Liberty Tire Recycling Applauds Work of Largest Tire Crumb Rubber Study Conducted in U.S.
April 16 2024 - 10:54PM
Business Wire
Study Finds No Difference in Exposure to
Metals, PAHs, Air Emissions
A federal, multi-agency research initiative today released a
report examining sport players’ chemical exposure on synthetic turf
fields using crumb rubber infill – finding no difference in
exposure to certain chemicals, metals, or air emissions among
players regardless of whether the playing field was synthetic with
crumb rubber infill or grass. This study – the largest of its kind
conducted in the United States – adds a powerful new resource to
the body of literature demonstrating that recycled rubber is a win
for the public and the environment.
"Safety has always been one of our top priorities for the
public, our employees, and the environment,” said Thomas Womble,
CEO of Liberty Tire Recycling. “I want to thank the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies that
have worked on this project to help reassure the public about the
use of recycled rubber."
The report examined the potential for human exposure to
chemicals associated with crumb rubber made from recycled tires,
specifically regarding organic chemicals, metals, and polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The report concluded there is little
to no difference between measurements taken from players using
fields with crumb rubber infill versus players using grass fields.
They found air emissions were "not different," concentrations for
metals were "similar to those in the general public," and there
were "no differences" for PAHs.
The report also found that when looking at four specific
chemicals – pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene, zinc, and lead – players who
use synthetic turf fields with crumb rubber have exposure levels
"similar to, or somewhat lower" or even "substantially lower" than
the public. These results indicate that players are seeing no
greater levels of exposure to these chemicals than non-players –
reaffirming similar studies that have concluded there is no
elevated health risk and no reason to advise people against playing
sports on synthetic turf containing recycled rubber.
“Although chemicals are present (as expected) in the tire crumb
rubber and exposures can occur,” the report concludes, “they are
likely limited."
The Federal Research Action Plan on the Use of Tire Crumbs in
Playing Fields was launched in 2016 to help address concerns about
the use of crumb rubber infill. The report's findings are the
result of a multi-agency effort including the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in
collaboration with the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The report can be found at:
https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-04/tcrs-exposure-characterization-volume-1.pdf
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Mike Sebastian Vice President - Marketing Liberty Tire Recycling
msebastian@libertytire.com 314.707.6576