EPA Posts Crumb Rubber Statement

Agency findings show no evidence of elevated health risks from crumb rubber in playgrounds and turf fields

The United States Environmental Protection Agency — EPA has released a public statement recognizing the safety of crumb rubber in playgrounds and synthetic turf fields. The statement has been posted on EPA’s website and reflects the agency’s comprehensive review of earlier statements and studies and incorporates comments and modifications resulting from EPA’s review process.

The new posting was welcomed by the Synthetic Turf Council (STC) whose members manufacture and install synthetic turf fields containing crumb rubber infill.

In an email to members, STC President Rick Doyle called the statement long-awaited and said it “validates the safety of crumb rubber in playgrounds and synthetic turf sports fields”.

The full statement (see below) can now be accessed on the EPA website at www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/

In addition to its position statement on the health implications of crumb rubber in playgrounds and synthetic turf fields, EPA’s Website features a similar statement of EPA’s findings on tire derived fuel.

Users can also find a wealth of information on scrap tire markets, regulations and a general overview of scrap tire management in the U.S. today. A section of the site is devoted to EPA’s Scrap Tire Workgroup. It presents the goals, mission and initiatives this broad-based industry/government group has undertaken to advance growth in scrap tire recycling and markets in the U.S.

The Publications referenced in EPA’s playground and synthetic turf fields statement can be found at:

1. www.epa.gov. Click the Exposure Research tab on the EPA Home page to access Scoping-Level Field Monitoring Study of Synthetic Turf Fields and Playgrounds.

2. www.ct.gov/dep/artificialturf to access Risk Assessment of Artificial Turf Fields

3. www.calrecycle.ca.gov/publications/ to access California’s report.

© Scrap Tire News, May 2012