Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI) responds to the new New York Synthetic Turf Study

The New York synthetic turf study, released in May, 2009, can be found at
http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/materials_minerals_pdf/crumbrubfr.pdf

The new New York Synthetic Turf Study tested two fields -- and in their summary concluded that the "levels of chemicals in air at the Thomas Jefferson and John Mullaly Fields do not raise a concern for non-cancer or cancer health effects for people who use or visit the fields." From this conclusion, press releases have declared synthetic turf fields with crumb rubber to be safe.

Environment and Human Health, Inc. responds:

(1) The New York Study sampled just two fields and on days of moderate temperatures. Those fields were the John Mullaly Field and the Thomas Jefferson Field. The study does not specify how old the fields are --- and that is an important factor.

(2) We know from Field Turf itself that there are 40,000 tires in each field. How does this study reflect the enormous variation in product and toxins that are available? Do two fields adequately represent the enormous variation in products and consequences of aging?

(3) The study found a myriad of toxic chemicals in both fields and then called their findings insignificant.

(4) They did a risk assessment on each chemical, and yet the exposures from these fields are in multiples. Studies have shown that often multiple toxic exposures are far more dangerous to health than individual small toxic exposures.

(5) The following chemicals were found to a lesser or greater degree:
1,4-dichlorbenzene; 4-Methyl-2-pentanone; Benzothiazole; Benzene; Freon; Methylene Chloride Chloroform; Chloromethane, 1,3-Butadiene; 1,3-Pentadiene; Benzaldehyde; Cyclohexane; 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, Heptane; Cyclohexane; toluene; acetone; carbon tetrachloride; ethyl benzene; and Pentane—and yet the study has declared these fields safe. How could one ever decide these fields are safe with all these chemicals coming off of them—and how do we know what these toxic mixtures mean for human health? This is not like trying to assess an exposure to one compound.

(6) As for heavy metals, there is a ton of zinc in rubber tires; with respect to lead, the report says that lead levels are below the federal safety standards. However, medical researchers consider these standards too lax. Authorities such as Phil Landrigan, MD, Bruce Lanphear, MD, MPH, and R. L. Canfield, Ph.D, suggest that no lead is safe for children, and it shouldn't be added to their play areas. Environment and Human Health, Inc. hopes that New York is right—and that these fields are safe, because we have thousands, if not millions, of children playing on them. However, these fields still look very worrisome to us and this study does little to reduce our concerns. As well, we are very concerned about our smallest children playing on ground-up rubber tire mulch in their playgrounds.

Nancy Alderman, President
Environment and Human Health, Inc.
http://www.ehhi.org