Crumb Rubber Infill Cancer
A 2015 study at yale university found 96 chemicals in 14 samples of crumb rubber infill and rubber mulch used in playgrounds.
Crumb rubber infill cancer. Ingestion of a significant quantity of tire shred did not elevate a child s risk of developing cancer relative to the overall cancer rate of the population rachel simon university of california berkeley review of the impacts of crumb rubber in artificial turf. The debate over crumb rubber and cancer. Bahou does not believe an immediate moratorium on crumb rubber infill is warranted but he would like to see more research. Crumb rubber sbr infill frequently asked questions.
One study suggested that the artificial fields put additional strain on. Characterize constituents of tire crumb. Federal research this coordinated federal research action plan on recycled tire crumb used on playing fields and playgrounds frap includes outreach to key stakeholders such as athletes and parents and seeks to. Continued processing with a granulator or cracker mill possibly with the aid of cryogenics or by mechanical means reduces the size of the particles further.
Crumb rubber is recycled rubber produced from automotive and truck scrap tires during the recycling process steel and tire cord fluff are removed leaving tire rubber with a granular consistency. No synthetic turf fields made with crumb rubber infill do contain chemicals that have been shown to cause cancer. The available research suggests exposures from crumb rubber are very low and will not cause cancer among soccer players. The study found that almost half of the detected chemicals had not been screened for toxicity and of the rest 20 percent were considered to be probable carcinogens.
A 2013 survey of top female soccer players found that they were 80 percent less likely to slide tackle on synthetic fields. Fill important data and knowledge gaps. Identify ways in which people may be exposed to tire crumb rubber based on their activities on the. An overwhelming majority of major league soccer players in a different 2013 survey said the crumb rubber fields would increase the risk of injury and physical discomfort and prolong recovery times.
The particles are sized and. Cancer refers to a group of related diseases. Crumb rubber infill is estimated to be about 90 of the weight of fields thus forming the vast majority of the playing surface. Artificial turf was initially created with the intention of preventing head injuries as the crumb rubber would cushion the blows from impact.
However what is critical to consider are the routes of exposure and potential dose someone receives.