by Jbs121309 e3 — December 16, 2009—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released results of a limited field monitoring study of artificial-turf playing fields and playgrounds at four sites constructed with recycled tire material or “tire crumb.” EPA will use the information to help determine possible next steps to address questions regarding the safety of tire crumb infill in recreational fields.
Recycled tire material is used in road construction, at airports, and in a number of athletic and recreational applications, including as a component in synthetic turf fields, running tracks and playground installations, notes EPA.
The study found that the concentrations of materials that made up tire crumb were below levels considered harmful. Concentrations of particulate matter, metals and volatile organic compounds were measured in air samples and compared with areas away from the turf fields (background levels). The levels were similar, and all air concentrations of particulate matter and lead were well below levels of concern.
However, given the limited nature of the study and the wide diversity of tire crumb material, EPA says it is not possible, without additional data, to extend the results beyond the four study sites to reach more comprehensive conclusions. The study, intended to gain experience conducting field monitoring of recreational surfaces that contain tire crumb, confirmed the effectiveness of most of the methods tested.
A Scoping-Level Field Monitoring Study of Synthetic Turf Fields and Playgrounds can be downloaded from EPA’s Web site on The Use of Recycled Tire Materials on Playgrounds & Artificial Turf Fields.
