Rachel's #871: Hazards of Synthetic Turf

[Guest guest]

At 03:48 PM 9/7/06, you wrote:

>Rachel's Democracy & Health News #871, Sept. 7, 2006

>[Printer-friendly version]

>

>HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN SYNTHETIC TURF

>

>By William Crain and Junfeng Zhang**

>

>A new generation of synthetic turf is becoming popular in the U.S.

>Brands such as FieldTurf are springier than the old AstroTurf and feel

>more like real grass. They also promise low maintenance costs. New

>York City is so attracted to the new synthetic turf that it is

>installing it in 79 parks, often substituting it for natural soil and

>grass.(1)

>

>However, the new artificial grass raises health concerns. In

>particular, the base of FieldTurf and similar brands includes recycled

>rubber pellets that could contain harmful chemicals. What's more, we

>have observed that on many New York City fields, the rubber pellets

>are also present on the surface. When one of us (William Crain) was

>picking up some pellets by hand, a boy told him that after playing in

>the park, he finds the pellets in his shoes at home at night. Because

>the rubber pellets are much more accessible to children and athletes

>than we had supposed, we decided to analyze a sample for two possible

>sets of toxicants -- polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and toxic

>metals.

>

>We collected our first sample from a new FieldTurf surface in

>Manhattan's Riverside Park in May, 2006. To gain information on the

>reliability of our results, we gathered a second sample in June, 2006

>from a different part of the park.

>

>The PAHs were extracted in a Soxhlet apparatus with organic solvents.

>The metals were extracted by means of nitric acid with the aid of a

>high-efficiency microwave oven (Marsx Microwave). Both methods were

>used to estimate the maximum amounts of the chemicals contained in the

>bulk material (rubber pellets). The analyses were conducted at the

>Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of Rutgers

>University.

>

>The PAH results for our first sample are listed as Sample 1 in Table

>1, below. As the table shows, six PAHs 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 (2). It is

>highly likely that all six PAHs are carcinogenic to humans.

>

>The PAH results for Sample 2 are also listed in the table. Although

>the concentration levels in Samples 1 and 2 varied somewhat, the

>results for Sample 2 replicated the finding that the concentration

>levels of the six PAHs are above the DEC's tolerable levels for soil.

>

>===================================================

>

>Table 1. Concentrations of PAHs (ppm*)

>

>.................... Sample 1 ......... Sample 2 ....... DEC

>.................... FieldTurf ........ FieldTurf ...... Contaminated

>.................... Rubber Pellets.... Rubber Pellets . Soil Limits

>

>Benzo(a)anthracene.... 1.23 ............ 1.26 ........... 1.0

>Chrysene ............. 1.32 ............ 7.55 ........... 1.0

>Benzo(b)fluoranthene.. 3.39 ............ 2.19 ........... 1.0

>Benzo(a)pyrene ....... 8.58 ............ 3.56 ........... 1.0

>Benzo(k)fluoranthene.. 7.29 ............ 1.78 ........... 0.8

>Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene 3.52 ............ 1.55 ........... 0.33

>

>* ppm = parts per million

>

>===================================================

>

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

>the DEC's tolerable levels. Lead and arsenic also were present, and

>many scientists believe that these metals should not be introduced

>into the environment at all.

>

>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.

>

>We have informed the New York City Parks Department of our findings,

>but as far as we know, the Parks Department has not altered its plans

>to continue the installation of FieldTurf in numerous parks.

>

>** William Crain, Ph.D., is professor of psychology at The City

>College of New York and president of Citizens for a Green Riverside

>Park. Junfeng (Jim) Zhang, Ph.D. is 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.

>

>References

>

>(1) New Yorkers for Parks. A New Turf War: Synthetic Turf in New York

>City's Parks -- Special Report, Spring 2006. www.NY4P.org

>

>(2) 6 NYCRR Part 375, Environmental Remediation Program, Draft

>Revised June 14, 2006, Department of Environmental Conservation,

>Table 375-6.8 (a) and (b).

 

******

Kraig and Shirley Carroll ... in the woods of SE Kentucky

http://www.thehavens.com/

thehavens

606-376-3363

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Isn’t this stuff recycled

tires? It’s used extensively in indoor arenas (not ice), and in

pathways (both private and park), as well as being pelleted for burning in

electric generators. It ISN’T just rubber.

 

ed

 

 

 

 

 

On Behalf Of The Havens

Friday, September 08, 2006

6:41 PM

stopthepoisons ;

Suncrystal; MR_Traceys_corner; Health and Healing-

Re:

Rachel's #871: Hazards of Synthetic Turf

 

 

 

 

 

At 03:48 PM 9/7/06, you wrote:

>Rachel's Democracy & Health News #871, Sept. 7, 2006

>[Printer-friendly version]

>

>HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN SYNTHETIC TURF

>

>By William Crain and Junfeng Zhang**

>

>A new generation of synthetic turf is becoming popular in the U.S.

>Brands such as FieldTurf are springier than the old AstroTurf and feel

>more like real grass. They also promise low maintenance costs. New

>York City is so attracted to the new

synthetic turf that it is

>installing it in 79 parks, often substituting it for natural soil and

>grass.(1)

>

>However, the new artificial grass raises health concerns. In

>particular, the base of FieldTurf and similar brands includes recycled

>rubber pellets that could contain harmful chemicals. What's more, we

>have observed that on many New

York City fields, the rubber pellets

>are also present on the surface. When one of us (William Crain) was

>picking up some pellets by hand, a boy told him that after playing in

>the park, he finds the pellets in his shoes at home at night. Because

>the rubber pellets are much more accessible to children and athletes

>than we had supposed, we decided to analyze a sample for two possible

>sets of toxicants -- polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and toxic

>metals.

>

>We collected our first sample from a new FieldTurf surface in

>Manhattan's Riverside Park

in May, 2006. To gain information on the

>reliability of our results, we gathered a second sample in June, 2006

>from a different part of the park.

>

>The PAHs were extracted in a Soxhlet apparatus with organic solvents.

>The metals were extracted by means of nitric acid with the aid of a

>high-efficiency microwave oven (Marsx Microwave). Both methods were

>used to estimate the maximum amounts of the chemicals contained in the

>bulk material (rubber pellets). The analyses were conducted at the

>Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of Rutgers

>University.

>

>The PAH results for our first sample are listed as Sample 1 in Table

>1, below. As the table shows, six PAHs 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 (2). It is

>highly likely that all six PAHs are carcinogenic to humans.

>

>The PAH results for Sample 2 are also listed in the table. Although

>the concentration levels in Samples 1 and 2 varied somewhat, the

>results for Sample 2 replicated the finding that the concentration

>levels of the six PAHs are above the DEC's tolerable levels for soil.

>

>===================================================

>

>Table 1. Concentrations of PAHs (ppm*)

>

>.................... Sample 1 ......... Sample 2 ....... DEC

>.................... FieldTurf ........ FieldTurf ...... Contaminated

>.................... Rubber Pellets.... Rubber Pellets . Soil Limits

>

>Benzo(a)anthracene.... 1.23 ............ 1.26 ........... 1.0

>Chrysene ............. 1.32 ............ 7.55 ........... 1.0

>Benzo(b)fluoranthene.. 3.39 ............ 2.19 ........... 1.0

>Benzo(a)pyrene ....... 8.58 ............ 3.56 ........... 1.0

>Benzo(k)fluoranthene.. 7.29 ............ 1.78 ........... 0.8

>Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene 3.52 ............ 1.55 ........... 0.33

>

>* ppm = parts per million

>

>===================================================

>

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

>the DEC's tolerable levels. Lead and arsenic also were present, and

>many scientists believe that these metals should not be introduced

>into the environment at all.

>

>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.

>

>We have informed the New York City Parks Department of our findings,

>but as far as we know, the Parks Department has not altered its plans

>to continue the installation of FieldTurf in numerous parks.

>

>** William Crain, Ph.D., is professor of psychology at The City

>College of New York and president of Citizens for a

Green Riverside

>Park. Junfeng (Jim) Zhang, Ph.D. is 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.

>

>References

>

>(1) New Yorkers for Parks. A New Turf War: Synthetic Turf in New York

>City's Parks -- Special Report, Spring 2006. www.NY4P.org

>

>(2) 6 NYCRR Part 375, Environmental Remediation Program, Draft

>Revised June 14, 2006, Department of Environmental Conservation,

>Table 375-6.8 (a) and (b).

 

******

Kraig and Shirley Carroll ... in the woods of SE Kentucky

http://www.thehavens.com/

thehavens (AT) highland (DOT) net

606-376-3363

[Guest guest]

Recycled rubber surfaces are found commonly today on many high

school and collegiate running tracks. Have not seen it called

artificial turf before and never noticed any smells associated with

these tracks, although the PAHs detected were probably too low to have

noticeable smell anyway. Zinc is a common metal founds in tires

probably in the steel belted radials. Nonetheless the concentrations

of PAHs are in the low ppm range which are significant for these

organics and it also appears as if the rubber material has been heated

to produce such PAH concentrations. Benzo(a)pyrene had the highest

concentration in the samples collected and is more carcinogenic than

benzene. More and more recycled rubber products are available today

and while we need to recycle as much as possible, it's questionable to

use a product emitting PAHs even in the low ppm range.

 

Neil

 

 

At 8:11 PM -0400 9/8/06, Ed Siceloff wrote:

Isn't this stuff recycled tires? It's used

extensively in indoor arenas (not ice), and in pathways (both private

and park), as well as being pelleted for burning in electric

generators. It ISN'T just rubber.

 

ed

 

 

 

 

 

On Behalf Of The

Havens

Friday, September 08, 2006 6:41 PM

stopthepoisons ; Suncrystal;

MR_Traceys_corner; Health and Healing-

Re: Rachel's #871: Hazards of

Synthetic Turf

 

At 03:48 PM

9/7/06, you wrote:

>Rachel's Democracy & Health News #871, Sept. 7, 2006

>[Printer-friendly version]

>

>HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN SYNTHETIC TURF

>

>By William Crain and Junfeng Zhang**

>

>A new generation of synthetic turf is becoming popular in the

U.S.

>Brands such as FieldTurf are springier than the old AstroTurf and

feel

>more like real grass. They also promise low maintenance costs.

New

>York City is so attracted to the new synthetic turf that it is

>installing it in 79 parks, often substituting it for natural soil

and

>grass.(1)

>

>However, the new artificial grass raises health concerns. In

>particular, the base of FieldTurf and similar brands includes

recycled

>rubber pellets that could contain harmful chemicals. What's more,

we

>have observed that on many New York City fields, the rubber

pellets

>are also present on the surface. When one of us (William Crain)

was

>picking up some pellets by hand, a boy told him that after playing

in

>the park, he finds the pellets in his shoes at home at night.

Because

>the rubber pellets are much more accessible to children and

athletes

>than we had supposed, we decided to analyze a sample for two

possible

>sets of toxicants -- polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and

toxic

>metals.

>

>We collected our first sample from a new FieldTurf surface in

>Manhattan's Riverside Park in May, 2006. To gain information on

the

>reliability of our results, we gathered a second sample in June,

2006

>from a different part of the park.

>

>The PAHs were extracted in a Soxhlet apparatus with organic

solvents.

>The metals were extracted by means of nitric acid with the aid of

a

>high-efficiency microwave oven (Marsx Microwave). Both methods

were

>used to estimate the maximum amounts of the chemicals contained in

the

>bulk material (rubber pellets). The analyses were conducted at

the

>Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of

Rutgers

>University.

>

>The PAH results for our first sample are listed as Sample 1 in

Table

>1, below. As the table shows, six PAHs 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 (2). It

is

>highly likely that all six PAHs are carcinogenic to humans.

>

>The PAH results for Sample 2 are also listed in the table.

Although

>the concentration levels in Samples 1 and 2 varied somewhat,

the

>results

for Sample 2 replicated the finding that the concentration

>levels of the six PAHs are above the DEC's tolerable levels for

soil.

>

>===================================================

>

>Table 1. Concentrations of PAHs (ppm*)

>

>.................... Sample 1 ......... Sample 2 ....... DEC

>.................... FieldTurf ........ FieldTurf ......

Contaminated

>.................... Rubber Pellets.... Rubber Pellets . Soil

Limits

>

>Benzo(a)anthracene.... 1.23 ............ 1.26 ........... 1.0

>Chrysene ............. 1.32 ............ 7.55 ........... 1.0

>Benzo(b)fluoranthene.. 3.39 ............ 2.19 ........... 1.0

>Benzo(a)pyrene ....... 8.58 ............ 3.56 ........... 1.0

>Benzo(k)fluoranthene.. 7.29 ............ 1.78 ........... 0.8

>Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene 3.52 ............ 1.55 ........... 0.33

>

>* ppm = parts per million

>

>===================================================

>

>The analyses also revealed levels of zinc in both samples that

exceed

>the DEC's tolerable levels. Lead and arsenic also were present,

and

>many scientists believe that these metals should not be

introduced

>into the environment at all.

>

>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.

>

>We have informed the New York City Parks Department of our

findings,

>but as far as we know, the Parks Department has not altered its

plans

>to continue the installation of FieldTurf in numerous parks.

>

>** William Crain, Ph.D., is professor of psychology at The

City

>College of New York and president of Citizens for a Green

Riverside

>Park. Junfeng (Jim) Zhang, Ph.D. is 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.

>

>References

>

>(1) New Yorkers for Parks. A New Turf War: Synthetic Turf in New

York

>City's Parks -- Special Report, Spring 2006. www.NY4P.org

>

>(2) 6 NYCRR Part 375, Environmental Remediation Program, Draft

>Revised June 14, 2006, Department of Environmental

Conservation,

>Table 375-6.8 (a) and (b).

 

******

Kraig and Shirley Carroll ... in the woods of SE Kentucky

http://www.thehavens.com/

thehavens

606-376-3363

[Guest guest]

Questionable? Especially when one

considers that they are used inside athletic facilities, tracks, etc.

Ever play soccer? One runs all the time. One breathes hard all the

time. One breathes larger doses of PAHs ALL the time. And, they

never tell you.

 

ed

 

 

 

 

 

On Behalf Of Neil Carman

Friday, September 08, 2006

9:05 PM

 

RE:

Re: Rachel's #871: Hazards of Synthetic Turf

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recycled rubber surfaces are found commonly today on many high school

and collegiate running tracks. Have not seen it called artificial turf before

and never noticed any smells associated with these tracks, although the PAHs

detected were probably too low to have noticeable smell anyway. Zinc is a

common metal founds in tires probably in the steel belted radials. Nonetheless

the concentrations of PAHs are in the low ppm range which are significant for

these organics and it also appears as if the rubber material has been heated to

produce such PAH concentrations. Benzo(a)pyrene had the highest concentration

in the samples collected and is more carcinogenic than benzene. More and more

recycled rubber products are available today and while we need to recycle as

much as possible, it's questionable to use a product emitting PAHs even in the

low ppm range.

 

 

 

 

 

Neil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 8:11 PM -0400 9/8/06, Ed Siceloff wrote:

 

 

Isn't this stuff recycled tires?

It's used extensively in indoor arenas (not ice), and in pathways (both private

and park), as well as being pelleted for burning in electric generators.

It ISN'T just rubber.

 

 

 

 

 

ed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Behalf Of The Havens

Friday, September 08, 2006

6:41 PM

stopthepoisons ;

Suncrystal; MR_Traceys_corner ; Health and Healing-

 

Re: Rachel's #871: Hazards of Synthetic Turf

 

 

 

 

 

At 03:48 PM 9/7/06, you wrote:

>Rachel's Democracy & Health News #871, Sept. 7, 2006

>[Printer-friendly version]

>

>HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN SYNTHETIC TURF

>

>By William Crain and Junfeng Zhang**

>

>A new generation of synthetic turf is becoming popular in the U.S.

>Brands such as FieldTurf are springier than the old AstroTurf and feel

>more like real grass. They also promise low maintenance costs. New

>York City is so attracted to the new

synthetic turf that it is

>installing it in 79 parks, often substituting it for natural soil and

>grass.(1)

>

>However, the new artificial grass raises health concerns. In

>particular, the base of FieldTurf and similar brands includes recycled

>rubber pellets that could contain harmful chemicals. What's more, we

>have observed that on many New

York City fields, the rubber pellets

>are also present on the surface. When one of us (William Crain) was

>picking up some pellets by hand, a boy told him that after playing in

>the park, he finds the pellets in his shoes at home at night. Because

>the rubber pellets are much more accessible to children and athletes

>than we had supposed, we decided to analyze a sample for two possible

>sets of toxicants -- polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and toxic

>metals.

>

>We collected our first sample from a new FieldTurf surface in

>Manhattan's Riverside Park

in May, 2006. To gain information on the

>reliability of our results, we gathered a second sample in June, 2006

>from a different part of the park.

>

>The PAHs were extracted in a Soxhlet apparatus with organic solvents.

>The metals were extracted by means of nitric acid with the aid of a

>high-efficiency microwave oven (Marsx Microwave). Both methods were

>used to estimate the maximum amounts of the chemicals contained in the

>bulk material (rubber pellets). The analyses were conducted at the

>Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of Rutgers

>University.

>

>The PAH results for our first sample are listed as Sample 1 in Table

>1, below. As the table shows, six PAHs 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 (2). It is

>highly likely that all six PAHs are carcinogenic to humans.

>

>The PAH results for Sample 2 are also listed in the table. Although

>the concentration levels in Samples 1 and 2 varied somewhat, the

 

 

>results for Sample 2 replicated the finding that the concentration

>levels of the six PAHs are above the DEC's tolerable levels for soil.

>

>===================================================

>

>Table 1. Concentrations of PAHs (ppm*)

>

>.................... Sample 1 ......... Sample 2 ....... DEC

>.................... FieldTurf ........ FieldTurf ...... Contaminated

>.................... Rubber Pellets.... Rubber Pellets . Soil Limits

>

>Benzo(a)anthracene.... 1.23 ............ 1.26 ........... 1.0

>Chrysene ............. 1.32 ............ 7.55 ........... 1.0

>Benzo(b)fluoranthene.. 3.39 ............ 2.19 ........... 1.0

>Benzo(a)pyrene ....... 8.58 ............ 3.56 ........... 1.0

>Benzo(k)fluoranthene.. 7.29 ............ 1.78 ........... 0.8

>Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene 3.52 ............ 1.55 ........... 0.33

>

>* ppm = parts per million

>

>===================================================

>

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

>the DEC's tolerable levels. Lead and arsenic also were present, and

>many scientists believe that these metals should not be introduced

>into the environment at all.

>

>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.

>

>We have informed the New York City Parks Department of our findings,

>but as far as we know, the Parks Department has not altered its plans

>to continue the installation of FieldTurf in numerous parks.

>

>** William Crain, Ph.D., is professor of psychology at The City

>College of New York and president of Citizens for a

Green Riverside

>Park. Junfeng (Jim) Zhang, Ph.D. is 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.

>

>References

>

>(1) New Yorkers for Parks. A New Turf War: Synthetic Turf in New York

>City's Parks -- Special Report, Spring 2006. www.NY4P.org

>

>(2) 6 NYCRR Part 375, Environmental Remediation Program, Draft

>Revised June 14, 2006, Department of Environmental Conservation,

>Table 375-6.8 (a) and (b).

 

******

Kraig and Shirley Carroll ... in the woods of SE Kentucky

http://www.thehavens.com/

thehavens (AT) highland (DOT) net

606-376-3363