risk.

63. We are concerned about the range of yield levels, but, we are most concerned about the
intermittent risk to children during those hot periods (a hot, poor air quality summer day during
children’s soccer camp week in Washington DC, for example) when the fields are likely yielding more
gas, and therefore particulate has more “carriage” into lungs, respiration rates are higher, skin is
exposed, and perspiration is highest. All these are likely factors in exposure. It is during those days when
exposures are probably highest, and high enough overwhelm a developing immune system.

64. Exposure Study Needs To Focus On Worst Case Conditions
We acknowledge that the level of yield from the fields might vary widely with material variation, and will
also vary with outdoor weather (temperature, wind, humidity and sun) conditions. Taking averages from
fields across the country will be meaningless, and will only help the industry to expand its message of
“found no harm”. An analogy might be to determine the health of a forest taking 4 samples from 40
locations, evenly spaced, but the sampling might easily miss a blazing forest fire. That one day might
destroy living material exponentially, but it could easily be missed. Dangerous exposures can be
unpredictable in this material due to the scope and scale, the toxic character, and the superheating
characteristic.

65. A better approach is to carefully detect high yield days, and look THAT DAY for exposures in a
child’s body during those periods. Since the exposures might attenuate, the work would have to be
done expeditiously. The harmful exposures may or may not be detectable a day or a month later in a
child. Monitor both genders, for patterns that might lead to that awful air quality soccer camp in the
city on a tire crumb field, on days when vomiting and melting shoes are commonplace. A focus on the
impacts from the high end of those yields we believe will present exposures that are clearly, and
unequivocally harmful from both heat injury perspective and toxicity exposure potential. We do not
know for sure if the carcinogenic exposures from low dose regular exposures or from high dose “events”
are more dangerous, but both need to be studied as separate situations, not as an average.

54

66. We urge your team to focus the study resources on primary measurements made in high use
scenarios on hot days, and refrain from the approach used in earlier studies that look at chemical
compositions during winter or rain conditions on limited number of fields.

67. The only reliable way to assess the risk to children from a particular field, or groups of fields, is to
look at their direct exposures, and importantly look at bloodlevels of the known substances.
Cooperation from both high use athletes and those exposed to chronic levels of materials will be
important.

68. The Study Needs To Focus Also On Low Dose Exposure Risks
Trained immunotoxicologists look at the impacts of chronic low dose exposures to metals, PAHs, VOCs
and many other materials in tire crumb. Their input is crucial to understanding risk of exposure in a
developing child.

69. Characterization Mistakes
Studies look convincing, but miss the forest for the trees.
Tire recycling and tire crumb industry reports are quick to point out that when they find harmful
materials in their samples, they are under the known safety limits. There are two interesting fallacies in
that reasoning.

First, since the samples in several studies are few and not uniform, they fail to acknowledge the
statistical significance of finding known regulated toxic material in 2 million pounds of powdered tires…
if one finds the needle, is it luck, or is it because needles are more prevalent than expected?

Proof of presence is meaningful! For example, in the NY Study, PAHs were found, as were metals,
benzothiazoles, and many substances. Their presence indicates a risk.

In a child’s product, since many materials are not known how they affect children, just knowing they are
there is enough to use a precautionary principle and prevent the exposure. Arguing that the materials

55

appear under a limit (especially if that quantity is an average of multiple samples), or there is no
established limit (because it has not been studied), are not as meaningful as the proof of their presence.

Second, though the conclusions of the industry reports may be of no harm found/safety, a close look at
the data itself on PAHs, lead, cobalt, chromium, etc. is useful, since a) it proves presence, and b) at
levels that suggest risk for chronic exposure. Chronic exposure risk is the subject of a great deal of new
cancer research, and we care about all the materials, including those which are potentially toxic.

70. ARGUMENT FOR MORATORIUM BASED ON KNOWN CHARACTERIZATION FOR TIRE CRUMB
Because of the:

a. known loss of 1-30 tons of material from the fields during the 8-10 year “life of the field”
into air and water
b. ingredients list: over 50% of its components are known carcinogens and pathogens, [cite
Yale Study]
c. massive scope and scale of this product, (the amount of material and surface area of
these fields is enormous; scale/millions of pounds in each installation),
d. inability to control the levels of toxic exposure to children, or even properly characterize
them due to immense variation and chemical complexity of what happens on a hot day
over a field, and around children. We cannot suggest mitigation strategies for the
danger, because the material is inconsistent,
e. Even if we did know for sure what was in each field, and suggest mitigation techniques
and protections…. All the tire company has to do is change their recipe, or many recipes,
as they do continually, and the study is worthless. Children are still being exposed to
whatever is in the tire, the lot or that particular field..

71. Moving Target Analogy

56

Even if the study were completely successful, and the tire crumb material categorized properly, the
trouble is, tire manufacturers could change the “recipe” for tires… and in fact they do this regularly…
and the study results will be useless, or at best, diminish in usefulness.

Any attempt to study tire crumb safety on turf fields is analogous to trying to hit a moving target. Tire
crumb is a waste product. Tires are not designed or intended to be used as infill for turf fields.

Ingestion, inhalation and absorption of fine particulate by children is not a consideration of tire
manufacturers as they choose chemicals and compounds for their tires. Nor are they bound to maintain
any safety considerations for such use by children.

So any study of present day tire crumb is a futile endeavor, because such study tells us nothing about a
field that gets installed immediately after the study. Tire manufacturers often change the chemical
composition of tires and will likely do so again.

Even if a field passed safely concerns in a present day study, a new field could easily fail a hypothetical
study conducted the day after the present study. So unless every field was tested using the exact same
methodology after every installation, there is absolutely no way to assure the user that their new field is
safe. Those new fields could easily have an entirely different chemical composition simply because tire
manufacturers changed their tire ingredients.

So the present Federal Study is only a backwards looking study, not forward looking. Any conclusion
must be transparent and clear on that issue - upfront and center. Otherwise the public is being misled
into a false sense of security.

57

72. Sampling: Not Appropriate For Tire Crumb
The core pediatric toxicology problem in industry based safety studies, is that there appears to be an
assumption that tire crumb is a uniform material, and behaves uniformly. It does not. There also
appears to be an assumption that sampling will be an accurate method for studying tire crumb risk to
children, and it is not. Sampling will not be accurate to assess a nonuniform, heterogeneous material
with multiple known toxic ingredients, high direct contact (dermal, hand to mouth, breathing zone)
for pediatric use. Sampling cannot produce a single sample that is representative of the whole field, or
even a part of the field, other than the sample itself.

73. Methodology needs to study PERFECT STORM exposure conditions, and be able to calculate
exposures during those relatively dangerous days.

Nor can sampling in the way it is proposed (samples from 40 fields across the US), illustrate impacts
from a perfect storm of exposure conditions on a particular field, say, during an intense soccer camp in
in summer in Washington, DC with high ambient and field surface temperatures (ie 160F), bad air
quality, no wind, when working athletes are breathing in particulate with high VOC, PAH,
benzothiazoles, and carbon black… and many more compounds, on a particularly high yield day.
Averages cannot be relied upon in sampling for this type of product, since they will further obscure the
risk from exposures to hot spots of high risk material that are on fields. Averaging the results from a
national distribution in various weather conditions simply obscures the acute risks further; it is useless
for risk analysis. In layman’s terms, it is like studying a forest using “x” number samples, but missing the
forest fire that is blazing away at a nearby area of the park. For a child, it means that she plays on a field
that was called “SAFE TO PLAY”, after sampling, but in fact she might easily have been covered with
multiple materials known to cause cancer, and in fact, that might be a regular event. The uncertainty of
exposure frequency makes the risk higher, not less.

74. The core of the methodology used in the 50 studies asserted by the tire recycling industry were
based on simple characterization of a single sample, but not on realistic, combined, nor worst case
(the most important) use scenarios.

58

75. Multiple carcinogen and multiple pathogen combined effects need to be measured. Single
material measurements could be only a fraction of the exposures, since the material exposures are likely
to be from combinations of materials.

76. BIOMONITORING FRONT AND CENTER

Because sampling presents inconclusive results, a methodology that relies on biomontioring will be
more meaningful. We suggest that more sophisticated approach be considered. Personal sampling
monitors attached to children, dermal, urine, breathing analyses, and particularly, blood and tissue
samples from frequent users, players on “Perfect Storm Days” and those expected to have chronic low
dose exposures. We understand that biomonitoring raises more issues, but absent a good model,
empirical data is the most reliable way to accumulate actual evidence of exposures and to be able to
establish a reliable causal link to the cancers and diseases we predict from exposures.

77. IMMUNOTOXICOLOGY SUPPORT: RECRUIT THE BEST PEDIATRIC IMMUNOTOXICOLOGISTS AND
RESEARCHERS. Some researchers and epidemiological professionals are already on the trail of better
ways to identify actual exposures, and can create biomarker groups as indicators of presence of illness
or exposures. These researchers have background in immunological toxicology, and can track subtle
changes in an immune system that might be precursors to serious disease, like cancer, kidney disease,
brain changes, and lung disease. It is possible to create biomarker group to prove tire crumb exposures
in users and we believe that the preliminary proof of concept step could be accomplished in less than 6
months with cooperative athletes, and study volunteers, and modest budget. While we will not list them
here, for protection of their privacy and frankly, for fear of industry retribution, we will nonetheless let
you know that we have found multiple professionals who are capable and willing to work on this task,
provided a protective forum and IRB standards are in place.

78. Immunotoxicology support: look carefully at the ages those immune system markers in all
children who are using these fields, understanding that some metabolic types, and ages may be more

59

vulnerable than others. In fact, there are early indications that certain age groups, such as
prepubescent females (age 8-11), may be more vulnerable to exposures to benzothiazoles, plastics,
phthalates, and endocrine disruptors in general, and therefore might be at higher risk to contract cancer
or disease from low dose particulate exposures from tirecrumb, and the plastic “grass” carpet
particulate. We need to establish the datum from players to study this. We still do not know, but some
indications exist. For that reason, we respectfully request that the study team include toxicologists and
epidemiologists that are trained to keep these concepts front and center.

79. LOW DOSE EXPOSURE CONCEPTS and CONCERNS
Based on what we know now about low dose exposures to VOCs, PAHs, benzothaizoles, styrenes,
carbon black, plastics, plasticizers, and metals, even at low, sub acute exposures, the fields could be very
dangerous. That possibility was not considered in the CPSC study, EPA study, nor in mulitiple industry
studies. These need to be assessed:



Chronic exposure to metals, plastics and plasticizers



Chronic exposure to carbon black mimics air pollution exposures



Immune system reactions



Endocrine disruption exposures from plasticizers and phthalates,



Exposures from multiple low doses and chronic exposures

80. The study should calculate yield of material that leaves the fields, and how it leaves the fields.
How much in the air , water pathways, and with users (in shoes, cars, etc.) Interviews with schools
and vendors need to establish the replacement quantities of these fields, and how often new material
is put into place, since it would affect exposures, and give an indication of gross yields. We estimate
that the fields lose from 1-30 tons (estimated) of material, so exposures and impacts need to be
measured in adjacent buildings, soils, and stormwater systems. With 12,000 existing facilities, this
may need to be the subject of additional studies conducted to also assess if the fields shall be
regulated as point source contamination under Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act. It is a very
important metric, and a perfect opportunity to include it, with little incremental cost, in your study.

60

81. INTEGRITY STANDARDS. To track the history of the emergence of this product is to track effective
lobbying for regulation changes that favored the tire industry, and the tire recycling industry. This
industry took advantage of an enormous quantity of recalled and used tire stockpiles, and heavily sold
and marketed the materials to schools, and sports centers where millions of children play. Central to the
steps that catapulted this industry forward was the removal of the designation of artificial turf fields as
children’s products, based on the rationale that adults played on them, too. Yet the fields continue to be
sold to elementary schools and to sports centers brimming with elementary, middle and high school
players. The sales oriented industry was willing to submit children, schools and communities to the
materials in tires in enormous amounts, and call them safe. As this claim is deeply questioned now, we
also urge you to NOT allow the sampling or data collection to be conducted by an interested party,
including schools, sports centers, athletic group personnel or administrators, field installers or
laboratories or consultants hired by those groups, and establish peer reviewed standards for testing.

82. Any group or individual who does participate in the study, including regulatory staff, needs to sign
an affidavit certifying that she or he, and her/his group has not received compensation or benefits in
any form, including but not limited to sales commissions, direct payment, compensation, bonuses,
grass to artificial turf grant, field financing, water savings rebates (State of California and possibly
others), or physical benefits including but not limited to uniforms, facility enhancements (restrooms,
concession stands, parking lots, storage facilities, etc.), stadium components, or field equipment of
any sort, from the field installers or tire crumb field industry and its assigns, and has no financial
conflict of interest. The document should be filed with an appropriate agency and made public.

83. We ask for full transparency on all parts of the study process for parents, interested parties, and
schools.
OUR REQUESTS TO ASTDR/CDC/CPSC/EPA
Request
1. Regulate tire crumb and rubber mulch as children’s product

61

Background
PEER filed formal request;
12,000 fields x 30,000 tires is the
amount of existing material in
children’s use; see table A for
details on volumes and surface area
sizes, children/schools. Known
carcinogenic material and known

contact.
2. Remove “safe to play, safe to install” or any other references that imply safety from all
EPA, CPSC and CDC websites and public information sources
3. Place all PEER artificial turf filings in Federal Record

PEER Formal Request; agencies
must remove all endorsements of
safety.
http://www.peer.org/campaigns/p
ublic-health/artificial-turf/newsreleases.html

4. Issue a directive to public health agencies to disseminate warnings regarding unknown
risks from lead exposure from AT fields, as well as exposures to carbon black, known
carcinogens, PAH, VOCs into air and water pathways; direct hospital systems and medical
systems to screen for tire crumb field use, and report results
5. Use only independent lab or consultants unassociated with tirecrumb industry, adhering
to high ethics guidelines; transparent process for review; affidavit of no conflict of interest
6. Commission a primary study, conducted by independent, peer reviewed group such as
CDC to examine existing cancers AND illness in tire crumb field users and maintenance
workers of tire crumb fields
7. Mandate Cal Recycle Study corrections to methodology; mandate methodology peer
review; and mandate to impose Prop 65 rule based on OEHHA’s own findings on
carcinogenic exposure
8. Convene a conference for presentation of risks and concerns from parent groups, cancer
survivors to Federal Research Team
9. Convene series of webinars and open comment opportunities
10. Allow public health and environmental advocacy groups in Federal Research Team
with complete transparency
11. Establish a collection point for recording experience of victims and those who may
have suffered injury from use of the fields, including heat injury, concussion or head
trauma, cognitive disorder, illness, and cancer for study and documentation; victim
hotline; for both child and adult contact with fields
12. Funding to identify potential biomarkers of exposure; conclusive marker study in users
13. Conduct blood monitoring and studies on existing cancer survivors.
14. Conduct cancer cluster study on soccer player cluster, and identify additional clusters
such as maintenance workers and installers
15. Provide full transparency with all interested parties
16. Conduct full epidemiological study of tire crumb on playfields existing and predictive
17. Study forms and questionnaires should include data collection on what is released
from fields into air, adjacent areas, water pathways, and quantified. Replacement
quantities for tire crumb fields should be quantified and examined as a metric that
indicates yield.
18. Based on release/yield figures, and other inputs, tire crumb fields should be evaluated
for compliance with Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, and regulated accordingly.
19. We request that OEHHA study methodology be peer reviewed by your agencies
before it begins, taking into account the comments received in this proceeding.
20. OEHHA Study Process and Methodology Concerns: How will those be considered?
21. Consider explicit protection from retribution steps be put in place to protect
researchers, players, and concerned parents from retribution

62

For parents, schools, athletic groups,
and communities; conduct parent
outreach webinars

Needs participation from
CDC/CPSC/EPA staff so parents
and public can have direct contact

Page 1 of 1

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:44 PM
Received: May 02, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 03, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8per-4adj
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0080
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Amy Stephan
Organization: Safe and Healthy Playing Fields Coalition

General Comment
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this important proceeding on behalf of the Safe
and Healthy Playing Fields Coalition we respectfully submit our comment and supporting
material in the attached document. We hope to have the opportunity to provide additional
comments and participate directly in this important study.

Attachments
SHPFC FINAL ASTDR 2016-0002-0003Comments

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa356c&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Comments on ASTDR 2016-0002-0003
Federal Research Action Plan on
Recycled Tire Crumbs Used on Playing Fields and Playgrounds
Submitted to Federal Register May 2, 2016

SAFE AND HEALTHY PLAYING FIELDS COALITION
www.safehealthyplayingfields.org
A grass roots coalition working for healthier alternatives for children and
communities

INTRODUCTION
On behalf of the millions of children, parents and athletes who play field
sports in the US at schools, parks, athletic facilities and playgrounds, thank
you for agreeing to study the potential harm caused by playing on or being
near athletic fields with surfaces made waste tires. There are more than
12,000 of these playfields in place (15,000 according to the website of a
large company that installs them), and they are being installed at a rate we
estimate to be about 3000 a year. By our calculations, 12,000 fields
currently present 2,380,000 tons or 4,760,000,000 pounds of loose,
unencapsulated tire crumb on their field surface. (See our Table of Runoff
and Material Volumes attached.) Tens of thousands of students and young
athletes play on those fields, many more thousands have direct or indirect
contact with the material. It is a public health issue of substantial
importance.

The following lists our comments on the proposed study. We argue that the
fields present known carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and endocrine disrupting
material in a high surface area, pulverized form that is more toxic than
whole tires, and should never have been allowed near children, or adults,
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 1

because of risk of ingestion and inhalation exposure to all the ingredients in
tires. On warm, sunny days the surface temperature routinely reaches over
150 F, which presents direct, well-known heat injury risks to children. The
heat increases off-gassing of the tire components, increasing the likelihood
of pulmonary exposures, and creates a complex dynamic in the children’s
exposure zone immediately above a field that has not been correctly
modeled or studied yet. The material lacks uniformity, or any regulatory or
exposure controls. We assert that it is impossible to assure even a single
tire crumb field is free of inhalation and ingestion risk of dangerous
particulate and gases inherent in tires, tire crumb, and add-in composites;
and that dangerous and unwanted exposures from lead, benzothiazoles,
carcinogens, phthalates, carbon black and other harmful substances, can
happen with every use. The data gaps are enormous, and we hope
CDC/CPSC/EPA will recognize there is no way the tire crumb industry can
protect any player, on any field, from the potential for dangerous exposures
with normal use. We argue that not enough scrutiny was placed on this
material.

NOTE: The Safe and Healthy Playing Fields Coalition is a grass roots group
of parents, coaches, scientists, public health professionals, toxicologists,
neurobiologists, educators, researchers, plastics engineers, medical
doctors, waste management and remediation professionals who donate
their own time and skills towards helping communities and individuals
assess risks to their communities from tire crumb field use. We do not
have a lobbying firm, law firm, hired laboratory, consultant, or revenuegenerating source (such as tire crumb), and rely solely on the skill of
researchers who donate time to compile our comments. That said, we have
found compelling data that refutes almost all claims of safety, and when we
asked for additional time to compile the information, we were given two
weeks, but denied additional time. Hence, we are working at a
2 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003

disadvantage, and hope that during this study year, we will have time and
opportunity to substantiate our concerns, and share our research with the
study officials. One of our comments below explains our requests for a
conference or virtual meeting that allows more disclosure and discussion.

Our comments are listed numerically and organized into: 1. General
Comments, 2. Characterization and methodology comments; 3.Summary
List of requests. A number of supporting documents are also submitted as
part of our comments.

PART I: GENERAL COMMENTS:
1. CPSC/CDC/EPA should use their existing authority to immediately
enforce regulations on tire crumb playgrounds and athletic fields as a
children’s product, since thousands of fields have been installed in
child-care facilities and schools that serve hundreds of thousands of
children.

2. We have grave concerns about their safety to human health and the
environment, since known harmful components in the field material
are released into both air and water pathways, and provide ample
opportunity for both acute and chronic low to high dose exposures
with every use of the field to known toxics such as lead, chromium,
mercury, zinc, PAH, VOC, carbon black, styrene, benzothiazoles, and
plasticizers. Intermittent ‘Hotspots’ of high levels of toxins such as
lead are of particular concern for exposure. (See comments on
Characterization). Every tire crumb playground and synthetic turf field has
material that is known to cause cancer, illnesses, and injury in humans; and
leachate from runoff causes several negative impacts on the aquatic
ecosystems. We believe that the potential for human illness (including
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 3

several cancers) from both low dose and high dose exposures to the
ingredients in tires is staggering. Based on the known potential for
exposures to children, and the finding of a group of now over 200 soccer
players with cancer (the group represents the reach of a single soccer
coach, implying that this group may be the ‘tip of an iceberg’ of affected
individuals), an immediate moratorium on new construction of the fields
should be put in place with the existing authority of CDC/CPSC/EPA, until
the tire crumb fields can be shown to be safe to inhale and ingest.

3. The tire crumb recycling industry, which appears “green” in its
efforts to sell millions of used tires in “repurposed” shredded form, in
fact enables a direct transfer of the contamination burden of waste
tires from landfills/collection sites (in the US and abroad) to the play
surfaces of 12,000 schools and sports centers, where tens of
thousands of children and adults have direct contact with the toxins in
tire crumb materials on the field surface, and these exposures could
happen with every single contact.

4. For the most part, the schools and sports centers do not have
resources to conduct toxicity due diligence; meaning, they do not have
access to a toxicologist who reads the industry studies with their health as
the only priority. Purchasers rely on the tire crumb recycling industry
statements, industry studies, and industry funded websites that claim
toxicology assessment and public health guidance. The sales material can
be striking, and the studies appear convincing on the surface, but our study
groups have found significantly misleading information about the safety
and actual risk of harm from the tire crumb fields to all users, particularly
children. They are likely unaware that the previous CPSC claims that the
fields are “SAFE TO INSTALL; SAFE TO PLAY ON” have been repealed.

4 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003

5. PEER Filings. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility have
filed a number of complaints and documents that argue for a repeal of
endorsements of tire crumb safety from EPA/CPSC, and those statements
were in fact repealed; but most schools and potential purchasers are
unaware of the removal of endorsements and claims of safety. The PEER
filings are an excellent source for telling the toxicity story and regulatory
story of this product. We respectfully request that the entire file of
complaints and responses to the complaints, and other supporting material
be entered into the record for ASTDR 2016-0002-0003.

The full list of documents for the ASTDR 2016-002-0003 collection
and record can be found here:
http://www.peer.org/campaigns/public-health/artificial-turf/newsreleases.html. Please include all in that list, and all supporting
materials.

6. Formal legal requests have been made to classify the tire crumb fields as
a children’s product since children use them, and sales and marketing
material are very clear about tire crumb fields are for children.
CDC/CPSC/EPA should use their existing authority to explicitly label
the fields as children’s products. (Please refer to PEER filings for details
and supporting arguments: http://www.peer.org/campaigns/publichealth/artificial-turf/news-releases.html)

7. CLASSIC CANCER CLUSTER APPEARANCE: SOCCER PLAYERS
Parents and schools may have trusted the “Safe to Play” statements, but
the parents of the 200 young women and men, who played intense
soccer and were stricken with cancer do not trust those claims
anymore.
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 5

The case of over 200 young soccer players who used tire crumb fields and
contracted cancer, strongly indicates a classic cancer cluster, though the
cases have not undergone the formal validation process yet. That is
because a process for the collection of this information, does not exist yet
for either cancer victims, or for other illnesses, head injuries, and heat
injuries/illness from the fields.

8. We respectfully request that an official study of the soccer player
cancer cluster be initiated by CDC immediately.

Through our activist network, we learned about these cases, which were
reported to the NBC news link, or directly to a single, trusted concerned
soccer coach. EHHI reported as follows:
______________________________________
“New Cancer Numbers Among Soccer Players on Synthetic Turf,
April 2016
It is important to remember that the only people counted in the numbers
below are those who have known to call Amy Griffin. There is still no
government agency tracking the cancers among the athletes who have
played on synthetic turf. We know the actual numbers of athletes who have
played on synthetic turf and contracted cancer have to be much greater
than those who have known to report their illness to Amy Griffin.
In January of 2016, there were 159 cancers reported among soccer players;
now (April 2016) there are 166. Ninety-seven of those in January
were goalkeepers; now there are 102. Sixty-one percent of the soccer
players with cancer are goalkeepers. As of this writing, 220 athletes of
various sports who have played on synthetic turf have cancer; 166 soccer
6 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003

players who have played on synthetic turf also have cancer.
166 Soccer Players who have played on synthetic turf and have cancer


102 are goalkeepers (61% are goalkeepers)



64 soccer players with lymphomas, 39 are goalkeepers (61%––over
half are goalkeepers)



10 soccer players with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 7 are
goalkeepers (70%––over half)



54 soccer players with Hodgkin lymphoma, 32 are
goalkeepers (60%––over half)



41 total leukemias, 24 are goalkeepers (59%––over half)



16 total sarcomas, 7 are goalkeepers (44%)



12 thyroid, 9 are goalkeepers (75%––over half)



11 brain––5 are goalkeepers (45%)



9 testicular––6 are goalkeepers (67%––over half)



4 lung––3 are goalkeepers (almost all are goalkeepers)

Remaining are OTHER rare cancers.”
Source: Various; Victim parent volunteers, EHHI primary collection;
4/2016 (ongoing) _____________________________________________________________

All the victims were frequent users of turf fields, spending multiple hours a
week in close contact with the material in the fields. All were in their midtwenties or younger.

9. The self-reporting to a trusted coach, is also an indication that the
actual illness rates are not yet being properly assessed or managed by
any hospital, medical system, or group; there is no “home” for this
information, yet. The 200+ cancer victim count is likely the reach of a
single coach with the help of a link in broadcast media, and a fraction of the
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 7

actual count of victims of cancer or other serious illnesses. Better
investigation and creating a “safe” place to report serious and intermittent
illness will uncover many more victims, and provide needed perspective on
the accuracy of risk assessment for this product.

10. The CDC and appropriate agencies should issue a directive asking
for adequate screening for injury and disease. That US hospital and
medical systems are not yet set up to collect this data is a contributing
factor; and concurrently, screening for synthetic field use should be part of
a responsible screening protocol. To our utter dismay, we learned from
pediatric oncologists in our group that at least some oncologist are
prohibited from screening victims/patients for tire crumb field use; the
screening must be part of the approved protocol, and tire crumb product is
not yet included..

11. In fact, the number of all injuries from tire crumb fields should be
collected and analyzed to include, but not be limited to: head injury
and concussion; joint injuries (multiple); heat injury; blood cancer;
lymphomas; testicular cancer; pulmonary illness; neurological
impairment; kidney disease; diabetes; brain disease and cancers.
These findings need to be documented, and the children who suffer
from them should be screened for tire crumb field use and proximity.
No doctor or oncologist should be prevented from asking questions,
screening for, or questioning the safety of this product or contact with this
product. We believe there are many more heat related illnesses, head
injuries, and endocrine system disruptions directly resulting from exposure
to the fields than what is being reported.

12. REQUEST MORE INVESTIGATION INTO EXISTING AND POTENTIAL
CANCER CLUSTER: We ask that the multiagency group takes steps to
8 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003

expedite the process of collecting epidemiological data and verification of
the current soccer player cluster, and other potential clusters, to include
field maintenance workers who rake the fields, field installers who pour the
millions of pounds of material onto field surfaces, school custodians, high
contact users of any kind, and school children in buildings adjacent to the
fields. Residences near the fields should be considered in the scope of the
study or subsequent studies. In our own informal assessment, and
using the SEER database and known levels of cancer victims, we found
the potential for 7-11 cancer clusters. We respectfully ask the CDC
experts to look into this possibility and take the necessary steps to prevent
additional injury and cancers.

13. NEED FOR EXPLICIT PROTECTION FROM RETRIBUTION: Sadly, the
families, coaches, and school leaders who have reported illnesses do so
with concern for retribution from the tire crumb industry, school
boards, university administrations, and even sports league
administrators, and may need explicit protection and remedy against
retribution. Researchers who study the potential for harm tell us that they
do not have protection from retribution from tire crumb field industry
proponents. Public health and medical professionals sometimes make
statements of concern anonymously to protect themselves from
retribution––professionally and personally from industry proponents.
Adequate protections need to be established to protect the professionals
and parents who speak out.

14. PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN IS NOT A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS.
Children have a unique vulnerability to toxic exposures––both intermittent
high exposures––and to low dose exposures, and if we are aware of a
carcinogenic presence, then we are responsible for using a precautionary
principle, and removing that exposure risk. With due respect, this is not a
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 9

cost-benefit analysis that will show a percentage of children will get sick
(cost) vs. tournaments played or jobs created (benefit). It is a decision
made by a civil society that upholds protection for children’s health above
all other industry priorities, and a recognition that tens of thousands of
children, if not hundreds of thousands, are already being exposed to
material with known carcinogenic, and harmful materials on school turf
fields.

15. The CDC/CPSC/EPA should recognize that the fields serve children,
acknowledge that there are zero safety controls on the material and the
potential exposures, and immediately acknowledge tire crumb fields as
children’s products, and use your existing authority to regulate them as
children’s products. Therefore, we emphatically REQUEST THAT THE
CPSC/EPA/CDC USE EXISTING AUTHORITY TO IMMEDIATELY
CLASSIFY ARTIFICIAL TURF AS A CHILDREN’S PRODUCT, SINCE
THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN ALREADY USE THE FIELDS, IN THOUSANDS
OF SCHOOLS.

Since children and adults are already being exposed on tire crumb fields to
the materials in tires, we ask for an immediate moratorium on further
construction of tire crumb based or recycled rubber based artificial
turf fields until adequate assurances that tire crumb particulate, offgassing, and combinations are safe for children to inhale and safe for
children to ingest.

Your three agencies do not need to conduct a study to know with
absolute certainty that tires were not designed to be inhaled by
children, and we should protect children, at any length, from chronic
or lose dose carcinogenic exposures.
1 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
0

Even if we cannot model or know (or will we ever know) the exposures to
each child, each day (and we will never know), we do know with certainty
that:
1. Carcinogens are in tires.
2. Shredded, pulverized tire crumb contains everything in tires, and
more ingredients, including: carbon black, phthalates, VOCs, PAHs,
benzothiazoles, lead, chromium, zinc, nanoparticle additives,
proprietary additives, 12 known carcinogens, 90 materials known to
be harmful to human and environmental health, (EHHI)
3. The material can be inhaled when playing and ingested with contact,
or intermittent adjacent contact.
4. Every single direct or indirect use has the potential for exposure to
hotspots and low dose chronic exposures to multiple scenarios of
these materials.
5. The exposures could impact children, school buildings, and
surrounding areas; contamination travels to cars, homes, and even
children’s bedrooms.
6. It is both within the authority and the responsibility of your three
agencies to take immediate action to protect the public, especially
children, from known carcinogenic, pathogenic exposures.
.
Only a complete moratorium on their use will protect the millions of
children, athletes and bystanders from inhalation and ingestion of the
materials that yield from tire crumb synthetic turf fields.

16. It is also evident that tire crumb will never be safe unless ALL tire
ingredients, all “recipes”, the manufacturing of tires, and then preparation
of materials for fields are controlled from a toxicity perspective. This level
of voluntary cooperation from the tire manufacturing industry will, of
course, never happen.
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 1
1

17. ONLY UNIFORM MATERIAL SAFE TO INHALE AND INGEST IS
APPROPRIATE FOR SCHOOL FIELDS ; UNTIL THEN, A MORATORIUM.
When the play surface material is uniform, consistent, and controlled, when
it is tested by an adequate study with pediatric toxicology assessments to
be safe for ingestion and inhalation, and results are peer reviewed
following IRB standards, then we may consider a synthetic turf field might
be safe. Until then, tire crumb should be rejected from any casual or
unnecessary contact with children or adults.

18. RECONSIDERATION: A reconsideration of the moratorium could occur
when the industry can demonstrate a uniform, non-carcinogenic, noninhalable, non-ingestible alternative that does not present PAH, VOCs,
phthalates, lead, chromium, mercury, 1,3-benzothiazoles, butadiene,
styrenes, carbon black (in particulate, gaseous form, or any form to
children); and the product undergoes strict, peer-reviewed study by
independent qualified toxicologists who have a mandate to protect
children’s health and the health of the environment above the interests of
industry. The hypothetical product should be subject to regular reviews
and quality control determinations to ensure safety over the life of the
synthetic field. Safety Data Sheets should be provided and accessible for
every user. If waste tires are used, the controls requested above will never
be possible, since the tire material, by definition, is a composite of many
toxins in unknown quantities and with unknown impacts.

PART TWO: CHARACTERIZATION OF TIRE CRUMB COMMENTS
1. SCALE AND SCOPE: Tire crumb potential to individuals, buildings,
surrounding areas and stormwater for contamination is enormous.
1 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
2

2. PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE: SCALE AND SCOPE CONCEPTS
The potential for contamination from tire crumb is a growing public health
issue, in terms of the relative size of the product and its mass; the total
number of potential fields; and their basic contact with students, athletes,
school personnel, buildings, communities, and streams/storm water.

To give an idea of the existing volumes of material, the field runoff and
children affected or who may be affected, we have developed reference
tables, and the summary is attached to this filing These tables indicate the
scope and scale, and demonstrate that these are not isolated fields, nor tiny
exposure potentials. The quantities of material are enormous. The source
and reasoning is explained, but the tables are designed for your model
development and quick reference.

3. ENORMOUS QUANTITIES ON EACH FIELD SURFACE .
To give an idea of the scale, a modest soccer field uses 30,000 waste tires.
According to a randomly selected company selling packaged tire crumb
infill for original or replacement treatments, 30,000 tires makes about
396,667 pounds of lbs of material. According to our calculations, the
volume for 2” thick field is about 525 cubic yards, However, a large
football field, three times the size of a small soccer field, could use
1,000,000 pounds of tire crumb material.

4. The tires are shredded, pulverized into crumb of various sizes, and the
shredded material is poured on top of a plastic “grass” carpet. Importantly,
the material is loose, unencapsulated and can loft into the air when struck
by a ball or foot, or body. We estimate that, depending on the school, each
field has regular, daily contact with at least 1000 athletes and students. At

SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 1
3

sports events, busy tournaments, or with active use, a field can have
contact with many, many more.

5. No fields we found have mandated capture of the leachate or
particulate at the field.

6. TOTAL FIELD VOLUMES POTENTIAL:. The universe of potential tire
crumb playfields is approximately 200,000 - 220,000 schools and athletic
facilities in the US, based on number of schools. The potential reach of
exposure from use of these fields is in the millions of children, millions of
adults, hundreds of thousands of exposed buildings and adjacent soils, and
hundreds of thousands of public easements and storm water access points
(we estimate 1:1 ratio for field to point source drainage).

7. TABLE RUNOFF AND VOLUMES: SUMMARY OF KEY METRICS

For reference, we analysed fields by sport type, by Metropolitan Service
Area, and calculated the volumes for rainfall (by city), and for amount of
tire crumb material on a field surface.

Key metrics are the following:



Estimated tire crumb per 85,000 sq feet field and 2” deep tire crumb
infill is 525 cubic yards, 396,667 pounds, or 198 tons per field.



The total amount of tire crumb material on surface of 12,000
fields is estimated to be 6,296,296 cubic yards, or
4,760,000,000 pounds or 2,380,000 tons that are currently in
sports centers and schools in April 2016..

1 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
4



Runoff is calculated by city and field size, but the total runoff
for fields in the top 50 MSAs is 15,006,99,787 gallons.



Total Runoff for 12,000 fields based on number of fields per MSA,
accounting for rainfall in that MSA, and added together for 2016 is:
23,370,639,827 gallons… for a single year.

The calculations were made to illustrate the scale and scope of this product,
and to characterize the reach of exposures from the field surface into the
airway, and into the water pathway.

8. INGREDIENTS IN TIRE CRUMB: Lack Of Uniformity, High Variation,
Multiple Toxins
Tire crumb appears to be a composite material, heterogenous with multiple
known carcinogens, pathogens, and mutagens. The material is not uniform,
comes from multiple sources and lots, and can be mixed with plastics and
materials of unknown origin. The material can have anticlumping agents,
flame retardant additives, paint, and strengthening or characteristic
enhancing additives. Shredding of tires can cause small pieces of steel or
metals to be included in the material from steel belted tires. Some tire
crumb is from newer depositories from recalled tires, some from landfills,
and some have been subjected to a variety of weather and conditions.
Leachate and off gassing could be variable, with the expectation that newly
installed/poured material off-gassing is higher than from an older field, but
we expect those rates would vary with the age of the tires from which the
tire crumb was made.

SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 1
5

9. HETEROGENEOUS, MULTIPLE TOXINS, UNKNOWN ORIGIN: To say that
tire crumb infill comes from multiple sources, is an understatement:
dispensaries, landfills in the US, landfills abroad, collection centers, factory
waste from China, factory waste from the US and abroad. Some of the
newer marketed blends included multi colored sport shoe waste, shoe
factory waste, and many unidentified synthetic materials. Just as tire
companies may add anything to their “recipe” for a tire, an infill provider
may offer materials that could have anything added into the blend. Tire
plugs, tire polishes, tire coatings, and materials picked up on the roads
should be considered. And even if it is known that there are only tires in
the blend, there is a broad variation in the ingredients based on the use of
the tire, and the manufacturer. Those tires may look the same, but from a
toxicity standpoint their variation and the unknowns in the “recipe” create
a margin of uncertainty that makes any claim of known safety for inhalation
or ingestion impossible. If a vendor says he or she knows what is in a lot of
tire crumb, and that is known to be safe, then they ignored the materials in
the product. Since we never know what is in any field for sure, and if we
know that they have tire crumb, they cannot be demonstrated safe for
children to inhale, ingest, nor play upon.

10. What Is In Tires? SOME GROUPS WENT LOOKING
Since it was difficult from MSDS or any other source to identify the
components in tires or tire crumb, some groups studied them directly.
11. Environment and Human Health Inc, and Yale University Study
EHHI, Inc. in cooperation with Yale University studied samples of rubber
mulch, and new tire crumb with the intent of characterizing their
ingredients.
The summary text of their characterization study is found here:
1 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
6

http://www.ehhi.org/turf/metal_analysis2016.shtml
http://www.ehhi.org/turf/findings0815.shtml
The EHHI/Yale Study list of components found is explained this way:
The shredded rubber tire playground mulch samples tested were provided
by the manufacturer and were purchased in new bags of rubber mulch for
use in gardens and playgrounds. The rubber tire infill for synthetic turf
fields was obtained as new infill material from installers of synthetic turf
fields. There were 5 samples of infill from 5 different installers of fields and
9 different samples of rubber mulch taken from 9 different unopened bags
of playground mulch.
RESULTS
 There were 96 chemicals found in 14 samples analyzed. Half of
those chemicals had no government testing on them - so we have no idea
whether they are safe or harmful to health. Of those chemicals found that
have had some government testing done on them these are the findings
with their health effects.

TWELVE (12) KNOWN CARCINOGENS
2-Mercaptobenzothiazole/ Carcinogen, toxic to aquatic life
9,10-Dimethylanthracene/ Carcinogen, respiratory irritant and can cause
asthma
Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate/ Carcinogen, may cause damage to fetuses
Fluoranthene / Carcinogen, Fluoranthene is one of the US EPA's 16
priority pollutant, A PAH.
Heptadecane/ Carcinogen
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 1
7

2-mercaptobenzothiazole / Carcinogen
Phenol, 4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)/Carcinogen
Phenanthrene/ Carcinogen - A PAH
Phthalimide/ Carcinogen, skin, eye and lung irritan. A Fungicide
Pyrene, 1-methyl- /Carcinogen
Tetratriacontane /Carcinogen, eye and skin irritant. Can cause systemic
damage to central nervous system.
Pyrene/ Carcinogen, toxic to liver and Kidneys, a PAH
Carbon Black/ Carcinogen
Carbon Black makes up to 20% to 30 % of every tire. It is used as a
reinforcing filler. Carbon Black is listed as a carcinogen by the International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Carbon Black, as such, was not analyzed by the Yale Study because Carbon
Black is made up of a number of chemicals – some of which were found in
the Yale study.
Carbon Black is not one chemical -- it is made up of many chemicals - often
of petroleum products. Furthermore, carbon black has no fixed
composition, even of the many compounds it contains. Carbon black from
different sources will have
differing compositions. In our method, carbon black will register as
a series of substances extracted from it. There is no carbon black
molecule, it is a mixture.
TWENTY (20) KNOWN IRRITANTS

1 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
8

1,4-Benzenediamine, N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenylIrritant - causes skin and eye irritation, toxic to aquatic life
1,4-Benzenediamine, N-(1-methylethyl)-N'-phenylIrritant - causes skin and eye irritation, toxic to aquatic life
2(3H)-Benzothiazolone
Irritant - causes skin and lung irritantation
2-Dodecen-1-yl(-)succinic anhydride
Irritant - causes eyes, skin and lungs irritation
3,5-di-tert-Butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde
Irritant - causes irritation to eyes, skin and lungs.
Anthracene
Irritant - causes skin, eye and respiratory irritation. Breathing it can
irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing coughing and wheezing.
Benzenamine, 4-octyl-N-(4-octylphenyl)Irritant - causes eye and skin irritation
Benzenesulfonanilide
Considered hazardous, very little testing has been done on it.
Benzothiazole, 2-(methylthio)Irritant - causes Skin and eye irritation.
Dehydroabietic acid
Toxic to aquatic organisms
Docosane
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 1
9

Irritant - causes Skin irritation
Hexadecanoic acid, butyl ester
Irritant - causes eye, skin and lung irritant. Can cause reproductive effects.
Methyl stearate
Irritant - causes eye, skin and lung irritation.
Octadecane
Irritant - causes kin, eye and respiratory irritation
Octadecanoic acid also known as Stearic acid
Irritant - causes skin, eye and respiratory irritation
Oleic Acid
Irritant - causes skin and eye irritation
Phenol, 2,2'-methylenebis[6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-ethylIrritant - causes skin, eye and respiratory irritation
Tetradecanoic acid
Toxic to aquatic organisms. Skin and eye irritant.
Anthracene, 2-methylAcute aquatic toxicity, Not much data available - what there is shows it to
be an eye, skin and lung irritant
Anthracene, 9-methylAcute aquatic toxicity, serious eye irritant
2 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
0

13. Carbon Black
Carbon black plays an extraordinary role in tires, and in their toxicity and
potential for harm from exposures. Well known from decades of air
pollution studies, urban epidemiological studies, airborne carbon black
causes lung cancer, brain cancer, kidney cancer, heart disease, neurological
disorders, and cognitive degenerative disease.
A known carcinogen (WHO), we have found variations in percentages of
the amount of carbon black in a tire, from 30%-68%. (EHHI/Yale Study; NY
STUDY, .pdf, pp19-20.) Carbon black breaks down into many sized
particles, including PM10/PM2.5 and potentially smaller. That size particle
was shown to cause several types of cancer, including brain cancer, kidney
cancer, kidney disease, bladder cancer, and neurological disease and
cognitive impairment disorders. (CITE; Harvard Mexico Studies and Urban
Cohort Studies).
14. THE NY STUDY CHARACTERIZES TIRE CRUMB THIS WAY:
“The components of Firestone’s and Dow Chemical Company’s rubber are
summarized in technical specification documents. Although they are only
two of many different rubber manufacturers, a similarity between the two
vendors is readily apparent, even between three different types of rubber,
solution-SBR, cold polymerized emulsion SBR, and high cis2-4
polybutadiene rubber. In general, the following similarities were observed
between the two manufacturers for the compounds used to produce the
rubber:
• The polymer used to produce solution-SBR contained approximately 1840% bound styrene.

SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 2
1

• The oil content in the polymer ranged from 27.3-32.5% in solution-SBR
and cold polymerized emulsion SBR. Oils used include aromatic oil, high
viscosity naphthenic oil, and treated distillate aromatic extract oil.
• Besides the polymer used, the other components of the rubber were
similar between manufacturers and the relative proportions (parts by
weight) of these other components ranged as follows:
o Carbon black: 50.00 – 68.75
o Zinc oxide: 3.00
o Stearic acid: 1.00 – 2.00
o Sulfur: 1.5 – 1.75
o N-tert-butyl benzothiazole sulfonamide (TBBS): 0.9 – 1.50
o Naphthenic or aromatic oil: 5.00 – 15.0
The components summarized above are the principal components of the
major type of rubber (SBR) used for the manufacturing of crumb rubber
and therefore have the potential to have a significant presence in crumb
rubber. As discussed in subsequent sections of this report, some of these
components have been found to be prevalent in crumb rubber, including
zinc (from the zinc oxide), benzothiazole compounds (from TBBS), and
PAHs (possibly from the oils used). These compounds may be attributed to
the SBR used in the manufacturing of crumb rubber.”
15. Phthalates are a regulated toxin, and PEER filings covered some of
the toxicity and regulatory discussion. Please refer to
http://www.peer.org/campaigns/public-health/artificial-turf/newsreleases.html
16. ZINC
2 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
2

Coastal Marine Resource Center Study, found levels of zinc in leachate from
tire crumb fields with fatal impacts to an aquatic ecosystem within 48
hours.
Menichini and Abate Study: “Zn concentrations (1 to 19 g/kg) and BaP
concentrations (0.02 to 11 mg/kg) in granulates largely exceeded the
pertinent standards, up to two orders of magnitude”. “Zinc and BaP
concentrations are high in rubber largely exceeding the Italian soil
standards”.
17. METALS: MERCURY, CHROMIUM, ARSENIC
The highest median values were found for Zn (10,229 mg/kg), Al
(755 mg/kg), Mg (456 mg/kg), Fe (305 mg/kg), followed by Pb, Ba, Co, Cu
and Sr. The other elements were present at few units of mg/kg. The highest
leaching was observed for Zn (2300 μg/l) and Mg (2500 μg/l), followed by
Fe, Sr, Al, Mn and Ba. Little As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb and V
leached, and Be, Hg, Se, Sn, Tl and W were below quantification limits. Data
obtained were compared with the maximum tolerable amounts reported
for similar materials, and only the concentration of Zn (total and leached)
exceeded the expected values.
18. LEAD, POLITICS and CHILDREN
The problem is synthetic turf is NOT REGULATED as a children's
product by the CPSC thwarting the ability to apply lead regulations
that CPSC could enforce.
Lead was identified in synthetic turf fields as early as 2008 but was not
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 2
3

addressed in any systemic way due to lack of standards or
required testing (although the CPSC could have required the testing
mandated for children's products since 2008). The CPSC has chosen not to
mandate this children's product testing for synturf and in fact advised the
industry about not having it designated as a children's product
< http://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2009/03/artificial-turf-tale-oflead-levels.html> .
This has led to a "buyer beware" situation especially after the CPSC tested
synthetic turf carpets, found lead at varying levels depending on sample
age, and astoundingly concluded the whole synthetic turf system was,
always and everywhere, safe not just for adults but for children. The
assumptions were based on inappropriate modelling for blood lead levels
from a meager sampling and the troubling finding presupposes that there
is, a safe level of blood lead, which most pediatricians and lead experts
agree there is not safe level.
To this day the synthetic turf industry cites the still CPSC-posted "OK to
Install, OK to Play on" press release which should never have been posted
to begin with, has been disavowed, in front of US Congress, by CPSC
commissioner Kaye and is an embarrassment to government science, policy
and public health
19. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in contrast
warned and continues to warn that" there is no safe level of lead" to
expose children to.
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/>
2 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
4

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/information/healthy_homes_lead.htm.
“No safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Lead exposure
can affect nearly every system in the body. Because lead exposure often
occurs with no obvious symptoms, it frequently goes unrecognized"
In 2010 Van Ulirsch et al ( Environ Health Perspect. 2010
Oct;118(10):1345-9
22. And for the past 2 years the company FieldTurf has, with impunity,
noted its synturf fields contain lead during testimony on various bills in the
Maryland State House.
The latest admission documented on video:

"....asked point-blank by one delegate, “Is there lead in your
products? The executive answered, “There’s lead in a lot of things in
this world.”.... “Yes, there’s lead in our products." In spite of this
admission and the fact that the legislation in question was meant to
post the CDC prescribed warnings about minimizing lead and other
toxin exposures from the synturf and tire waste products, and in
spite of the fact that the legislation had strong and broad input and
support, the legislation was not even allowed to come up for a vote
in committee by the committee chair.
23. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility compiled the
literature as of early 2012 on lead
see: and specifically: 2012-07-12_lead-limits-needed-on-tirecrumb-playgrounds (NOTE if you go to PEER.ORG news releases: click on
public health and "artificial turf" to find the actual filings with many links}
2 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
6

Unfortunately for the children, fields with high lead remain. But those
responsible for protecting children are kept in the dark. NO ONE IS
MONITORING OR REGULATING ARTIFICIAL TURF FOR LEAD OR OTHER
TOXINS in either old or new fields, including the Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) (see
For example as reported in that article:
Dr. Shalat's New Jersey State Study (2012) on artificial turf found lead in
the field dust in the respirable air space of a robot and real player- highly
variable but sometimes very high (note most facilities would NOT LET
THEM TEST).
2014
" Bio-accessibility and Risk of Exposure to Metals and SVOCs in
Artificial Turf Field Fill Materials and Fibers" , Brian T.
Pavilonis1,Clifford P. Weisel1, Brian Buckley1, and Paul J. Lioy1
QUOTE from Pavilonis et al:."Since it is possible that children may be
exposed to potentially high concentrations of lead while using
artificial turf fields we recommend, at a minimum, all infill and fibers
should be certified for low or no lead content prior to purchase and
installation."
*The main out-comes of concern from Pavilonis et al:
a) the finding of lead, and chromium in both the tire crumb and
the plastic rug and simulated body fluids at sometimes extremely
high levels *EVEN IN NEW FIELD CARPETS.*
b) Benzothiazole derivatives and 4-(tert-octyl) phenol were also
found in in the simulated body fluids. Both are probable carcinogens
(the subject of another fact sheet).
QUOTE: "Lead was detected in almost all field samples for
digestive, sweat, and total extraction fluids with digestive fluid
extract of one field sample as high as 260 mg/kg. Metal
concentrations were not markedly different across the three
different sample types (new infill, new turf fiber, tire crumb field
sample). However, one of the *new* turf fiber samples contained
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 2
9

relatively large concentrations of chromium (820 mg/kg) and
lead (4400 mg/kg) compared to the other samples tested…the
variability of lead contained in the infill material is large and can
span more than two orders of magnitude* . One field [tire crumb]
sample did contain a high lead level (260 mg/kg) which was on the
same order of magnitude as the NJ DEP cleanup value (400
mg/kg).”
In summary: Lead-free is the only acceptable level for child
products (and indeed for people in general). There is NO safe level
of lead for children. And yet many of our children are playing
often, if not daily, on fields that may contain lead and certainly do
contain many other toxic substances. Finding ANY lead in any play
area for children of any age is unacceptable. As the CDC notes: Every
effort should be made to eliminate ALL unnecessary sources of lead
in the environment, especially a child's environment. *Lead in
artificial turf is not only totally unnecessary but dangerous to
health AT ANY LEVEL*.
28. Other sources of information on Lead in tire crumb fields:
www.ehhi.org/turf/
www.safehealthyplayingfields.org
www.synturf.org
At www.synturf.org , a sampling of findings of lead on fields is available on
the page on lead:
No. 36] Mayo Clinics tips to protect children from lead in artificial turf.
April 2015.
No. 35] Durham, New Hampshire: Lead scare at UNH, s Memorial Field.
3 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
0

November 2012.
No. 34] Beware of lead content in exotic color artificial turf fields!
September 2012.
No. 33] Odessa, Texas: Eager fans will not be given pieces of the artificial
turf field. September 2012.
No. 32] U.S. Federal panel increases child protection against lead. February
2012.
No. 31] UNLV researcher spreads word about the need to test artificial turf
fields. December 2010.
No. 30] Environmental Health Sciences study (2010): Deteriorating
synthetic turf dust containing lead may pose a risk to children. October
2010.
No. 29] Concord, Mass.: Town replaces fake grass fields, officials insist
nothing is wrong with the lead levels! July 2012

28. TWELVE (12) CARCINOGENS found and HOW DO THEY
INTERACT:
The Yale Study identified the presence of so many carcinogenic materials in
a single material that it raises many more questions about interaction of
PAHs with metals, and combination impacts. The interaction of the PAHs
and benzothiazoles with other materials in the fields needs to be
characterized and addressed
29. Strengthening Additives: Nanoparticles
We would also ask for information and clarity about tire strengthening
additives of any kind that were built into the material anytime in the past
30 years, these would have been added to tires.
[http://nice.asu.edu/nano/carbon-black-and-amorphous-silica-tires]

SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 3
1

Similarly, we request that the tire manufacturing industry explain their use
of nanoparticle products, of any kind, including the type and size, source
company and source country, and ask for an explanation about how:
a. they can be quantified in the product, and
b. how can they be cleaned up if they are released when the tire
crumb and or plastic “grass” carpet degrades?
c. We would also like to understand what material
characterization of their behavior in tires performance,
d. And or their behavior once they are released into the
environment.
e. We ask for any epidemiological due diligence that was
conducted by any tire company on nanoparticle use prior to
using them in a commercial product.
f. Plans for continued use and safety precautions tire
companies will impose upon themselves
g. Epidemiological studies conducted on these particles in tires
30. Plastics, Microplastic Fibers, Microbeads, and Small Particulate
Plastics
Assessment of microfiber particulate and small particulate plastics needs to
be assessed in characterization studies.
31. Flame Retardants
Flame retardants can be added to a tire in production, or applied post
production in a shipping setting or possibly as tire crumb. Since flame
retardants are known carcinogens with health issues of concern, and will
be on the surface of the waste tire crumb, tire infill providers need to know

3 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
2

if they are present, and purchasers need to know that the material contains
flame retardants prior to purchase.
32. Tires and Tire Crumb Additives
Myriad products exist to clean, protect, condition, and color tires. We
wonder if they are components of tire crumb?
33. Road Waste Picked Up By Tires
Tires spend their lives on roadways, of course, and can pick up many
materials in their travels. Debris, hydrocarbons, ….

34 CARCINOGENIC, PATHOGENIC, Endocrine disrupting and other
harmful ingredients in tires cannot be removed by shredding tires
into tire crumb and must be assumed to be accessible.

35. Tire crumb and repurposed rubber appear to be the same thing,
with interchangeable use… but are they the same? We would like
clarification.
We would like clarification about the distinction between the tire crumb,
repurposed crumb rubber, and crumb rubber. Specifically if using the term
“repurposed rubber crumb” implies uniformity of ingredients? Does that
term imply tires are not used? If so, what are the ingredients in repurposed
rubber crumb and how do they differ from tire crumb?
36. We would also like access to all MSDS/SDS of tire crumb
manufacturers and tire companies, and the ability to ask questions about
how and where they were made, variations on lots, source and composite
addendums. It is difficult to locate them.
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 3
3

37. EXEMPTION ON LISTING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS: We would like
to understand why tire companies have an exemption on their need to list
ingredients under Section 2: Hazardous Materials of an MSDS/SDS. We
were unable to find the source of that exemption, if it has a deadline, and
whether your study group thinks it is an obstacle to understanding and
characterizing risk of exposure from tires and tire crumb.
38. Of those MSDS that we located, several, like this Michelin North
America Material Safety Data Sheet for Michelin, Uniroyal, BF Goodrich,
says in “Section 2 HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS: Note: Tires meet the
definition of article as defined by the OSHA Hazard Communication
Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) and are exempt from MSDS
requirements.”
There was clearly no mention of 1,3 butadiene, carbon black, POHs, VOCs,
benzothiazoles, or any plasticizers, nor metals, styrene, sulphur, known
irritants, or well… anything. Since that section also outlines corrosive,
combustible and waste treatment, it is important for more than this issue.
We explicitly ask CDC/CPSC/EPA if they can use their existing authority to
require tire crumb companies and tire companies to provide ingredient
information.
39. SOURCE MATERIAL UNKNOWN: MSDS/SDS CANNOT REPRESENT
WHOLE FIELD. Tire crumb comes from many tires, and many sources.
Since not a single tire crumb field can accurately list or track which tires
were source materials, or what other mixed in components, and there is no
accountability from tire crumb recycling industry for the shredded product,
then MSDS/SDS cannot be accurate for a whole field due to variability.
Therefore, the burden of “proof” of risk lays squarely on the ability of the
purchaser (schools, sports directors, booster clubs) to assess risk… of a
3 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
4

very very complex product. So, if the exemption stays in place, we will
know for sure that we cannot know what is in a tire crumb based field.

40. TREATMENT TO SHOW NO PARTICULATE OR BREAKDOWN:
SHOW US.
As for studies that claim that their product has been treated (such as
cryogenic treatment) to not break down into dangerous particulate, we are
deeply skeptical, and would ask for proof. We also ask for assay testing
over a period of at least several summer weeks. We ask for the researchers
to simulate the pounding over 10 years and assess the particulate
characteristics and particle size. That testing in fact is being done right
now… in thousands of children across the country. Simple observation on a
player body, on the sideline benches, or under a microscope shows
consistent breakdown into particulate.

41. SHREDDED, PULVERIZED, HIGH SURFACE AREA FORM OF TIRES
and ADD INS is LIKELY MORE TOXIC THAN WHOLE TIRES.
Unfortunately, because it is shredded, pulverized, and in loose and
unencapsulated form, tire crumb has exponentially more surface area than
whole tires (Thomas, Gupta study; ) and we are concerned the material is
very likely more toxic––possibly many times more toxic––in the school
field form than whole tire form, since the increased surface area provides
more opportunity for molecules to escape. We know for sure that the
increased amount of surface area in tire crumb makes the material in tire
crumb more available to the breathing and exposure zones, and to runoff.

42. CRUMB IS SURROUNDED BY DUST PARTICULATE:
Accurate characterization technique must include a study of the particulate
that surrounds tire crumbs, and steps must be taken to make sure that the
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 3
5

sampling process does not inadvertently remove that dust and particles.
We found several examples of the samples being washed, some in
unbuffered water, prior to their analyses being done. Of course, that
removes the particulate that concerns us the most. Distribution of the
particulate size and type is important. Those particulate can become
aerosolized by numerous gases and we ask that attempts are made to
properly model this dynamic under high heat conditions, primarily.

3 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
6

SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 3
7

43. VERY COMPLEX PICTURE From TOXICOLOGY PERSPECTIVE: Tire
crumb material is complex from a toxicology perspective, largely due to the
chemical complexity presented by multiple known toxic components and
variation. It has been described as a “toxic soup” of ingredients for which
we have no consistent data on proportions or levels. Characterization of
ingredients’ margin of error is unknown..
Testing must be done at the field levels using accepted sampling plans that have
been statistically shown to be valid. Not fields have been tested in sufficient
detail to determine or rule out any exposures or risks. A look at testing protocols
for lead in urban soil sites illustrate the level of attention required and show the
degree that current testing has fallen short of that needed for decision making
for children’s health.

44. CONTACT PATTERNS, FIELD USE and ADJACENT BUILDING
CONTAMINATION
Exposure is likely determined by ingredients in surface, activity, and
number of children or users on field. Each school or community field has
high use and high contact patterns, such as hosting contact sports, like
football, lacrosse, soccer, and baseball, athletic camps, workshops and
practices. In those sports, children dive into the field materials. As a child
runs or skids or slide tackles, a column of material rises up, as does the dust
and particulate that surround the tire crumbs themselves.
Testing for exposure need to list weather conditions including humidity,
wind speed, and precipitation, temperature on field surface and ambient air
temperature. Number of children on field, and activity level of that play
needs to be recorded, video would be most interesting.
Children of all ages use the fields for multiple sports, recreation and school
events. Artificial turf tire crumb fields abound in elementary schools and at
3 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
8

indoor and outdoor sports centers where children of all ages and all stages
of development play soccer, lacrosse, football, track, cheerleading, band,
and use the field for general recreational school activities. In the fields
with which we are familiar, families with members of all ages use the fields;
and the community holds events, picnics, special fairs, and activities. Some
fields are immediately adjacent to a school building.). That there are many
uses, and probably many levels of contact and exposure is an important
part of characterizing exposures, but both low dose exposures AND high
contact exposure scenarios and use need to be examined, with appropriate
epidemiological process.
45.. SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND SURROUNDING AREAS ARE
CONTAMINATED with a great deal of tire crumbs. The fields appear to
lose from 1-30 tons of material over their 8-10 year life, and some of it goes
directly into buildings, cars, and then homes. This impact needs to be
studied as an inadvertent consequence.

46. CANNOT ARGUE NO INHALATION OR INGESTION RISK or SAFETY
FOR EVEN A SINGLE FIELD. We argue that given the unique characteristic
of nonuniformity, known carcinogenic materials, breakdown into
particulate/dust, no known source of origin, and no accurate studies on
complex interactivity of those components in the children’s exposure zone,
in the tire crumb as it is installed today in 12, 000 fields, not a single field
installer, nor material provider can demonstrate that the material is safe
from inhalation and ingestion during normal use, active use, and on hot
days.

47. EVERY USE COULD POSE A TOXIC EXPOSURE and it would be
irrational to argue otherwise. We argue that due to the high variability of
toxins in the tire crumb substrate (from tires, unknown additives, and
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 3
9

factory waste add-ins), and lack of any control of the material, well-known
sampling techniques will NOT accurately predict risks to human health.

48. CHILDREN CANNOT AVOID THE EXPOSURES: Since school children
cannot self-advocate and take responsibility for staying off a field if
directed to be there by coaches or school officials or parents, we must
assume that children cannot avoid the exposures when they play on those
fields.

49. CANNOT CLAIM THAT EXPOSURES WILL NOT OCCUR. Absolutely
no way to responsibly claim that ingestion and inhalation of particulate
from the material will NOT occur to those children.

50. HOTSPOTS of intermittent dangerous exposures are possible, and
should be expected and searched for in every field.

We must assume that tires have different “recipes” based on their type of
use. Therefore, knowing the type of tire used in tire crumb, and each tire
“recipe” would be helpful in assessing characterization of ingredients.
However, there is no way to ever know what tires, or what material is in
any field, and therefore, an MSDS/SDS cannot be representative of any
field, or even any meaningful part of a field. Alarmingly, the high variability
in the ingredients presents worrisome “hotspots” potential, where the
hotspots might be missed in sampling but even a single exposure could
have very serious impacts for a child who has the unfortunate luck to dive
into that hotspot. PAH’s may be more prevalent, and present dangerous
levels for installation period of the field, and for some unknown period of
time afterwards, and considered a “hotspot”, then the consistent release of
PAHs in the subsequent years could mean low dose, chronic exposures.
Both need to be examined.
4 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
0

51. Lead, chromium, mercury and arsenic could be present in
hotspots, based on which tires were used, and how they were treated
prior to being placed in the field.

52. For example, when we asked about the source of lead in tire crumb
fields, an infill vendor explained to us that a) lead could be in any field as an
ingredient of the tires, of the treatment of tires, and b) once, they were
aware of a shipment of tires that was treated with an anticlumping material
that contained lead and the whole lot had lead, and c) that some lots had
flame retardants added as well. They would never really know, but “most
purchasers never ask”, according to the infill material vendor. If an MSDS
was required, an additional charge was to be imposed, since MSDS were
not available from the materials they acquired from China or other
countries. We have collected many more examples of the worrisome
unknown ingredients in our fields and can share with the study teams, if
requested. While this information is anecdotal, that is the point: we have
no idea what is in any field, for sure.

53. Another example, but this is not anecdotal: in a primary study field
exposures in CT, a researcher found that the children’s monitors showed
benzene. Since there is no safe level of exposure for benzene, and in fact,
tires are not expected to have benzene, the field was sampled more closely,
until that “hotspot” was located. The original source of that benzene was
not determined, but it was next to a busy parking lot where cars’ exhaust
may have been a source as they turned the corner, or possibly the tire
crumb material had been previously stored in an area with benzene in
surrounding environment, or perhaps it was picked up from contact on
roads. We will never know. That finding suggests that the carbon black in
the tires can adsorb additional toxins present near tires or tire crumb, and
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 4
1

could release that material as the fields are pounded with running feet, or
possibly on a hot day. The proper characterization of this material needs to
account for adsorption characteristics of carbon black, and other
interactions

54. The point is, that it is impossible to locate hotspots for all toxins in
every field, and incorrect to extrapolate the risk for a whole field from
a single sample or even multiple samples, since every sample is
unique. So, while hotspots can easily be missed in a field, the
unfortunate child that dives into that particular part of a field has an
exposure that can actually be life threatening, but missed in its
entirety in the sampling based risk assessment.

55. In fact, since the tire crumb creates multi sized “dust” particles,
and off gases, it is impossible to prove that even a single field is safe
from inhalation or ingestion exposures from tire dust particulate, offgassing components, multiple toxins and combinations of toxins, and
heat.

56. Importance of the Heat Factor: Source of direct injury and
chemical catalyst

HOT HOT HOT HOT EXTREMELY HOT FIELDS
Grass playfields remain close to the temperature of ambient air, and are
often much cooler. Asphalt playgrounds used to have a use limit of 141F
and many schools remove children from playgrounds when temperatures
get hot. With tire crumb based turf fields, surface temperatures can soar on
even mild sunny days.
4 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
2

Tire crumb fields “superheat” to levels that are routinely over 150F on a
sunny spring day, and in a recent study conducted on a sunny day Utah,
found to be close to boiling point, 190F, according to the Penn State Field
Turf Heat Study. The study found that tire crumb field surfaces are hotter
than ambient air, and increase in heat in a non-linear function with each
additional degree Kelvin of heat, hence the designation “superheating”. To
draw an example, on a Labor Day Weekend in DC area, with ambient temps
of 82F, the field surface temperature hit 164F by noon on several fields
used in a busy, tournament for about 1000 children, both boys and girls,
ages 8-15. Those levels are known to melt plastic cleats, require tubs of
water on the sidelines to cool down shoes, and create heat-related injury
including heat stroke, nausea, heat exhaustion, and dehydration in children
and all users. It is not unusual for children players to vomit, faint, and suffer
dehydration from hot conditions on the fields.

57. Marketing and sales for these fields tout their usability in all conditions
as a benefit (more practice and play hours), but in fact, the heat build up on
fields makes them very uncomfortable during many days and conditions. In
DC, there are over 100 days of sunshine each year, and most are during the
spring, summer and fall, making the fields uncomfortably hot and possibly
dangerously hot for a third of a year. A calculus should be made on the
percentage of safe days to play based on field yield risk, and heat.

58. Tire crumb fields do not have any protection from heat, and so they are
irrigated to be cooled down, but the effect is temporary.

59. To our knowledge, there has been no well known place for doctors nor
parents to report heat injury, though they are commonplace. (This author
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 4
3

specifically remembers a hot, poor air quality day in August in 2014 in
Washington DC when during a single practice, 4 soccer players vomited,
another child was taken to the hospital after passing out, and another
sidelined himself against the coach’s wishes, due to extreme dizziness and
nausea.)

60. Reluctance to Report? Yet, it is curiously uncommon for school
teachers, coaches and parents to remove the children from the fields, due to
temperature. We cannot explain that in rational terms.

We have also noted another curious effect: as football, soccer and lacrosse
increase in popularity and competition in the US, competition for spots on
high performance teams is fierce. There is a perception from strong sales
and marketing of the fields, that the turf fields present a competitive edge
for a school, a club or even a teenager trying to get into college, and are
worth the high price paid. As psychologist Dr. Wendy Miller, explains, “ it is
a culture where high performance parents, players and schools might be
willing to overlook these injuries, thinking that to complain would
jeopardize their child’s access to a competitive team. This thinking could
easily lead to the silencing of reporting of injuries.”

Heat injury reporting needs to be included in the survey questionnaires,
and victims of heat injury and illnesses need to have a place to report, with
impunity.

61. HEAT MAKES THE CHEMICAL DYNAMICS ABOVE A FIELD VERY
COMPLEX

4 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
4

In addition to the serious issue of direct injury from hot playfields to young
children, or anyone, the super hot fields present a very challenging
chemical situation.
Dr. David Brown, ShD, toxicologist, professor and former Deputy Director
of Public Health Practice Group at ATSDR/ CDC explains that, “the
unintended, and largely unstudied chemical consequences of what comes
off such an enormous quantity of high surface area material, in amounts
and sequence that is scientifically accurate is very difficult to predict and
model. Since the chemicals in the area above the field could change
instantaneously, the conditions are critically important (number of players,
temperature, time from last rainfall, etc.), as is the sampling methodology.
But no one has been able to come close to modeling the actual yield, we
only know the materials by characterization with samples, and that
variation in samples is so broad as to almost be meaningless, since it could
be easy to miss harmful exposures.”

62. Analyzing the field yield on a hot day is very complex, and challenging
to even trained toxicologists. The superheating of the fields makes gases
yield at faster rates as temperatures on the tire crumb surface increases.
So, as a day heats up, it is very likely that the yield increases directly with
temperature increase; a hot day creates more gases. Based on well
understood scientific laws, we presume that the gas yield from the field at
surface temperature of 50F (a cloudy day in January in DC) would be
considerably less than a field surface temperature of 158F measured last
week. If more gases are escaping the surface, then there are more
“opportunities” for particulate to adsorb onto the surface of the gases,
creating very dynamic series of compounds, none of which would be
recommended to inhale.. The changes in the chemical composition over the
fields as their temperatures rise is very difficult to test and model. These
changes happen in an instant… as a threshold is reached… and the
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 4
5

exposures can increase sharply. It is a very sophisticated and difficult
challenge to model. But what is the most important is not only that the 24
gases that escape tire crumb (Norway Study) create dangerous mixtures
but those gas/particulate mixtures, (and air) create a vector for deep lung
exposures of all the materials in the tire crumb field. So, on poor air quality
days, when there are many children on the field and a lot of stirring up of
the material, the fields could present enormous risk.

63. We are concerned about the range of yield levels, but, we are most
concerned about the intermittent risk to children during those hot periods
(a hot, poor air quality summer day during children’s soccer camp week in
Washington DC, for example) when the fields are likely yielding more gas,
and therefore particulate has more “carriage” into lungs, respiration rates
are higher, skin is exposed, and perspiration is highest. All these are likely
factors in exposure. It is during those days when exposures are probably
highest, and high enough overwhelm a developing immune system.

64. Exposure Study Needs To Focus On Worst Case Conditions
We acknowledge that the level of yield from the fields might vary widely
with material variation, and will also vary with outdoor weather
(temperature, wind, humidity and sun) conditions. Taking averages from
fields across the country will be meaningless, and will only help the
industry to expand its message of “found no harm”. An analogy might be to
determine the health of a forest taking 4 samples from 40 locations, evenly
spaced, but the sampling might easily miss a blazing forest fire. That one
day might destroy living material exponentially, but it could easily be
missed. Dangerous exposures can be unpredictable in this material due to
the scope and scale, the toxic character, and the superheating
characteristic.

4 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
6

65. A better approach is to carefully detect high yield days, and look
THAT DAY for exposures in a child’s body during those periods. Since
the exposures might attenuate, the work would have to be done
expeditiously. The harmful exposures may or may not be detectable a day
or a month later in a child. Monitor both genders, for patterns that might
lead to that awful air quality soccer camp in the city on a tire crumb field,
on days when vomiting and melting shoes are commonplace. A focus on
the impacts from the high end of those yields we believe will present
exposures that are clearly, and unequivocally harmful from both heat injury
perspective and toxicity exposure potential. We do not know for sure if the
carcinogenic exposures from low dose regular exposures or from high dose
“events” are more dangerous, but both need to be studied as separate
situations, not as an average.

66. We urge your team to focus the study resources on primary
measurements made in high use scenarios on hot days, and refrain
from the approach used in earlier studies that look at chemical
compositions during winter or rain conditions on limited number of fields.

67. The only reliable way to assess the risk to children from a particular
field, or groups of fields, is to look at their direct exposures, and
importantly look at bloodlevels of the known substances. Cooperation from
both high use athletes and those exposed to chronic levels of materials will
be important.

68. The Study Needs To Focus Also On Low Dose Exposure Risks
Trained immunotoxicologists look at the impacts of chronic low dose
exposures to metals, PAHs, VOCs and many other materials in tire
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 4
7

crumb. Their input is crucial to understanding risk of exposure in a
developing child.

69. Characterization Mistakes
Studies look convincing, but miss the forest for the trees.
Tire recycling and tire crumb industry reports are quick to point out that
when they find harmful materials in their samples, they are under the
known safety limits. There are two interesting fallacies in that reasoning.

First, since the samples in several studies are few and not uniform, they fail
to acknowledge the statistical significance of finding known regulated toxic
material in 2 million pounds of powdered tires… if one finds the needle, is it
luck, or is it because needles are more prevalent than expected?

Proof of presence is meaningful! For example, in the NY Study, PAHs were
found, as were metals, benzothiazoles, and many substances. Their
presence indicates a risk.

In a child’s product, since many materials are not known how they affect
children, just knowing they are there is enough to use a precautionary
principle and prevent the exposure. Arguing that the materials appear
under a limit (especially if that quantity is an average of multiple samples),
or there is no established limit (because it has not been studied), are not as
meaningful as the proof of their presence.

Second, though the conclusions of the industry reports may be of no harm
found/safety, a close look at the data itself on PAHs, lead, cobalt,
chromium, etc. is useful, since a) it proves presence, and b) at levels that
suggest risk for chronic exposure. Chronic exposure risk is the subject of
4 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
8

a great deal of new cancer research, and we care about all the materials,
including those which are potentially toxic.

70. ARGUMENT FOR MORATORIUM BASED ON KNOWN
CHARACTERIZATION FOR TIRE CRUMB
Because of the:
a. known loss of 1-30 tons of material from the fields during the 8-10
year “life of the field” into air and water
b. ingredients list: over 50% of its components are known carcinogens
and pathogens, [cite Yale Study]
c. massive scope and scale of this product, (the amount of material and
surface area of these fields is enormous; scale/millions of pounds in
each installation),
d. inability to control the levels of toxic exposure to children, or even
properly characterize them due to immense variation and chemical
complexity of what happens on a hot day over a field, and around
children. We cannot suggest mitigation strategies for the danger,
because the material is inconsistent,
e. Even if we did know for sure what was in each field, and suggest
mitigation techniques and protections…. All the tire company has to
do is change their recipe, or many recipes, as they do continually,
and the study is worthless. Children are still being exposed to
whatever is in the tire, the lot or that particular field..
71. Moving Target Analogy
Even if the study were completely successful, and the tire crumb material
categorized properly, the trouble is, tire manufacturers could change the
“recipe” for tires… and in fact they do this regularly… and the study results
will be useless, or at best, diminish in usefulness.
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 4
9

Any attempt to study tire crumb safety on turf fields is analogous to trying
to hit a moving target. Tire crumb is a waste product. Tires are not
designed or intended to be used as infill for turf fields.
Ingestion, inhalation and absorption of fine particulate by children is not a
consideration of tire manufacturers as they choose chemicals and
compounds for their tires. Nor are they bound to maintain any safety
considerations for such use by children.
So any study of present day tire crumb is a futile endeavor, because such
study tells us nothing about a field that gets installed immediately after the
study. Tire manufacturers often change the chemical composition of tires
and will likely do so again.
Even if a field passed safely concerns in a present day study, a new field
could easily fail a hypothetical study conducted the day after the present
study. So unless every field was tested using the exact same methodology
after every installation, there is absolutely no way to assure the user that
their new field is safe. Those new fields could easily have an entirely
different chemical composition simply because tire manufacturers changed
their tire ingredients.
So the present Federal Study is only a backwards looking study, not
forward looking. Any conclusion must be transparent and clear on that
issue - upfront and center. Otherwise the public is being misled into a false
sense of security.
72. Sampling: Not Appropriate For Tire Crumb
5 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
0

The core pediatric toxicology problem in industry based safety studies, is
that there appears to be an assumption that tire crumb is a uniform
material, and behaves uniformly. It does not. There also appears to be an
assumption that sampling will be an accurate method for studying tire
crumb risk to children, and it is not. Sampling will not be accurate to
assess a non-uniform, heterogeneous material with multiple known
toxic ingredients, high direct contact (dermal, hand to mouth,
breathing zone) for pediatric use. Sampling cannot produce a single
sample that is representative of the whole field, or even a part of the
field, other than the sample itself.

73. Methodology needs to study PERFECT STORM exposure
conditions, and be able to calculate exposures during those relatively
dangerous days.

Nor can sampling in the way it is proposed (samples from 40 fields across
the US), illustrate impacts from a perfect storm of exposure conditions on a
particular field, say, during an intense soccer camp in in summer in
Washington, DC with high ambient and field surface temperatures (ie
160F), bad air quality, no wind, when working athletes are breathing in
particulate with high VOC, PAH, benzothiazoles, and carbon black… and
many more compounds, on a particularly high yield day. Averages cannot
be relied upon in sampling for this type of product, since they will further
obscure the risk from exposures to hot spots of high risk material that are
on fields. Averaging the results from a national distribution in various
weather conditions simply obscures the acute risks further; it is useless for
risk analysis. In layman’s terms, it is like studying a forest using “x”
number samples, but missing the forest fire that is blazing away at a nearby
area of the park. For a child, it means that she plays on a field that was
called “SAFE TO PLAY”, after sampling, but in fact she might easily have
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 5
1

been covered with multiple materials known to cause cancer, and in fact,
that might be a regular event. The uncertainty of exposure frequency
makes the risk higher, not less.
74. The core of the methodology used in the 50 studies asserted by
the tire recycling industry were based on simple characterization of a
single sample, but not on realistic, combined, nor worst case (the most
important) use scenarios.
75. Multiple carcinogen and multiple pathogen combined effects need
to be measured. Single material measurements could be only a fraction of
the exposures, since the material exposures are likely to be from
combinations of materials.
76. BIOMONITORING FRONT AND CENTER
Because sampling presents inconclusive results, a methodology that relies
on biomonitoring will be more meaningful. We suggest that more
sophisticated approach be considered. Personal sampling monitors
attached to children, dermal, urine, breathing analyses, and particularly,
blood and tissue samples from frequent users, players on “Perfect Storm
Days” and those expected to have chronic low dose exposures. We
understand that biomonitoring raises more issues, but absent a good
model, empirical data is the most reliable way to accumulate actual
evidence of exposures and to be able to establish a reliable causal link to
the cancers and diseases we predict from exposures.
77. IMMUNOTOXICOLOGY SUPPORT: RECRUIT THE BEST PEDIATRIC
IMMUNOTOXICOLOGISTS AND RESEARCHERS. Some researchers and
epidemiological professionals are already on the trail of better ways to
5 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
2

identify actual exposures, and can create biomarker groups as indicators of
presence of illness or exposures. These researchers have background in
immunological toxicology, and can track subtle changes in an immune
system that might be precursors to serious disease, like cancer, kidney
disease, brain changes, and lung disease. It is possible to create biomarker
group to prove tire crumb exposures in users and we believe that the
preliminary proof of concept step could be accomplished in less than 6
months with cooperative athletes, and study volunteers, and modest
budget. While we will not list them here, for protection of their privacy and
frankly, for fear of industry retribution, we will nonetheless let you know
that we have found multiple professionals who are capable and willing to
work on this task, provided a protective forum and IRB standards are in
place.
78. Immunotoxicology support: look carefully at the ages those
immune system markers in all children who are using these fields,
understanding that some metabolic types, and ages may be more
vulnerable than others. In fact, there are early indications that certain
age groups, such as prepubescent females (age 8-11), may be more
vulnerable to exposures to benzothiazoles, plastics, phthalates, and
endocrine disruptors in general, and therefore might be at higher risk to
contract cancer or disease from low dose particulate exposures from
tirecrumb, and the plastic “grass” carpet particulate. We need to establish
the datum from players to study this. We still do not know, but some
indications exist. For that reason, we respectfully request that the study
team include toxicologists and epidemiologists that are trained to keep
these concepts front and center.
79. LOW DOSE EXPOSURE CONCEPTS and CONCERNS

SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 5
3

Based on what we know now about low dose exposures to VOCs, PAHs,
benzothaizoles, styrenes, carbon black, plastics, plasticizers, and metals,
even at low, sub-acute exposures, the fields could be very dangerous. That
possibility was not considered in the CPSC study, EPA study, nor in
mulitiple industry studies. These need to be assessed:


Chronic exposure to metals, plastics and plasticizers



Chronic exposure to carbon black mimics air pollution exposures



Immune system reactions



Endocrine disruption exposures from plasticizers and phthalates,



Exposures from multiple low doses and chronic exposures

80. The study should calculate yield of material that leaves the fields,
and how it leaves the fields. How much in the air , water pathways,
and with users (in shoes, cars, etc.) Interviews with schools and
vendors need to establish the replacement quantities of these fields,
and how often new material is put into place, since it would affect
exposures, and give an indication of gross yields. We estimate that the
fields lose from 1-30 tons (estimated) of material, so exposures and
impacts need to be measured in adjacent buildings, soils, and
stormwater systems. With 12,000 existing facilities, this may need to
be the subject of additional studies conducted to also assess if the
fields shall be regulated as point source contamination under Clean
Water Act and Clean Air Act. It is a very important metric, and a
perfect opportunity to include it, with little incremental cost, in your
study.

81. INTEGRITY STANDARDS. To track the history of the emergence of this
product is to track effective lobbying for regulation changes that favored
the tire industry, and the tire recycling industry. This industry took
5 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
4

advantage of an enormous quantity of recalled and used tire stockpiles, and
heavily sold and marketed the materials to schools, and sports centers
where millions of children play. Central to the steps that catapulted this
industry forward was the removal of the designation of artificial turf fields
as children’s products, based on the rationale that adults played on them,
too. Yet the fields continue to be sold to elementary schools and to sports
centers brimming with elementary, middle and high school players. The
sales oriented industry was willing to submit children, schools and
communities to the materials in tires in enormous amounts, and call them
safe. As this claim is deeply questioned now, we also urge you to NOT
allow the sampling or data collection to be conducted by an interested
party, including schools, sports centers, athletic group personnel or
administrators, field installers or laboratories or consultants hired by
those groups, and establish peer reviewed standards for testing.
82. Any group or individual who does participate in the study,
including regulatory staff, needs to sign an affidavit certifying that she
or he, and her/his group has not received compensation or benefits in
any form, including but not limited to sales commissions, direct
payment, compensation, bonuses, grass to artificial turf grant, field
financing, water savings rebates (State of California and possibly
others), or physical benefits including but not limited to uniforms,
facility enhancements (restrooms, concession stands, parking lots,
storage facilities, etc.), stadium components, or field equipment of
any sort, from the field installers or tire crumb field industry and its
assigns, and has no financial conflict of interest. The document
should be filed with an appropriate agency and made public.
83. We ask for full transparency on all parts of the study process for
parents, interested parties, and schools.
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 5
5

OUR REQUESTS TO ASTDR/CDC/CPSC/EPA
Request
1. Regulate tire crumb and rubber mulch as children’s product

5 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
6

Background
PEER filed formal request;
12,000 fields x 30,000 tires is the
amount of existing material in
children’s use; see table A for
details on volumes and surface area
sizes, children/schools. Known

carcinogenic material and known
contact.
2. Remove “safe to play, safe to install” or any other references that imply safety from all
EPA, CPSC and CDC websites and public information sources
3. Place all PEER artificial turf filings in Federal Record

PEER Formal Request; agencies
must remove all endorsements of
safety.
http://www.peer.org/campaigns/p
ublic-health/artificial-turf/newsreleases.html

4. Issue a directive to public health agencies to disseminate warnings regarding unknown
risks from lead exposure from AT fields, as well as exposures to carbon black, known
carcinogens, PAH, VOCs into air and water pathways; direct hospital systems and medical
systems to screen for tire crumb field use, and report results
5. Use only independent lab or consultants unassociated with tirecrumb industry, adhering
to high ethics guidelines; transparent process for review; affidavit of no conflict of interest
6. Commission a primary study, conducted by independent, peer reviewed group such as
CDC to examine existing cancers AND illness in tire crumb field users and maintenance
workers of tire crumb fields
7. Mandate Cal Recycle Study corrections to methodology; mandate methodology peer
review; and mandate to impose Prop 65 rule based on OEHHA’s own findings on
carcinogenic exposure
8. Convene a conference for presentation of risks and concerns from parent groups, cancer
survivors to Federal Research Team

For parents, schools, athletic groups
and communities; conduct parent
outreach webinars

Needs participation from
CDC/CPSC/EPA staff so parents
and public can have direct contact

9. Convene series of webinars and open comment opportunities
10. Allow public health and environmental advocacy groups in Federal Research Team
with complete transparency
11. Establish a collection point for recording experience of victims and those who may
have suffered injury from use of the fields, including heat injury, concussion or head
trauma, cognitive disorder, illness, and cancer for study and documentation; victim
hotline; for both child and adult contact with fields
12. Funding to identify potential biomarkers of exposure; conclusive marker study in users
13. Conduct blood monitoring and studies on existing cancer survivors.
14. Conduct cancer cluster study on soccer player cluster, and identify additional clusters
such as maintenance workers and installers
15. Provide full transparency with all interested parties
16. Conduct full epidemiological study of tire crumb on playfields existing and predictive
17. Study forms and questionnaires should include data collection on what is released
from fields into air, adjacent areas, water pathways, and quantified. Replacement
quantities for tire crumb fields should be quantified and examined as a metric that
indicates yield.
18. Based on release/yield figures, and other inputs, tire crumb fields should be evaluated
for compliance with Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, and regulated accordingly.
19. We request that OEHHA study methodology be peer reviewed by your agencies
before it begins, taking into account the comments received in this proceeding.
20. OEHHA Study Process and Methodology Concerns: How will those be considered?
21. Consider explicit protection from retribution steps be put in place to protect
researchers, players, and concerned parents from retribution

SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 5
7

5 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
8

Page 1 of 2

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:45 PM
Received: May 02, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 03, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8per-wqbb
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0081
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: Laura Johnson
Address: 98020
Email: wanpaf@yahoo.com

General Comment
Health professionals, including experts on children's environmental exposures from Mt. Sinai
Hospital, are voicing extreme concern over exposure, particularly in children, to the known
carcinogens, endocrine distributors, neuro-toxins, and toxic heavy metals, contained within the
finely ground tire mixture. This concern is partly fueled by the growing number of cancer cases
in children and young adults who were frequently exposed to the recycled rubber surfaces.
Previously, the EPA endorsed the use of crumb rubber as a viable way to dispose of millions of
used tires, as well as a way to reduce injury, but some of its own scientists have pointed to
research suggesting potential hazards from exposure to crumb rubber. This research includes
the 2012 study: Hazardous Organic Chemicals in Rubber Recycled Tire Playgrounds and
Pavers- which concluded that the "presence of a high number of harmful compounds, frequently
at high or extremely high levels, in these recycled rubber materials. Therefore. They should be
carefully controlled and their final use should be restricted or even prohibited in some cases",
and a very recent 2015 study: Release of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH's) and
Heavy Metals from Rubber Crumb in Synthetic Fields- which concluded that "the recent study
demonstrate that PAH's are continuously released from rubber through evaporation. Athletes
frequenting grounds with synthetic turf are therefore exposed to chronic toxicity from PAH's."
I am among a growing group of parents who have opted to take the precautionary measure of

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa357b&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 2 of 2

keeping our children off of these fields all together, and advocate for safer alternatives, while
waiting for an answer to the question so many are asking "Are these fields safe?" Before I knew
about the toxicity and carcinogenic chemicals contained in crumb rubber, my children did play
on the fields. I remember that even on mildly warm days the smell of tires was significant, and
on days over 80 degrees the combination of heat and smell was enough to drive many parents
from the field, to sit on a nearby grass median. I remember watching babies crawling on the
sidelines squishing the grass blades with their hands some attempting to eat the crumbs, many
with bottles in hand. I saw preschoolers sitting and making piles of crumb rubber with one hand
and a snack in the other hand. These children were just inches above the turf surface. We have
created a situation where our youngest children are exposed to a toxic substance from birth and
continuing through crucial developmental years. This type of use and exposure has, admittedly,
not been adequately studied, and in essence we are carrying out a large scale experiment on our
nation's children! Parents like me, have assumed that the fields are safe. We would never
imagine that a substance, which can be inhaled and ingested, and is clearly marketed for
children to play on, was not thoroughly tested for safety.
We need real answers- from epidemiological studies- and in the meantime the public should be
provided with information on protective measures to take on current fields. Additionally, there
should be a moratorium in place on construction of new crumb rubber fields. The potential is
great and the risk is simply not acceptable.

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa357b&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 1 of 2

PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 5/3/16 6:46 PM
Received: May 02, 2016
Status: Posted
Posted: May 03, 2016
Tracking No. 1k0-8per-6zzd
Comments Due: May 02, 2016
Submission Type: Web

Docket: ATSDR-2016-0002
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ
Comment On: ATSDR-2016-0002-0003
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill ATSDR-2016-0002
Document: ATSDR-2016-0002-0083
Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields with Crumb Rubber Infill 0923-16PJ Comment on
FR Doc # 2016-03305

Submitter Information
Name: SHPFC Fairfax Chapter
Organization: Safe Healthy Playing Fields - Fairfax County Chapter

General Comment
These Comments were also submitted by the Safe and Healthy Playing Fields Coalition. The
Fairfax Chapter is submitting them as well in order to document our support for the comments.
INTRODUCTION
On behalf of the millions of children, parents and athletes who play field sports in the US at
schools, parks, athletic facilities and playgrounds, thank you for agreeing to study the potential
harm caused by playing on or being near athletic fields with surfaces made waste tires. There
are more than 12,000 of these playfields in place (15,000 according to the website of a large
company that installs them), and they are being installed at a rate we estimate to be about 3000
a year. By our calculations, 12,000 fields currently present 2,380,000 tons or 4,760,000,000
pounds of loose, unencapsulated tire crumb on their field surface. (See our Table of Runoff and
Material Volumes attached.) Tens of thousands of students and young athletes play on those
fields, many more thousands have direct or indirect contact with the material. It is a public
health issue of substantial importance.
The following lists our comments on the proposed study. We argue that the fields present
known carcinogenic, pathogenic, and mutagenic material in a high surface area, pulverized
form that is more toxic than whole tires, and should never have been allowed near children, or
adults, because of risk of ingestion and inhalation exposure to all the ingredients in tires. On

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa2070&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Page 2 of 2

warm, sunny days the surface temperature routinely reaches over 150F, which presents direct,
well-known heat injury risks to children. The heat increases off-gassing of the tire components,
increasing the likelihood of pulmonary exposures, and creates a complex dynamic in the
children's exposure zone immediately above a field that has not been correctly modeled or
studied yet. The material lacks uniformity, or any regulatory or exposure controls. We assert
that it is impossible to assure even a single tire crumb field is free of inhalation and ingestion
risk of dangerous particulate and gases inherent in tires, tire crumb, and add-in composites; and
that dangerous and unwanted exposures from lead, benzothiazoles, 12 carcinogens, phthalates,
carbon black and other materials, can happen with every use. The data gaps are enormous, and
we hope CDC/CPSC/EPA will recognize there is no way the tire crumb industry can protect
any player, on any field, from the potential for dangerous exposures with normal use. We argue
that not enough scrutiny was placed on this material.
NOTE: The Safe and Healthy Playing Fields Coalition is a grass roots group of scientists,
public health professionals, toxicologists, neurobiologist, educators, plastics engineers, medical
doctors, waste management and remediation professionals, coaches, researchers, and parents
who donate their own time and skills towards helping communities and individuals assess risks
to their communities from tire crumb field use. We do not have a lobbying firm, law firm, hired
laboratory, consultant, or revenue-generating source (such as tire crumb), and rely solely on the
skill of researchers who donate time to compile our comments. That said, we have found
compelling data that refutes almost all claims of safety, and when we asked for additional time
to compile the information, we were given two weeks, but denied additional time. Hence, we
are working at a disadvantage, and hope that during this study year, we will have time and
opportunity to substantiate our concerns, and share our research with the study officials. One of
our comments below explains our requests for a conference or virtual meeting that allows more
disclosure and discussion.
Our comments are listed in numerically and organized into: 1. General Comments, 2.
Characterization and methodology comments; 3.Summary List of requests, and a number of
supporting documents are also submitted as part of our comments.

Attachments
SHPFC FINAL ASTDR 2016-0002

https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481fa2070&format=xml&showor... 5/3/2016

Comments on ASTDR 2016-0002-0003
Federal Research Action Plan on
Recycled Tire Crumbs Used on Playing Fields and Playgrounds
Submitted to Federal Register May 2, 2016

SAFE AND HEALTHY PLAYING FIELDS COALITION
www.safehealthyplayingfields.org
A grass roots coalition working for healthier alternatives for children and
communities

INTRODUCTION
On behalf of the millions of children, parents and athletes who play field
sports in the US at schools, parks, athletic facilities and playgrounds, thank
you for agreeing to study the potential harm caused by playing on or being
near athletic fields with surfaces made waste tires. There are more than
12,000 of these playfields in place (15,000 according to the website of a
large company that installs them), and they are being installed at a rate we
estimate to be about 3000 a year. By our calculations, 12,000 fields
currently present 2,380,000 tons or 4,760,000,000 pounds of loose,
unencapsulated tire crumb on their field surface. (See our Table of Runoff
and Material Volumes attached.) Tens of thousands of students and young
athletes play on those fields, many more thousands have direct or indirect
contact with the material. It is a public health issue of substantial
importance.

The following lists our comments on the proposed study. We argue that the
fields present known carcinogenic, pathogenic, and mutagenic material in a
high surface area, pulverized form that is more toxic than whole tires, and
should never have been allowed near children, or adults, because of risk of
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 1

ingestion and inhalation exposure to all the ingredients in tires. On warm,
sunny days the surface temperature routinely reaches over 150F, which
presents direct, well-known heat injury risks to children. The heat
increases off-gassing of the tire components, increasing the likelihood of
pulmonary exposures, and creates a complex dynamic in the children’s
exposure zone immediately above a field that has not been correctly
modeled or studied yet. The material lacks uniformity, or any regulatory or
exposure controls. We assert that it is impossible to assure even a single
tire crumb field is free of inhalation and ingestion risk of dangerous
particulate and gases inherent in tires, tire crumb, and add-in composites;
and that dangerous and unwanted exposures from lead, benzothiazoles, 12
carcinogens, phthalates, carbon black and other materials, can happen
with every use. The data gaps are enormous, and we hope CDC/CPSC/EPA
will recognize there is no way the tire crumb industry can protect any
player, on any field, from the potential for dangerous exposures with
normal use. We argue that not enough scrutiny was placed on this
material.

NOTE: The Safe and Healthy Playing Fields Coalition is a grass roots group
of scientists, public health professionals, toxicologists, neurobiologist,
educators, plastics engineers, medical doctors, waste management and
remediation professionals, coaches, researchers, and parents who donate
their own time and skills towards helping communities and individuals
assess risks to their communities from tire crumb field use. We do not
have a lobbying firm, law firm, hired laboratory, consultant, or revenuegenerating source (such as tire crumb), and rely solely on the skill of
researchers who donate time to compile our comments. That said, we have
found compelling data that refutes almost all claims of safety, and when we
asked for additional time to compile the information, we were given two
weeks, but denied additional time. Hence, we are working at a
2 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003

disadvantage, and hope that during this study year, we will have time and
opportunity to substantiate our concerns, and share our research with the
study officials. One of our comments below explains our requests for a
conference or virtual meeting that allows more disclosure and discussion.

Our comments are listed in numerically and organized into: 1. General
Comments, 2. Characterization and methodology comments; 3.Summary
List of requests, and a number of supporting documents are also submitted
as part of our comments.

PART I: GENERAL COMMENTS:
1. CPSC/CDC/EPA should use their existing authority to immediately
reclassify tire crumb athletic fields as a children’s product, since
thousands of fields have been installed in schools that serve hundreds
of thousands of children.

2. We have grave concerns about their safety to human health and the
environment, since known carcinogenic and pathogenic components in
the field material yield into both air and water pathways, and provide
ample opportunity for both chronic low dose exposures with every
use of the field to lead, chromium, mercury, zinc, PAH, VOC, carbon
black, styrenes, benzothiazoles, and plastics; and more intermittent,
but dangerous high dose exposures from “HOTSPOTS” of component
material. (See comments on Characterization). Each of the fields has
material that is known to cause cancer, illnesses, and injury in humans; and
leachate from runoff causes several negative impacts on the aquatic
ecosystems. We believe that the potential for human illness (including
several cancers) from both low dose and high dose exposures to the
ingredients in tires is staggering. Basic logic favors our position. Based on
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 3

the known potential for exposures to children, and the finding of a group of
200 soccer players with cancer (the group represents the reach of a single
charismatic soccer coach), an immediate moratorium on new construction
of the fields should be put in place with the existing authority of
CDC/CPSC/EPA, until the tire crumb fields can be shown to be safe to
inhale and ingest.

3. The tire crumb recycling industry, which appears “green” in its
efforts to sell millions of used tires in “repurposed” shredded form, in
fact enables a direct transfer of the contamination burden of waste
tires from landfills/collection sites (in the US and abroad) to the play
surfaces of 12,000 schools and sports centers, where tens of
thousands of children and adults have direct contact with the toxins in
tire crumb materials on the field surface, and these exposures could
happen with every single contact.

4. For the most part, the schools and sports centers do not have
resources to conduct toxicity due diligence; meaning, they do not have
access to a toxicologist who reads the industry studies with their health as
the only priority. Purchasers rely on the tire crumb recycling industry
statements, industry studies, and industry funded websites that claim
toxicology assessment and public health guidance. The sales material can
be striking, and the studies appear convincing on the surface, but our study
groups have found significantly misleading information about the safety
and actual risk of harm from the tire crumb fields to all users, particularly
children. They are likely unaware that claims that the fields are “SAFE TO
INSTALL; SAFE TO PLAY” have been repealed.

5. PEER Filings. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility have
filed a number of complaints and documents that argue for a repeal of
4 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003

endorsements of tire crumb safety from EPA/CPSC, and those statements
were in fact repealed; but most schools and potential purchasers are
unaware of the removal of endorsements and claims of safety. The PEER
filings are an excellent source for telling the toxicity story and regulatory
story of this product. We respectfully request that the entire file of
complaints and responses to the complaints, and other supporting material
be entered into the record for ASTDR 2016-0002-0003.

The full list of documents for the ASTDR 2016-002-0003 collection
and record can be found here:
http://www.peer.org/campaigns/public-health/artificial-turf/newsreleases.html. Please include all in that list, and all supporting
materials.

6. Formal legal requests have been made to classify the tire crumb fields as
a children’s product since children use them, and sales and marketing
material are very clear about tire crumb fields are for children.
CDC/CPSC/EPA should use their existing authority to explicitly label
the fields as children’s products. (Please refer to PEER filings for details
and supporting arguments: http://www.peer.org/campaigns/publichealth/artificial-turf/news-releases.html)

7. CLASSIC CANCER CLUSTER APPEARANCE: SOCCER PLAYERS
Parents and schools may have trusted the “Safe to Play” statements, but
the parents of the 200 young women and men, who played intense
soccer and were stricken with cancer do not trust those claims
anymore.

SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 5

The case of over 200 young soccer players who used tire crumb fields and
contracted cancer, strongly indicates a classic cancer cluster, though the
cases have not undergone the formal validation process, not yet. That is
because a process for the collection of this information, does not exist yet
for either cancer victims, or for other illnesses, head injuries, and heat
injuries/illness from the fields.

8. We respectfully request that an official study of the soccer player
cancer cluster be initiated by CDC immediately.

Through our activist network, we learned about these cases, which were
reported to the NBC news link, or directly to a single, trusted concerned
soccer coach. EHHI reported as follows:
______________________________________
“New Cancer Numbers Among Soccer Players on Synthetic Turf,
April 2016
It is important to remember that the only people counted in the numbers
below are those who have known to call Amy Griffin. There is still no
government agency tracking the cancers among the athletes who have
played on synthetic turf. We know the actual numbers of athletes who have
played on synthetic turf and contracted cancer have to be much greater
than those who have known to report their illness to Amy Griffin.
In January of 2016, there were 159 cancers reported among soccer players;
now (April 2016) there are 166. Ninety-seven of those in January
were goalkeepers; now there are 102. Sixty-one percent of the soccer
players with cancer are goalkeepers. As of this writing, 220 athletes of
various sports who have played on synthetic turf have cancer; 166 soccer
players who have played on synthetic turf also have cancer.
6 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003

166 Soccer Players who have played on synthetic turf and have cancer


102 are goalkeepers (61% are goalkeepers)



64 soccer players with lymphomas, 39 are goalkeepers (61%––over
half are goalkeepers)



10 soccer players with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 7 are
goalkeepers (70%––over half)



54 soccer players with Hodgkin lymphoma, 32 are
goalkeepers (60%––over half)



41 total leukemias, 24 are goalkeepers (59%––over half)



16 total sarcomas, 7 are goalkeepers (44%)



12 thyroid, 9 are goalkeepers (75%––over half)



11 brain––5 are goalkeepers (45%)



9 testicular––6 are goalkeepers (67%––over half)



4 lung––3 are goalkeepers (almost all are goalkeepers)

Remaining are OTHER rare cancers.”
Source: Various; Victim parent volunteers, EHHI primary collection;
4/2016 (ongoing) _____________________________________________________________

All the victims were frequent users of turf fields, spending multiple hours a
week in close contact with the material in the fields. All were in their midtwenties or younger.

9. The self-reporting to a trusted coach, is also an indication that the
actual illness rates are not yet being properly assessed or managed by
any hospital, medical system, or group; there is no “home” for this
information, yet. The 200+ cancer victim count is likely the reach of a
single coach with the help of a link in broadcast media, and a fraction of the
actual count of victims of cancer or other serious illnesses. Better
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 7

investigation and creating a “safe” place to report serious and intermittent
illness will uncover many more victims, and provide needed perspective on
the accuracy of risk assessment for this product.

10. The CDC and appropriate agencies should issue a directive asking
for adequate screening for injury and disease. That US hospital and
medical systems are not yet set up to collect this data is a contributing
factor; and concurrently, screening for synthetic field use should be part of
a responsible screening protocol. To our utter dismay, we learned from
pediatric oncologists in our group that at least some oncologist are
prohibited from screening victims/patients for tire crumb field use; the
screening must be part of the approved protocol, and tire crumb product is
not yet included..

11. In fact, the number of all injuries from tire crumb fields should be
collected and analyzed to include, but not be limited to: head injury
and concussion; joint injuries (multiple); heat injury; blood cancer;
lymphomas; testicular cancer; pulmonary illness; neurological
impairment; kidney disease; diabetes; brain disease and cancers.
These findings need to be documented, and the children who suffer
from them should be screened for tire crumb field use and proximity.
No doctor or oncologist should be prevented from asking questions,
screening for, or questioning the safety of this product or contact with this
product. We believe there are many more heat related illnesses, head
injuries, and endocrine system disruptions directly resulting from exposure
to the fields than what is being reported.

12. REQUEST MORE INVESTIGATION INTO EXISTING AND POTENTIAL
CANCER CLUSTER: We ask that the multiagency group takes steps to
expedite the process of collecting epidemiological data and verification of
8 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003

the current soccer player cluster, and other potential clusters, to include
field maintenance workers who rake the fields, field installers who pour the
millions of pounds of material onto field surfaces, school custodians, high
contact users of any kind, and school children in buildings adjacent to the
fields. Residences near the fields should be considered in the scope of the
study or subsequent studies. In our own informal assessment, and
using SEER database and known levels of cancer victims, we found the
potential for 7-11 cancer clusters. We respectfully ask the CDC experts
to look into this possibility and take the necessary steps to prevent
additional injury and cancers.

13. NEED FOR EXPLICIT PROTECTION FROM RETRIBUTION: Sadly, the
families, coaches, and school leaders who have reported illnesses do so
with concern for retribution from the tire crumb industry, school
boards, university administrations, and even sports league
administrators, and may need explicit protection and remedy against
retribution. Researchers who study the potential for harm tell us that they
do not have protection from retribution from tire crumb field industry
proponents. Even in our own group, public health and medical
professionals must make statements of concern anonymously to protect
themselves from retribution––professionally and personally from industry
proponents. Adequate protections need to be established to protect the
professionals and parents who speak out.

14. PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN IS NOT A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS.
Children have a unique vulnerability to toxic exposures––both intermittent
high exposures––and to low dose exposures, and if we are aware of a
carcinogenic presence, then we are responsible for using a precautionary
principle, and removing that exposure risk. With due respect, this is not a
cost-benefit analysis that will show a percentage of children will get sick
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 9

(cost) vs. tournaments played or jobs created (benefit). It is a decision
made by a civil society that upholds protection for children’s health above
all other industry priorities, and a recognition that tens of thousands of
children, if not hundreds of thousands, are already being exposed to
material with known carcinogenic, and harmful materials on school turf
fields.

15. The CDC/CPSC/EPA should recognize that the fields serve children,
acknowledge that there are zero safety controls on the material and the
potential exposures, and immediately acknowledge tire crumb fields as
children’s products, and use your existing authority to regulate them as
children’s products. Therefore, we emphatically REQUEST THAT THE
CPSC/EPA/CDC USE EXISTING AUTHORITY TO IMMEDIATELY
CLASSIFY ARTIFICIAL TURF AS A CHILDREN’S PRODUCT, SINCE
THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN ALREADY USE THE FIELDS, IN THOUSANDS
OF SCHOOLS.

Since children and adults are already being exposed on tire crumb fields to
the materials in tires, we ask for an immediate moratorium on further
construction of tire crumb based or recycled rubber based artificial
turf fields until adequate assurances that tire crumb particulate, offgassing, and combinations are safe for children to inhale and safe for
children to ingest.

Your three agencies do not need to conduct a study to know with
absolute certainty that tires were not designed to be inhaled by
children, and we should protect children, at any length, from chronic
or lose dose carcinogenic exposures.

1 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
0

Even if we cannot model or know (or will we ever know) the exposures to
each child, each day (and we will never know), we do know with certainty
that:
1. Carcinogens are in tires.
2. Shredded, pulverized tire crumb contains everything in tires, and
more ingredients, including: carbon black, phthalates, VOCs, PAHs,
benzothiazoles, lead, chromium, zinc, nanoparticle additives,
proprietary additives, 12 known carcinogens, 90 materials known to
be harmful to human and environmental health, (EHHI)
3. The material can be inhaled when playing and ingested with contact,
or intermittent adjacent contact.
4. Every single direct or indirect use has the potential for exposure to
hotspots and low dose chronic exposures to multiple scenarios of
these materials.
5. The exposures could impact children, school buildings, and
surrounding areas; contamination travels to cars, homes, and even
children’s bedrooms.
6. It is both within the authority and the responsibility of your three
agencies to take immediate action to protect the public, especially
children, from known carcinogenic, pathogenic exposures.
.
Only a complete moratorium on their use will protect the millions of
children, athletes and bystanders from inhalation and ingestion of the
materials that yield from tire crumb synthetic turf fields.

16. It is also evident that tire crumb will never be safe unless ALL tire
ingredients, all “recipes”, the manufacturing of tires, and then preparation
of materials for fields are controlled from a toxicity perspective. This level
of voluntary cooperation from the tire manufacturing industry will, of
course, never happen.
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 1
1

17. ONLY UNIFORM MATERIAL SAFE TO INHALE AND INGEST IS
APPROPRIATE FOR SCHOOL FIELDS ; UNTIL THEN, A MORATORIUM.
When the play surface material is uniform, consistent, and controlled, when
it is tested by an adequate study with pediatric toxicology assessments to
be safe for ingestion and inhalation, and results are peer reviewed
following IRB standards, then we may consider a synthetic turf field might
be safe. Until then, tire crumb should be rejected from any casual or
unnecessary contact with children or adults.

18. RECONSIDERATION: A reconsideration of the moratorium could occur
when the industry can demonstrate a uniform, non-carcinogenic, noninhalable, non-ingestible alternative that does not present PAH, VOCs,
phthalates, lead, chromium, mercury, 1,3-benzothiazoles, butadiene,
styrenes, carbon black (in particulate, gaseous form, or any form to
children); and the product undergoes strict, peer-reviewed study by
independent qualified toxicologists who have a mandate to protect
children’s health and the health of the environment above the interests of
industry. The hypothetical product should be subject to regular reviews
and quality control determinations to ensure safety over the life of the
synthetic field. Safety Data Sheets should be provided and accessible for
every user. If waste tires are used, the controls requested above will never
be possible, since the tire material, by definition, is a composite of many
toxins in unknown quantities and with unknown impacts.

PART TWO: CHARACTERIZATION OF TIRE CRUMB COMMENTS
1. SCALE AND SCOPE: Tire crumb potential to individuals, buildings,
surrounding areas and stormwater for contamination is enormous.
1 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
2

2. PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE: SCALE AND SCOPE CONCEPTS
The potential for contamination from tire crumb is a growing public health
issue, in terms of the relative size of the product and its mass; the total
number of potential fields; and their basic contact with students, athletes,
school personnel, buildings, communities, and streams/storm water.

To give an idea of the existing volumes of material, the field runoff and
children affected or who may be affected, we have developed reference
tables, and the summary is attached to this filing These tables indicate the
scope and scale, and demonstrate that these are not isolated fields, nor tiny
exposure potentials. The quantities of material are enormous. The source
and reasoning is explained, but the tables are designed for your model
development and quick reference.

3. ENORMOUS QUANTITIES ON EACH FIELD SURFACE .
To give an idea of the scale, a modest soccer field uses 30,000 waste tires.
According to a randomly selected company selling packaged tire crumb
infill for original or replacement treatments, 30,000 tires makes about
396,667 pounds of lbs of material. According to our calculations, the
volume for 2” thick field is about 525 cubic yards, However, a large
football field, three times the size of a small soccer field, could use
1,000,000 pounds of tire crumb material.

4. The tires are shredded, pulverized into crumb of various sizes, and the
shredded material is poured on top of a plastic “grass” carpet. Importantly,
the material is loose, unencapsulated and can loft into the air when struck
by a ball or foot, or body. We estimate that, depending on the school, each
field has regular, daily contact with at least 1000 athletes and students. At

SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 1
3

sports events, busy tournaments, or with active use, a field can have
contact with many, many more.

5. No fields we found have mandated capture of the leachate or
particulate at the field.

6. TOTAL FIELD VOLUMES POTENTIAL:. The universe of potential tire
crumb playfields is approximately 200,000 - 220,000 schools and athletic
facilities in the US, based on number of schools. The potential reach of
exposure from use of these fields is in the millions of children, millions of
adults, hundreds of thousands of exposed buildings and adjacent soils, and
hundreds of thousands of public easements and storm water access points
(we estimate 1:1 ratio for field to point source drainage).

7. TABLE RUNOFF AND VOLUMES: SUMMARY OF KEY METRICS

For reference, we analysed fields by sport type, by Metropolitan Service
Area, and calculated the volumes for rainfall (by city), and for amount of
tire crumb material on a field surface.

Key metrics are the following:



Estimated tire crumb per 85,000 sq feet field and 2” deep tire crumb
infill is 525 cubic yards, 396,667 pounds, or 198 tons per field.



The total amount of tire crumb material on surface of 12,000
fields is estimated to be 6,296,296 cubic yards, or
4,760,000,000 pounds or 2,380,000 tons that are currently in
sports centers and schools in April 2016..

1 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
4



Runoff is calculated by city and field size, but the total runoff
for fields in the top 50 MSAs is 15,006,99,787 gallons.



Total Runoff for 12,000 fields based on number of fields per MSA,
accounting for rainfall in that MSA, and added together for 2016 is:
23,370,639,827 gallons… for a single year.

The calculations were made to illustrate the scale and scope of this product,
and to characterize the reach of exposures from the field surface into the
airway, and into the water pathway.

8. INGREDIENTS IN TIRE CRUMB: Lack Of Uniformity, High Variation,
Multiple Toxins
Tire crumb appears to be a composite material, heterogenous with multiple
known carcinogens, pathogens, and mutagens. The material is not uniform,
comes from multiple sources and lots, and can be mixed with plastics and
materials of unknown origin. The material can have anticlumping agents,
flame retardant additives, paint, and strengthening or characteristic
enhancing additives. Shredding of tires can cause small pieces of steel or
metals to be included in the material from steel belted tires. Some tire
crumb is from newer depositories from recalled tires, some from landfills,
and some have been subjected to a variety of weather and conditions.
Leachate and off gassing could be variable, with the expectation that newly
installed/poured material off-gassing is higher than from an older field, but
we expect those rates would vary with the age of the tires from which the
tire crumb was made.

SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 1
5

9. HETEROGENEOUS, MULTIPLE TOXINS, UNKNOWN ORIGIN: To say that
tire crumb infill comes from multiple sources, is an understatement:
dispensaries, landfills in the US, landfills abroad, collection centers, factory
waste from China, factory waste from the US and abroad. Some of the
newer marketed blends included multi colored sport shoe waste, shoe
factory waste, and many unidentified synthetic materials. Just as tire
companies may add anything to their “recipe” for a tire, an infill provider
may offer materials that could have anything added into the blend. Tire
plugs, tire polishes, tire coatings, and materials picked up on the roads
should be considered. And even if it is known that there are only tires in
the blend, there is a broad variation in the ingredients based on the use of
the tire, and the manufacturer. Those tires may look the same, but from a
toxicity standpoint their variation and the unknowns in the “recipe” create
a margin of uncertainty that makes any claim of known safety for inhalation
or ingestion impossible. If a vendor says he or she knows what is in a lot of
tire crumb, and that is known to be safe, then they ignored the materials in
the product. Since we never know what is in any field for sure, and if we
know that they have tire crumb, they cannot be demonstrated safe for
children to inhale, ingest, nor play upon.

10. What Is In Tires? SOME GROUPS WENT LOOKING
Since it was difficult from MSDS or any other source to identify the
components in tires or tire crumb, some groups studied them directly.
11. Environment and Human Health Inc, and Yale University Study
EHHI, Inc. in cooperation with Yale University studied samples of rubber
mulch, and new tire crumb with the intent of characterizing their
ingredients.
The summary text of their characterization study is found here:
1 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
6

http://www.ehhi.org/turf/metal_analysis2016.shtml
http://www.ehhi.org/turf/findings0815.shtml
The EHHI/Yale Study list of components found is explained this way:
The shredded rubber tire playground mulch samples tested were provided
by the manufacturer and were purchased in new bags of rubber mulch for
use in gardens and playgrounds. The rubber tire infill for synthetic turf
fields was obtained as new infill material from installers of synthetic turf
fields. There were 5 samples of infill from 5 different installers of fields and
9 different samples of rubber mulch taken from 9 different unopened bags
of playground mulch.
RESULTS
 There were 96 chemicals found in 14 samples analyzed. Half of
those chemicals had no government testing on them - so we have no idea
whether they are safe or harmful to health. Of those chemicals found that
have had some government testing done on them these are the findings
with their health effects.

TWELVE (12) KNOWN CARCINOGENS
2-Mercaptobenzothiazole/ Carcinogen, toxic to aquatic life
9,10-Dimethylanthracene/ Carcinogen, respiratory irritant and can cause
asthma
Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate/ Carcinogen, may cause damage to fetuses
Fluoranthene / Carcinogen, Fluoranthene is one of the US EPA's 16
priority pollutant, A PAH.
Heptadecane/ Carcinogen
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 1
7

2-mercaptobenzothiazole / Carcinogen
Phenol, 4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)/Carcinogen
Phenanthrene/ Carcinogen - A PAH
Phthalimide/ Carcinogen, skin, eye and lung irritan. A Fungicide
Pyrene, 1-methyl- /Carcinogen
Tetratriacontane /Carcinogen, eye and skin irritant. Can cause systemic
damage to central nervous system.
Pyrene/ Carcinogen, toxic to liver and Kidneys, a PAH
Carbon Black/ Carcinogen
Carbon Black makes up to 20% to 30 % of every tire. It is used as a
reinforcing filler. Carbon Black is listed as a carcinogen by the International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Carbon Black, as such, was not analyzed by the Yale Study because Carbon
Black is made up of a number of chemicals – some of which were found in
the Yale study.
Carbon Black is not one chemical -- it is made up of many chemicals - often
of petroleum products. Furthermore, carbon black has no fixed
composition, even of the many compounds it contains. Carbon black from
different sources will have
differing compositions. In our method, carbon black will register as
a series of substances extracted from it. There is no carbon black
molecule, it is a mixture.
TWENTY (20) KNOWN IRRITANTS

1 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
8

1,4-Benzenediamine, N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenylIrritant - causes skin and eye irritation, toxic to aquatic life
1,4-Benzenediamine, N-(1-methylethyl)-N'-phenylIrritant - causes skin and eye irritation, toxic to aquatic life
2(3H)-Benzothiazolone
Irritant - causes skin and lung irritantation
2-Dodecen-1-yl(-)succinic anhydride
Irritant - causes eyes, skin and lungs irritation
3,5-di-tert-Butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde
Irritant - causes irritation to eyes, skin and lungs.
Anthracene
Irritant - causes skin, eye and respiratory irritation. Breathing it can
irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing coughing and wheezing.
Benzenamine, 4-octyl-N-(4-octylphenyl)Irritant - causes eye and skin irritation
Benzenesulfonanilide
Considered hazardous, very little testing has been done on it.
Benzothiazole, 2-(methylthio)Irritant - causes Skin and eye irritation.
Dehydroabietic acid
Toxic to aquatic organisms
Docosane
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 1
9

Irritant - causes Skin irritation
Hexadecanoic acid, butyl ester
Irritant - causes eye, skin and lung irritant. Can cause reproductive effects.
Methyl stearate
Irritant - causes eye, skin and lung irritation.
Octadecane
Irritant - causes kin, eye and respiratory irritation
Octadecanoic acid also known as Stearic acid
Irritant - causes skin, eye and respiratory irritation
Oleic Acid
Irritant - causes skin and eye irritation
Phenol, 2,2'-methylenebis[6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-ethylIrritant - causes skin, eye and respiratory irritation
Tetradecanoic acid
Toxic to aquatic organisms. Skin and eye irritant.
Anthracene, 2-methylAcute aquatic toxicity, Not much data available - what there is shows it to
be an eye, skin and lung irritant
Anthracene, 9-methylAcute aquatic toxicity, serious eye irritant
2 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
0

13. Carbon Black
Carbon black plays an extraordinary role in tires, and in their toxicity and
potential for harm from exposures. Well known from decades of air
pollution studies, urban epidemiological studies, carbon black causes lung
cancer, brain cancer, kidney cancer, heart disease, neurological disorders,
and cognitive degenerative disease.
A known carcinogen (WHO), we have found variations in percentages of
the amount of carbon black in a tire, from 30%-68%. (EHHI/Yale Study; NY
STUDY, .pdf, pp19-20.) Carbon black breaks down into many sized
particles, including PM10/PM2.5. That size particle was shown to cause
several types of cancer, including brain cancer, kidney cancer, kidney
disease, bladder cancer, and neurological disease and cognitive impairment
disorders. (CITE; Harvard Mexico Studies and Urban Cohort Studies) We
know for sure that carbon black is in tires, in part from simple observation
of color.
14. THE NY STUDY CHARACTERIZES TIRE CRUMB THIS WAY:
“The components of Firestone’s and Dow Chemical Company’s rubber are
summarized in technical specification documents. Although they are only
two of many different rubber manufacturers, a similarity between the two
vendors is readily apparent, even between three different types of rubber,
solution-SBR, cold polymerized emulsion SBR, and high cis2-4
polybutadiene rubber. In general, the following similarities were observed
between the two manufacturers for the compounds used to produce the
rubber:
• The polymer used to produce solution-SBR contained approximately 1840% bound styrene.
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 2
1

• The oil content in the polymer ranged from 27.3-32.5% in solution-SBR
and cold polymerized emulsion SBR. Oils used include aromatic oil, high
viscosity naphthenic oil, and treated distillate aromatic extract oil.
• Besides the polymer used, the other components of the rubber were
similar between manufacturers and the relative proportions (parts by
weight) of these other components ranged as follows:
o Carbon black: 50.00 – 68.75
o Zinc oxide: 3.00
o Stearic acid: 1.00 – 2.00
o Sulfur: 1.5 – 1.75
o N-tert-butyl benzothiazole sulfonamide (TBBS): 0.9 – 1.50
o Naphthenic or aromatic oil: 5.00 – 15.0
The components summarized above are the principal components of the
major type of rubber (SBR) used for the manufacturing of crumb rubber
and therefore have the potential to have a significant presence in crumb
rubber. As discussed in subsequent sections of this report, some of these
components have been found to be prevalent in crumb rubber, including
zinc (from the zinc oxide), benzothiazole compounds (from TBBS), and
PAHs (possibly from the oils used). These compounds may be attributed to
the SBR used in the manufacturing of crumb rubber.”
15. Phthalates are a regulated toxin, and PEER filings covered some of
the toxicity and regulatory discussion. Please refer to
http://www.peer.org/campaigns/public-health/artificial-turf/newsreleases.html

2 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
2

16. ZINC
Coastal Marine Resource Center Study, found fatal levels of zinc in leachate
from tire crumb fields. This amount would cause fatal impacts to aquatic
ecosystem within 48 hours. This is a notable amount, and though was
assessed in terms of environmental health, indicates presence.
Menichini and Abate Study: “Zn concentrations (1 to 19 g/kg) and BaP
concentrations (0.02 to 11 mg/kg) in granulates largely exceeded the
pertinent standards, up to two orders of magnitude”. “Zinc and BaP
concentrations are high in rubber largely exceeding the Italian soil
standards”.
17. METALS: MERCURY, CHROMIUM, ARSENIC
The highest median values were found for Zn (10,229 mg/kg), Al
(755 mg/kg), Mg (456 mg/kg), Fe (305 mg/kg), followed by Pb, Ba, Co, Cu
and Sr. The other elements were present at few units of mg/kg. The highest
leaching was observed for Zn (2300 μg/l) and Mg (2500 μg/l), followed by
Fe, Sr, Al, Mn and Ba. Little As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb and V
leached, and Be, Hg, Se, Sn, Tl and W were below quantification limits. Data
obtained were compared with the maximum tolerable amounts reported
for similar materials, and only the concentration of Zn (total and leached)
exceeded the expected values.
18. LEAD, POLITICS and CHILDREN
The problem is synthetic turf is NOT REGULATED as a children's
product by the CPSC thwarting the ability to apply lead regulations
that CPSC could enforce.
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 2
3

Lead was identified in synthetic turf fields as early as 2008 but was not
addressed in any systemic way due to lack of standards or
required testing (although the CPSC could have required the testing
mandated for children's products since 2008). The CPSC has chosen not to
mandate this children's product testing for synturf and in fact advised the
industry about not having it designated as a children's product
< http://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2009/03/artificial-turf-tale-oflead-levels.html> .
This has led to a "buyer beware" situation especially after the CPSC tested
synthetic turf carpets, found lead at varying levels depending on sample
age, and astoundingly concluded the whole synthetic turf system was,
always and everywhere, safe not just for adults but for children. The
assumptions were based on inappropriate modelling for blood lead levels
from a meager sampling and the troubling finding presupposes that there
is, a safe level of blood lead, which most pediatricians and lead experts
agree there is not safe level.
To this day the synthetic turf industry cites the still CPSC-posted "OK to
Install, OK to Play on" press release which should never have been posted
to begin with, has been disavowed, in front of US Congress, by CPSC
commissioner Kaye and is an embarrassment to government science, policy
and public health
19. By contrast, The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in contrast
warned and continues to warn the " there is no safe level of lead" to
expose children.
2 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
4

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/>
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/information/healthy_homes_lead.htm.
“No safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Lead exposure
can affect nearly every system in the body. Because lead exposure often
occurs with no obvious symptoms, it frequently goes unrecognized"
In 2010 Van Ulirsch et al ( Environ Health Perspect. 2010
Oct;118(10):1345-9
22. And for the past 2 years the company FieldTurf has, with impunity,
noted its synturf fields contain lead during testimony on various bills in the
Maryland State House.
The latest admission documented on video:

"....asked point-blank by one delegate, “Is there lead in your
products? The executive answered, “There’s lead in a lot of things in
this world.”.... “Yes, there’s lead in our products." In spite of this
admission and the fact that the legislation in question was meant to
post the CDC prescribed warnings about minimizing lead and other
toxin exposures from the synturf and tire waste products, and in
spite of the fact that the legislation had strong and broad input and
support, the legislation was not even allowed to come up for a vote
in committee by the committee chair.
23. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility compiled the
literature as of early 2012 on lead
see: and specifically: 2012-07-12_lead-limits-needed-on-tire2 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
6

crumb-playgrounds (NOTE if you go to PEER.ORG news releases: click on
public health and "artificial turf" to find the actual filings with many links}
Unfortunately for the children, fields with high lead remain. But those
responsible for protecting children are kept in the dark. NO ONE IS
MONITORING OR REGULATING ARTIFICIAL TURF FOR LEAD OR OTHER
TOXINS in either old or new fields, including the Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) (see
For example as reported in that article:
Dr. Shalat's New Jersey State Study (2012) on artificial turf found lead in
the field dust in the respirable air space of a robot and real player- highly
variable but sometimes very high (note most facilities would NOT LET
THEM TEST).
2014
" Bio-accessibility and Risk of Exposure to Metals and SVOCs in
Artificial Turf Field Fill Materials and Fibers" , Brian T.
Pavilonis1,Clifford P. Weisel1, Brian Buckley1, and Paul J. Lioy1
QUOTE from Pavilonis et al:."Since it is possible that children may be
exposed to potentially high concentrations of lead while using
artificial turf fields we recommend, at a minimum, all infill and fibers
should be certified for low or no lead content prior to purchase and
installation."
*The main out-comes of concern from Pavilonis et al:
a) the finding of lead, and chromium in both the tire crumb and
the plastic rug and simulated body fluids at sometimes extremely
high levels *EVEN IN NEW FIELD CARPETS.*
b) Benzothiazole derivatives and 4-(tert-octyl) phenol were also
found in in the simulated body fluids. Both are probable carcinogens
(the subject of another fact sheet).
QUOTE: "Lead was detected in almost all field samples for
digestive, sweat, and total extraction fluids with digestive fluid
extract of one field sample as high as 260 mg/kg. Metal
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 2
9

concentrations were not markedly different across the three
different sample types (new infill, new turf fiber, tire crumb field
sample). However, one of the *new* turf fiber samples contained
relatively large concentrations of chromium (820 mg/kg) and
lead (4400 mg/kg) compared to the other samples tested…the
variability of lead contained in the infill material is large and can
span more than two orders of magnitude* . One field [tire crumb]
sample did contain a high lead level (260 mg/kg) which was on the
same order of magnitude as the NJ DEP cleanup value (400
mg/kg).”
In summary: Lead-free is the only acceptable level for child
products (and indeed for people in general). There is NO safe level
of lead for children. And yet many of our children are playing
often, if not daily, on fields that may contain lead and certainly do
contain many other toxic substances. Finding ANY lead in any play
area for children of any age is unacceptable. As the CDC notes: Every
effort should be made to eliminate ALL unnecessary sources of lead
in the environment, especially a child's environment. *Lead in
artificial turf is not only totally unnecessary but dangerous to
health AT ANY LEVEL*.
28. Other sources of information on Lead in tire crumb fields:
www.ehhi.org/turf/
www.safehealthyplayingfields.org
www.synturf.org
[FOOTNOTE SYN TURF]Where on the Synturf page on lead you can find:
No. 36] Mayo Clinics tips to protect children from lead in artificial turf.
3 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
0

April 2015.
No. 35] Durham, New Hampshire: Lead scare at UNH, s Memorial Field.
November 2012.
No. 34] Beware of lead content in exotic color artificial turf fields!
September 2012.
No. 33] Odessa, Texas: Eager fans will not be given pieces of the artificial
turf field. September 2012.
No. 32] U.S. Federal panel increases child protection against lead. February
2012.
No. 31] UNLV researcher spreads word about the need to test artificial turf
fields. December 2010.
No. 30] Environmental Health Sciences study (2010): Deteriorating
synthetic turf dust containing lead may pose a risk to children. October
2010.
No. 29] Concord, Mass.: Town replaces fake grass fields, officials insist
nothing is wrong with the lead levels! July 2012

28. TWELVE (12) CARCINOGENS found and HOW DO THEY
INTERACT:
The Yale Study identified the presence of so many carcinogenic materials in
a single material that it raises many more questions about interaction of
PAHs with metals, and combination impacts. The interaction of the PAHs
and benzothiazoles with other materials in the fields needs to be
characterized and addressed
29. Strengthening Additives: Nanoparticles
We would also ask for information and clarity about tire strengthening
additives of any kind that were built into the material anytime in the past
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 3
1

30 years, these would have been added to tires.
[http://nice.asu.edu/nano/carbon-black-and-amorphous-silica-tires]
Similarly, we request that the tire manufacturing industry explain their use
of nanoparticle products, of any kind, including the type and size, source
company and source country, and ask for an explanation about how:
a. they can be quantified in the product, and
b. how can they be cleaned up if they are released when the tire
crumb and or plastic “grass” carpet degrades?
c. We would also like to understand what material
characterization of their behavior in tires performance,
d. And or their behavior once they are released into the
environment.
e. We ask for any epidemiological due diligence that was
conducted by any tire company on nanoparticle use prior to
using them in a commercial product.
f. Plans for continued use and safety precautions tire
companies will impose upon themselves
g. Epidemiological studies conducted on these particles in tires
30. Plastics, Microplastic Fibers, Microbeads, and Small Particulate
Plastics
Assessment of microfiber particulate and small particulate plastics needs to
be assessed in characterization studies.
31. Flame Retardants
Flame retardants can be added to a tire in production, or applied post
production in a shipping setting or possibly as tire crumb. Since flame
3 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
2

retardants are known carcinogens with health issues of concern, and will
be on the surface of the waste tire crumb, tire infill providers need to know
if they are present, and purchasers need to know that the material contains
flame retardants prior to purchase.
32. Tires and Tire Crumb Additives
Myriad products exist to clean, protect, condition, and color tires. We
wonder if they are components of tire crumb?
33. Road Waste Picked Up By Tires
Tires spend their lives on roadways, of course, and can pick up many
materials in their travels. Debris, hydrocarbons, ….

34 CARINOGENIC, PATHOGENIC, and MUTAGENIC ingredients in tires
cannot be removed by shredding tires into tire crumb and must be
assumed to be accessible.

35. Tire crumb and repurposed rubber appear to be the same thing,
with interchangeable use… but are they the same? We would like
clarification.
We would like clarification about the distinction between the tire crumb,
repurposed crumb rubber, and crumb rubber. Specifically if using the term
“repurposed rubber crumb” implies uniformity of ingredients? Does that
term imply tires are not used? If so, what are the ingredients in
repurposed rubber crumb and how do they differ from tire crumb?
36. We would also like access to all MSDS/SDS of tire crumb
manufacturers and tire companies, and the ability to ask questions about
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 3
3

how and where they were made, variations on lots, source and composite
addendums. It is difficult to locate them.
37. EXEMPTION ON LISTING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS: We would like
to understand why tire companies have an exemption on their need to list
ingredients under Section 2: Hazardous Materials of an MSDS/SDS. We
were unable to find the source of that exemption, if it has a deadline, and
whether your study group thinks it is an obstacle to understanding and
characterizing risk of exposure from tires and tire crumb.
38. Of those MSDS that we located, several, like this Michelin North
America Material Safety Data Sheet for Michelin, Uniroyal, BF Goodrich,
says in “Section 2 HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS: Note: Tires meet the
definition of article as defined by the OSHA Hazard Communication
Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) and are exempt from MSDS
requirements.”
There was clearly no mention of 1,3 butadiene, carbon black, POHs, VOCs,
benzothiazoles, or any plasticizers, nor metals, styrene, sulphur, known
irritants, or well… anything. Since that section also outlines corrosive,
combustible and waste treatment, it is important for more than this issue.
We explicitly ask CDC/CPSC/EPA if they can use their existing authority to
require tire crumb companies and tire companies to provide ingredient
information.
39. SOURCE MATERIAL UNKNOWN: MSDS/SDS CANNOT REPRESENT
WHOLE FIELD. Tire crumb comes from many tires, and many sources.
Since not a single tire crumb field can accurately list or track which tires
were source materials, or what other mixed in components, and there is no
accountability from tire crumb recycling industry for the shredded product,
3 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
4

then MSDS/SDS cannot be accurate for a whole field due to variability.
Therefore, the burden of “proof” of risk lays squarely on the ability of the
purchaser (schools, sports directors, booster clubs) to assess risk… of a
very very complex product. So, if the exemption stays in place, we will
know for sure that we cannot know what is in a tire crumb based field.

40. TREATMENT TO SHOW NO PARTICULATE OR BREAKDOWN:
SHOW US.
As for studies that claim that their product has been treated (such as
cryogenic treatment) to not break down into dangerous particulate, we are
deeply skeptical, and would ask for proof. We also ask for assay testing
over a period of at least several summer weeks. We ask for the researchers
to simulate the pounding over 10 years and assess the particulate
characteristics and particle size. That testing in fact is being done right
now… in thousands of children across the country. Simple observation on a
player body, on the sideline benches, or under a microscope shows
consistent breakdown into particulate.

41. SHREDDED, PULVERIZED, HIGH SURFACE AREA FORM OF TIRES
and ADD INS is LIKELY MORE TOXIC THAN WHOLE TIRES.
Unfortunately, because it is shredded, pulverized, and in loose and
unencapsulated form, tire crumb has exponentially more surface area than
whole tires (Thomas, Gupta study; ) and we are concerned the material is
very likely more toxic––possibly many times more toxic––in the school
field form than whole tire form, since the increased surface area provides
more opportunity for molecules to escape. We know for sure that the
increased amount of surface area in tire crumb makes the material in tire
crumb more available to the breathing and exposure zones, and to runoff.

SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 3
5

42. CRUMB IS SURROUNDED BY DUST PARTICULATE:
Accurate characterization technique must include a study of the particulate
that surrounds tire crumbs, and steps must be taken to make sure that the
sampling process does not inadvertently remove that dust and particles.
We found several examples of the samples being washed, some in
unbuffered water, prior to their analyses being done. Of course, that
removes the particulate that concerns us the most. Distribution of the
particulate size and type is important. Those particulate can become
aerosolized by numerous gases and we ask that attempts are made to
properly model this dynamic under high heat conditions, primarily.

3 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
6

SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 3
7

43. VERY COMPLEX PICTURE From TOXICOLOGY PERSPECTIVE: Tire
crumb material is complex from a toxicology perspective, largely due to the
chemical complexity presented by multiple known toxic components and
variation. It has been described as a “toxic soup” of ingredients for which
we have no consistent data on proportions or levels. Characterization of
ingredients’ margin of error is unknown..
Testing must be done at the field levels using accepted sampling plans that have
been statistically shown to be valid. Not fields have been tested in sufficient
detail to determine or rule out any exposures or risks. A look at testing protocols
for lead in urban soil sites illustrate the level of attention required and show the
degree that current testing has fallen short of that needed for decision making
for children’s health.

44. CONTACT PATTERNS, FIELD USE and ADJACENT BUILDING
CONTAMINATION
Exposure is likely determined by ingredients in surface, activity, and
number of children or users on field. Each school or community field has
high use and high contact patterns, such as hosting contact sports, like
football, lacrosse, soccer, and baseball, athletic camps, workshops and
practices. In those sports, children dive into the field materials. As a child
runs or skids or slide tackles, a column of material rises up, as does the dust
and particulate that surround the tire crumbs themselves.
Testing for exposure need to list weather conditions including humidity,
wind speed, and precipitation, temperature on field surface and ambient air
temperature. Number of children on field, and activity level of that play
needs to be recorded, video would be most interesting.
Children of all ages use the fields for multiple sports, recreation and school
events. Artificial turf tire crumb fields abound in elementary schools and at
3 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
8

indoor and outdoor sports centers where children of all ages and all stages
of development play soccer, lacrosse, football, track, cheerleading, band,
and use the field for general recreational school activities. In the fields
with which we are familiar, families with members of all ages use the fields;
and the community holds events, picnics, special fairs, and activities. Some
fields are immediately adjacent to a school building.). That there are many
uses, and probably many levels of contact and exposure is an important
part of characterizing exposures, but both low dose exposures AND high
contact exposure scenarios and use need to be examined, with appropriate
epidemiological process.
45.. SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND SURROUNDING AREAS ARE
CONTAMINATED with a great deal of tire crumbs. The fields appear to
lose from 1-30 tons of material over their 8-10 year life, and some of it goes
directly into buildings, cars, and then homes. This impact needs to be
studied as an inadvertent consequence.

46. CANNOT ARGUE NO INHALATION OR INGESTION RISK or SAFETY
FOR EVEN A SINGLE FIELD. We argue that given the unique characteristic
of nonuniformity, known carcinogenic materials, breakdown into
particulate/dust, no known source of origin, and no accurate studies on
complex interactivity of those components in the children’s exposure zone,
in the tire crumb as it is installed today in 12, 000 fields, not a single field
installer, nor material provider can demonstrate that the material is safe
from inhalation and ingestion during normal use, active use, and on hot
days.

47. EVERY USE COULD POSE A TOXIC EXPOSURE and it would be
irrational to argue otherwise. We argue that due to the high variability of
toxins in the tire crumb substrate (from tires, unknown additives, and
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 3
9

factory waste add-ins), and lack of any control of the material, well-known
sampling techniques will NOT accurately predict risks to human health.

48. CHILDREN CANNOT AVOID THE EXPOSURES: Since school children
cannot self-advocate and take responsibility for staying off a field if
directed to be there by coaches or school officials or parents, we must
assume that children cannot avoid the exposures when they play on those
fields.

49. CANNOT CLAIM THAT EXPOSURES WILL NOT OCCUR. Absolutely
no way to responsibly claim that ingestion and inhalation of particulate
from the material will NOT occur to those children.

50. HOTSPOTS of intermittent dangerous exposures are possible, and
should be expected and searched for in every field.

We must assume that tires have different “recipes” based on their type of
use. Therefore, knowing the type of tire used in tire crumb, and each tire
“recipe” would be helpful in assessing characterization of ingredients.
However, there is no way to ever know what tires, or what material is in
any field, and therefore, an MSDS/SDS cannot be representative of any
field, or even any meaningful part of a field. Alarmingly, the high variability
in the ingredients presents worrisome “hotspots” potential, where the
hotspots might be missed in sampling but even a single exposure could
have very serious impacts for a child who has the unfortunate luck to dive
into that hotspot. PAH’s may be more prevalent, and present dangerous
levels for installation period of the field, and for some unknown period of
time afterwards, and considered a “hotspot”, then the consistent release of
PAHs in the subsequent years could mean low dose, chronic exposures.
Both need to be examined.
4 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
0

51. Lead, chromium, mercury and arsenic could be hotspot sources,
based on which tires were used, and how they were treated prior to
being placed in the field.

52. For example, when we asked about the source of lead in tire crumb
fields, an infill vendor explained to us that a) lead could be in any field as an
ingredient of the tires, of the treatment of tires, and b) once, they were
aware of a shipment of tires that was treated with an anticlumping material
that contained lead and the whole lot had lead, and c) that some lots had
flame retardants added as well. They would never really know, but “most
purchasers never ask”, according to the infill material vendor. If an MSDS
was required, an additional charge was to be imposed, since MSDS were
not available from the materials they acquired from China or other
countries. We have collected many more examples of the worrisome
unknown ingredients in our fields and can share with the study teams, if
requested. While this information is anecdotal, that is the point: we have
no idea what is in any field, for sure.

53. Another example, but this is not anecdotal: in a primary study field
exposures in CT, a researcher found that the children’s monitors showed
benzene. Since there is no safe level of exposure for benzene, and in fact,
tires are not expected to have benzene, the field was sampled more closely,
until that “hotspot” was located. The original source of that benzene was
not determined, but it was next to a busy parking lot where cars’ exhaust
may have been a source as they turned the corner, or possibly the tire
crumb material had been previously stored in an area with benzene in
surrounding environment, or perhaps it was picked up from contact on
roads. We will never know. That finding suggests that the carbon black in
the tires can adsorb additional toxins present near tires or tire crumb, and
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 4
1

could release that material as the fields are pounded with running feet, or
possibly on a hot day. The proper characterization of this material needs to
account for adsorption characteristics of carbon black, and other
interactions

54. The point is, that it is impossible to locate hotspots for all toxins in
every field, and incorrect to extrapolate the risk for a whole field from
a single sample or even multiple samples, since every sample is
unique. So, while hotspots can easily be missed in a field, the
unfortunate child that dives into that particular part of a field has an
exposure that can actually be life threatening, but missed in its
entirety in the sampling based risk assessment.

55. In fact, since the tire crumb creates multi sized “dust” particles,
and off gases, it is impossible to prove that even a single field is safe
from inhalation or ingestion exposures from tire dust particulate, offgassing components, multiple toxins and combinations of toxins, and
heat.

56. Importance of the Heat Factor: Source of direct injury and
chemical catalyst

HOT HOT HOT HOT EXTREMELY HOT FIELDS
Grass playfields remain close to the temperature of ambient air, and are
often much cooler. Asphalt playgrounds used to have a use limit of 141F
and many schools remove children from playgrounds when temperatures
get hot. With tire crumb based turf fields, surface temperatures can soar on
even mild sunny days.
4 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
2

Tire crumb fields “superheat” to levels that are routinely over 150F on a
sunny spring day, and in a recent study conducted on a sunny day Utah,
found to be close to boiling point, 190F, according to the Penn State Field
Turf Heat Study. The study found that tire crumb field surfaces are hotter
than ambient air, and increase in heat in a non-linear function with each
additional degree Kelvin of heat, hence the designation “superheating”. To
draw an example, on a Labor Day Weekend in DC area, with ambient temps
of 82F, the field surface temperature hit 164F by noon on several fields
used in a busy, tournament for about 1000 children, both boys and girls,
ages 8-15. Those levels are known to melt plastic cleats, require tubs of
water on the sidelines to cool down shoes, and create heat-related injury
including heat stroke, nausea, heat exhaustion, and dehydration in children
and all users. It is not unusual for children players to vomit, faint, and suffer
dehydration from hot conditions on the fields.

57. Marketing and sales for these fields tout their usability in all conditions
as a benefit (more practice and play hours), but in fact, the heat build up on
fields makes them very uncomfortable during many days and conditions. In
DC, there are over 100 days of sunshine each year, and most are during the
spring, summer and fall, making the fields uncomfortably hot and possibly
dangerously hot for a third of a year. A calculus should be made on the
percentage of safe days to play based on field yield risk, and heat.

58. Tire crumb fields do not have any protection from heat, and so they are
irrigated to be cooled down, but the effect is temporary.

59. To our knowledge, there has been no well known place for doctors nor
parents to report heat injury, though they are commonplace. (This author
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 4
3

specifically remembers a hot, poor air quality day in August in 2014 in
Washington DC when during a single practice, 4 soccer players vomited,
another child was taken to the hospital after passing out, and another
sidelined himself against the coach’s wishes, due to extreme dizziness and
nausea.)

60. Reluctance to Report? Yet, it is curiously uncommon for school
teachers, coaches and parents to remove the children from the fields, due to
temperature. We cannot explain that in rational terms.

We have also noted another curious effect: as football, soccer and lacrosse
increase in popularity and competition in the US, competition for spots on
high performance teams is fierce. There is a perception from strong sales
and marketing of the fields, that the turf fields present a competitive edge
for a school, a club or even a teenager trying to get into college, and are
worth the high price paid. As psychologist Dr. Wendy Miller, explains, “ it is
a culture where high performance parents, players and schools might be
willing to overlook these injuries, thinking that to complain would
jeopardize their child’s access to a competitive team. This thinking could
easily lead to the silencing of reporting of injuries.”

Heat injury reporting needs to be included in the survey questionnaires,
and victims of heat injury and illnesses need to have a place to report, with
impunity.

61. HEAT MAKES THE CHEMICAL DYNAMICS ABOVE A FIELD VERY
COMPLEX

4 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
4

In addition to the serious issue of direct injury from hot playfields to young
children, or anyone, the super hot fields present a very challenging
chemical situation.
Dr. David Brown, ShD, toxicologist, professor and former Deputy Director
of Public Health Practice Group at ATSDR/ CDC explains that, “the
unintended, and largely unstudied chemical consequences of what comes
off such an enormous quantity of high surface area material, in amounts
and sequence that is scientifically accurate is very difficult to predict and
model. Since the chemicals in the area above the field could change
instantaneously, the conditions are critically important (number of players,
temperature, time from last rainfall, etc.), as is the sampling methodology.
But no one has been able to come close to modeling the actual yield, we
only know the materials by characterization with samples, and that
variation in samples is so broad as to almost be meaningless, since it could
be easy to miss harmful exposures.”

62. Analyzing the field yield on a hot day is very complex, and challenging
to even trained toxicologists. The superheating of the fields makes gases
yield at faster rates as temperatures on the tire crumb surface increases.
So, as a day heats up, it is very likely that the yield increases directly with
temperature increase; a hot day creates more gases. Based on well
understood scientific laws, we presume that the gas yield from the field at
surface temperature of 50F (a cloudy day in January in DC) would be
considerably less than a field surface temperature of 158F measured last
week. If more gases are escaping the surface, then there are more
“opportunities” for particulate to adsorb onto the surface of the gases,
creating very dynamic series of compounds, none of which would be
recommended to inhale.. The changes in the chemical composition over the
fields as their temperatures rise is very difficult to test and model. These
changes happen in an instant… as a threshold is reached… and the
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 4
5

exposures can increase sharply. It is a very sophisticated and difficult
challenge to model. But what is the most important is not only that the 24
gases that escape tire crumb (Norway Study) create dangerous mixtures
but those gas/particulate mixtures, (and air) create a vector for deep lung
exposures of all the materials in the tire crumb field. So, on poor air quality
days, when there are many children on the field and a lot of stirring up of
the material, the fields could present enormous risk.

63. We are concerned about the range of yield levels, but, we are most
concerned about the intermittent risk to children during those hot periods
(a hot, poor air quality summer day during children’s soccer camp week in
Washington DC, for example) when the fields are likely yielding more gas,
and therefore particulate has more “carriage” into lungs, respiration rates
are higher, skin is exposed, and perspiration is highest. All these are likely
factors in exposure. It is during those days when exposures are probably
highest, and high enough overwhelm a developing immune system.

64. Exposure Study Needs To Focus On Worst Case Conditions
We acknowledge that the level of yield from the fields might vary widely
with material variation, and will also vary with outdoor weather
(temperature, wind, humidity and sun) conditions. Taking averages from
fields across the country will be meaningless, and will only help the
industry to expand its message of “found no harm”. An analogy might be to
determine the health of a forest taking 4 samples from 40 locations, evenly
spaced, but the sampling might easily miss a blazing forest fire. That one
day might destroy living material exponentially, but it could easily be
missed. Dangerous exposures can be unpredictable in this material due to
the scope and scale, the toxic character, and the superheating
characteristic.

4 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
6

65. A better approach is to carefully detect high yield days, and look
THAT DAY for exposures in a child’s body during those periods. Since
the exposures might attenuate, the work would have to be done
expeditiously. The harmful exposures may or may not be detectable a day
or a month later in a child. Monitor both genders, for patterns that might
lead to that awful air quality soccer camp in the city on a tire crumb field,
on days when vomiting and melting shoes are commonplace. A focus on
the impacts from the high end of those yields we believe will present
exposures that are clearly, and unequivocally harmful from both heat injury
perspective and toxicity exposure potential. We do not know for sure if the
carcinogenic exposures from low dose regular exposures or from high dose
“events” are more dangerous, but both need to be studied as separate
situations, not as an average.

66. We urge your team to focus the study resources on primary
measurements made in high use scenarios on hot days, and refrain
from the approach used in earlier studies that look at chemical
compositions during winter or rain conditions on limited number of fields.

67. The only reliable way to assess the risk to children from a particular
field, or groups of fields, is to look at their direct exposures, and
importantly look at bloodlevels of the known substances. Cooperation from
both high use athletes and those exposed to chronic levels of materials will
be important.

68. The Study Needs To Focus Also On Low Dose Exposure Risks
Trained immunotoxicologists look at the impacts of chronic low dose
exposures to metals, PAHs, VOCs and many other materials in tire
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 4
7

crumb. Their input is crucial to understanding risk of exposure in a
developing child.

69. Characterization Mistakes
Studies look convincing, but miss the forest for the trees.
Tire recycling and tire crumb industry reports are quick to point out that
when they find harmful materials in their samples, they are under the
known safety limits. There are two interesting fallacies in that reasoning.

First, since the samples in several studies are few and not uniform, they fail
to acknowledge the statistical significance of finding known regulated toxic
material in 2 million pounds of powdered tires… if one finds the needle, is it
luck, or is it because needles are more prevalent than expected?

Proof of presence is meaningful! For example, in the NY Study, PAHs were
found, as were metals, benzothiazoles, and many substances. Their
presence indicates a risk.

In a child’s product, since many materials are not known how they affect
children, just knowing they are there is enough to use a precautionary
principle and prevent the exposure. Arguing that the materials appear
under a limit (especially if that quantity is an average of multiple samples),
or there is no established limit (because it has not been studied), are not as
meaningful as the proof of their presence.

Second, though the conclusions of the industry reports may be of no harm
found/safety, a close look at the data itself on PAHs, lead, cobalt,
chromium, etc. is useful, since a) it proves presence, and b) at levels that
suggest risk for chronic exposure. Chronic exposure risk is the subject of
4 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
8

a great deal of new cancer research, and we care about all the materials,
including those which are potentially toxic.

70. ARGUMENT FOR MORATORIUM BASED ON KNOWN
CHARACTERIZATION FOR TIRE CRUMB
Because of the:
a. known loss of 1-30 tons of material from the fields during the 8-10
year “life of the field” into air and water
b. ingredients list: over 50% of its components are known carcinogens
and pathogens, [cite Yale Study]
c. massive scope and scale of this product, (the amount of material and
surface area of these fields is enormous; scale/millions of pounds in
each installation),
d. inability to control the levels of toxic exposure to children, or even
properly characterize them due to immense variation and chemical
complexity of what happens on a hot day over a field, and around
children. We cannot suggest mitigation strategies for the danger,
because the material is inconsistent,
e. Even if we did know for sure what was in each field, and suggest
mitigation techniques and protections…. All the tire company has to
do is change their recipe, or many recipes, as they do continually,
and the study is worthless. Children are still being exposed to
whatever is in the tire, the lot or that particular field..
71. Moving Target Analogy
Even if the study were completely successful, and the tire crumb material
categorized properly, the trouble is, tire manufacturers could change the
“recipe” for tires… and in fact they do this regularly… and the study results
will be useless, or at best, diminish in usefulness.
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 4
9

Any attempt to study tire crumb safety on turf fields is analogous to trying
to hit a moving target. Tire crumb is a waste product. Tires are not
designed or intended to be used as infill for turf fields.
Ingestion, inhalation and absorption of fine particulate by children is not a
consideration of tire manufacturers as they choose chemicals and
compounds for their tires. Nor are they bound to maintain any safety
considerations for such use by children.
So any study of present day tire crumb is a futile endeavor, because such
study tells us nothing about a field that gets installed immediately after the
study. Tire manufacturers often change the chemical composition of tires
and will likely do so again.
Even if a field passed safely concerns in a present day study, a new field
could easily fail a hypothetical study conducted the day after the present
study. So unless every field was tested using the exact same methodology
after every installation, there is absolutely no way to assure the user that
their new field is safe. Those new fields could easily have an entirely
different chemical composition simply because tire manufacturers changed
their tire ingredients.
So the present Federal Study is only a backwards looking study, not
forward looking. Any conclusion must be transparent and clear on that
issue - upfront and center. Otherwise the public is being misled into a false
sense of security.
72. Sampling: Not Appropriate For Tire Crumb
5 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
0

The core pediatric toxicology problem in industry based safety studies, is
that there appears to be an assumption that tire crumb is a uniform
material, and behaves uniformly. It does not. There also appears to be an
assumption that sampling will be an accurate method for studying tire
crumb risk to children, and it is not. Sampling will not be accurate to
assess a nonuniform, heterogeneous material with multiple known
toxic ingredients, high direct contact (dermal, hand to mouth,
breathing zone) for pediatric use. Sampling cannot produce a single
sample that is representative of the whole field, or even a part of the
field, other than the sample itself.

73. Methodology needs to study PERFECT STORM exposure
conditions, and be able to calculate exposures during those relatively
dangerous days.

Nor can sampling in the way it is proposed (samples from 40 fields across
the US), illustrate impacts from a perfect storm of exposure conditions on a
particular field, say, during an intense soccer camp in in summer in
Washington, DC with high ambient and field surface temperatures (ie
160F), bad air quality, no wind, when working athletes are breathing in
particulate with high VOC, PAH, benzothiazoles, and carbon black… and
many more compounds, on a particularly high yield day. Averages cannot
be relied upon in sampling for this type of product, since they will further
obscure the risk from exposures to hot spots of high risk material that are
on fields. Averaging the results from a national distribution in various
weather conditions simply obscures the acute risks further; it is useless for
risk analysis. In layman’s terms, it is like studying a forest using “x”
number samples, but missing the forest fire that is blazing away at a nearby
area of the park. For a child, it means that she plays on a field that was
called “SAFE TO PLAY”, after sampling, but in fact she might easily have
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 5
1

been covered with multiple materials known to cause cancer, and in fact,
that might be a regular event. The uncertainty of exposure frequency
makes the risk higher, not less.
74. The core of the methodology used in the 50 studies asserted by
the tire recycling industry were based on simple characterization of a
single sample, but not on realistic, combined, nor worst case (the most
important) use scenarios.
75. Multiple carcinogen and multiple pathogen combined effects need
to be measured. Single material measurements could be only a fraction of
the exposures, since the material exposures are likely to be from
combinations of materials.
76. BIOMONITORING FRONT AND CENTER
Because sampling presents inconclusive results, a methodology that relies
on biomontioring will be more meaningful. We suggest that more
sophisticated approach be considered. Personal sampling monitors
attached to children, dermal, urine, breathing analyses, and particularly,
blood and tissue samples from frequent users, players on “Perfect Storm
Days” and those expected to have chronic low dose exposures. We
understand that biomonitoring raises more issues, but absent a good
model, empirical data is the most reliable way to accumulate actual
evidence of exposures and to be able to establish a reliable causal link to
the cancers and diseases we predict from exposures.
77. IMMUNOTOXICOLOGY SUPPORT: RECRUIT THE BEST PEDIATRIC
IMMUNOTOXICOLOGISTS AND RESEARCHERS. Some researchers and
epidemiological professionals are already on the trail of better ways to
5 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
2

identify actual exposures, and can create biomarker groups as indicators of
presence of illness or exposures. These researchers have background in
immunological toxicology, and can track subtle changes in an immune
system that might be precursors to serious disease, like cancer, kidney
disease, brain changes, and lung disease. It is possible to create biomarker
group to prove tire crumb exposures in users and we believe that the
preliminary proof of concept step could be accomplished in less than 6
months with cooperative athletes, and study volunteers, and modest
budget. While we will not list them here, for protection of their privacy and
frankly, for fear of industry retribution, we will nonetheless let you know
that we have found multiple professionals who are capable and willing to
work on this task, provided a protective forum and IRB standards are in
place.
78. Immunotoxicology support: look carefully at the ages those
immune system markers in all children who are using these fields,
understanding that some metabolic types, and ages may be more
vulnerable than others. In fact, there are early indications that certain
age groups, such as prepubescent females (age 8-11), may be more
vulnerable to exposures to benzothiazoles, plastics, phthalates, and
endocrine disruptors in general, and therefore might be at higher risk to
contract cancer or disease from low dose particulate exposures from
tirecrumb, and the plastic “grass” carpet particulate. We need to establish
the datum from players to study this. We still do not know, but some
indications exist. For that reason, we respectfully request that the study
team include toxicologists and epidemiologists that are trained to keep
these concepts front and center.
79. LOW DOSE EXPOSURE CONCEPTS and CONCERNS

SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 5
3

Based on what we know now about low dose exposures to VOCs, PAHs,
benzothaizoles, styrenes, carbon black, plastics, plasticizers, and metals,
even at low, sub acute exposures, the fields could be very dangerous. That
possibility was not considered in the CPSC study, EPA study, nor in
mulitiple industry studies. These need to be assessed:


Chronic exposure to metals, plastics and plasticizers



Chronic exposure to carbon black mimics air pollution exposures



Immune system reactions



Endocrine disruption exposures from plasticizers and phthalates,



Exposures from multiple low doses and chronic exposures

80. The study should calculate yield of material that leaves the fields,
and how it leaves the fields. How much in the air , water pathways,
and with users (in shoes, cars, etc.) Interviews with schools and
vendors need to establish the replacement quantities of these fields,
and how often new material is put into place, since it would affect
exposures, and give an indication of gross yields. We estimate that the
fields lose from 1-30 tons (estimated) of material, so exposures and
impacts need to be measured in adjacent buildings, soils, and
stormwater systems. With 12,000 existing facilities, this may need to
be the subject of additional studies conducted to also assess if the
fields shall be regulated as point source contamination under Clean
Water Act and Clean Air Act. It is a very important metric, and a
perfect opportunity to include it, with little incremental cost, in your
study.

81. INTEGRITY STANDARDS. To track the history of the emergence of this
product is to track effective lobbying for regulation changes that favored
the tire industry, and the tire recycling industry. This industry took
5 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
4

advantage of an enormous quantity of recalled and used tire stockpiles, and
heavily sold and marketed the materials to schools, and sports centers
where millions of children play. Central to the steps that catapulted this
industry forward was the removal of the designation of artificial turf fields
as children’s products, based on the rationale that adults played on them,
too. Yet the fields continue to be sold to elementary schools and to sports
centers brimming with elementary, middle and high school players. The
sales oriented industry was willing to submit children, schools and
communities to the materials in tires in enormous amounts, and call them
safe. As this claim is deeply questioned now, we also urge you to NOT
allow the sampling or data collection to be conducted by an interested
party, including schools, sports centers, athletic group personnel or
administrators, field installers or laboratories or consultants hired by
those groups, and establish peer reviewed standards for testing.
82. Any group or individual who does participate in the study,
including regulatory staff, needs to sign an affidavit certifying that she
or he, and her/his group has not received compensation or benefits in
any form, including but not limited to sales commissions, direct
payment, compensation, bonuses, grass to artificial turf grant, field
financing, water savings rebates (State of California and possibly
others), or physical benefits including but not limited to uniforms,
facility enhancements (restrooms, concession stands, parking lots,
storage facilities, etc.), stadium components, or field equipment of
any sort, from the field installers or tire crumb field industry and its
assigns, and has no financial conflict of interest. The document
should be filed with an appropriate agency and made public.
83. We ask for full transparency on all parts of the study process for
parents, interested parties, and schools.
SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 5
5

OUR REQUESTS TO ASTDR/CDC/CPSC/EPA
Request
1. Regulate tire crumb and rubber mulch as children’s product

5 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
6

Background
PEER filed formal request;
12,000 fields x 30,000 tires is the
amount of existing material in
children’s use; see table A for
details on volumes and surface area
sizes, children/schools. Known
carcinogenic material and known

contact.
2. Remove “safe to play, safe to install” or any other references that imply safety from all
EPA, CPSC and CDC websites and public information sources
3. Place all PEER artificial turf filings in Federal Record

PEER Formal Request; agencies
must remove all endorsements of
safety.
http://www.peer.org/campaigns/p
ublic-health/artificial-turf/newsreleases.html

4. Issue a directive to public health agencies to disseminate warnings regarding unknown
risks from lead exposure from AT fields, as well as exposures to carbon black, known
carcinogens, PAH, VOCs into air and water pathways; direct hospital systems and medical
systems to screen for tire crumb field use, and report results
5. Use only independent lab or consultants unassociated with tirecrumb industry, adhering
to high ethics guidelines; transparent process for review; affidavit of no conflict of interest
6. Commission a primary study, conducted by independent, peer reviewed group such as
CDC to examine existing cancers AND illness in tire crumb field users and maintenance
workers of tire crumb fields
7. Mandate Cal Recycle Study corrections to methodology; mandate methodology peer
review; and mandate to impose Prop 65 rule based on OEHHA’s own findings on
carcinogenic exposure
8. Convene a conference for presentation of risks and concerns from parent groups, cancer
survivors to Federal Research Team

For parents, schools, athletic groups,
and communities; conduct parent
outreach webinars

Needs participation from
CDC/CPSC/EPA staff so parents
and public can have direct contact

9. Convene series of webinars and open comment opportunities
10. Allow public health and environmental advocacy groups in Federal Research Team
with complete transparency
11. Establish a collection point for recording experience of victims and those who may
have suffered injury from use of the fields, including heat injury, concussion or head
trauma, cognitive disorder, illness, and cancer for study and documentation; victim
hotline; for both child and adult contact with fields
12. Funding to identify potential biomarkers of exposure; conclusive marker study in users
13. Conduct blood monitoring and studies on existing cancer survivors.
14. Conduct cancer cluster study on soccer player cluster, and identify additional clusters
such as maintenance workers and installers
15. Provide full transparency with all interested parties
16. Conduct full epidemiological study of tire crumb on playfields existing and predictive
17. Study forms and questionnaires should include data collection on what is released
from fields into air, adjacent areas, water pathways, and quantified. Replacement
quantities for tire crumb fields should be quantified and examined as a metric that
indicates yield.
18. Based on release/yield figures, and other inputs, tire crumb fields should be evaluated
for compliance with Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, and regulated accordingly.
19. We request that OEHHA study methodology be peer reviewed by your agencies
before it begins, taking into account the comments received in this proceeding.
20. OEHHA Study Process and Methodology Concerns: How will those be considered?
21. Consider explicit protection from retribution steps be put in place to protect
researchers, players, and concerned parents from retribution

SHPFC Comments ASTDR-2016-0002-0003 5
7

5 SHPFC COMMENTS ASTDR-2016-0002-0003
8