“responding to issues of safety about crumb rubber infilled...
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“Responding to Issues of Safety about Crumb Rubber Infilled Synthetic Turf”
Rick Doyle, President ISRI 2015 Convention & Exposition Vancouver, BC
About the Synthetic Turf Council In its 12th year – Unbiased voice of the industry About 215 members in North American and Europe Full, corporate, members include architects & engineers,
testing labs, turf manufacturers, builders and installers, site contractors, independent consultants, maintenance specialists, drainage and irrigation companies, specialty service companies, and infill suppliers, including 12 crumb rubber manufacturers
Affiliate, individual, members include athletic directors, municipal and parks officials, professors, researchers, and students
STC Guidance on Objective Measures Suggested Guidelines for the Essential Elements of
Synthetic Turf Systems* Guidelines for Synthetic Turf Performance* Guidelines for Maintenance of Infilled Synthetic Turf
Sports Fields* Glossary of Terms for Synthetic Turf* Removal, Recovery, Reuse, and Recycling of Synthetic
Turf and its System Components Attracting Funding and Local Support for a Synthetic Turf
Field Quality Guidelines for Synthetic Turf Grass** Guidelines for Base Construction under Synthetic Turf
Sports Fields**
*available in Spanish **to be released by October 2015
STC’s Estimate – North American Market Size for Synthetic Sports Fields 2008: 900-1,000 installed for a total of more than 4,500 2009: 700-800 installed for a total of more than 5,000 2010: 900-1,000 installed for a total of more than 6,000 2011: about 1,000 installed for a total of more than
7,000 2012: 1,100-1,200 installed for a total of more than
8,000 2013: 1,200-1,300 installed for a total of about 9,500 2014: 1,300-1,500 installed for a total of about 11,000
Estimated Size of Crumb Rubber Market for Synthetic Turf Infill Approximately 300 million scrap tires in 2014 – 30
million for crumb rubber infill About 12 lbs. of crumb rubber derived from one
passenger tire equivalent About 98% of all synthetic turf sports fields have crumb
rubber infill
A Look Ahead – U.S. Market Slow, steady growth – 2015 could be a record year Growing demand – becoming a ‘must have’? Public
schools need to find sources of private money New systems/infills being considered Field maintenance and testing a growing business Replacement of aged fields becoming urgent and
unavoidable – concern about liability Consolidation, fragmentation, and exits Uncertain economic outlook
Critical Industry Issues Average useful lifespan is 8-10 years Within 3 years, 1,000 fields+ will be annually for decades
to come 80M sq. ft. of carpet – 40M lbs. 400M lbs. of infill – 250M lbs. of crumb rubber
* Source: Turf Reclamation Services (TRS)
Reclaiming, Reusing, and Recycling Old Synthetic Turf Sports Fields STC Buyers’ Guide for reclamation, reuse, and recycling
companies STC Guidelines - Removal, Recovery, Reuse, and
Recycling of Synthetic Turf and its System Components
Role of Crumb Rubber in Synthetic Turf Performance Greatly improves shock absorption Traction – cleat interaction with crumb rubber infill
enhances grip while allowing foot release Surface stability – crumb tire rubber is highly durable,
can be easily leveled and protects the grass fibers
Crumb Rubber – Public Perception Challenges While use of CRI is dominant, certain public perception
challenges exist Chemical composition raises concern about risks to human health
and the environment
End-of-Life concerns Heat There are infill and system alternatives at higher cost
Infill – organic materials, TPE’s, EPDM’s, etc. – durability and performance may not be as good as CRI
Shock pad systems provide uniform resilience and require less infill
A Crisis of Confidence is Born 10-18-14 and 12-2-14: NBC Nightly News with Brian
Williams reports that synthetic turf sports fields with crumb rubber infill (CRI), and playgrounds with rubber mulch may cause cancer “No research has linked cancer to artificial turf.” BUT…
2-21-15: San Francisco Chronicle reports, “The USEPA has terminated its longtime campaign to promote the use of recycled tires on artificial turf fields and playgrounds….”
3-16-15: USA Today reports “harmful levels of lead ignored at [synthetic turf] play fields.
Legislative Action California: SB47 calls for moratorium and new study.
Status: In Suspense File Moratorium dropped. Now, ban on state grants, and required
public hearings and bidding criteria. Study to be conducted. $6.1 million and 3 years.
Minnesota: SF1422 calls for moratorium and new study. Status: Pending Moratorium dropped. $50,000 proposed for study.
New York: S4321 calls for 6-mo. moratorium pending report from Env. Conservation Dept. Status: Pending
New York: S1735 calls for public health study by Dept. of Health. Status: Pending
Virginia: HB2317 calls for moratorium and new study. Status: Dead
Regulatory Action CPSC EPA – Letter from Congressman Israel asking EPA to
conduct swift study of health risks of synthetic turf fields and playgrounds containing CRI. Status: Response pending
Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (CDC) – Letter from Congressman Pallone asking ATSDR to study if human exposure to CRI in synthetic turf fields increases the risk of lymphoma, leukemia and other blood cancers. Status: Declined to conduct study. Offered to support EPA and CPSC if they conduct study.
STC Response Special webpage on www.syntheticturfcouncil.org
STC news releases and position statements List with links to 50 studies/reports in last 20 years all validating
no elevated human health or environmental risk from synthetic turf with crumb rubber infill
Overview of research on human health risk, including cancer, from dermal contact, inhalation, or ingestion of CRI
Letter from CT Dept of Public Health -- confident that CRI does not pose an elevated health risk
Noted toxicologist Laura Green refuting assertions of EHHI as without merit. “No type of cancer in adolescents is known to be caused by overexposure to chemicals.”
Crumb rubber FAQs with info about other infill materials
Results of independent tests of CRI, e.g., Lower Canada College, Act Global
STC quality guidelines for CRI
Hired PR/Marketing and Legal experts for advice during the crisis
Hired testing lab and engineer to help STC develop recommended test protocols and voluntary guideline values for ‘chemicals of concern’ in CRI and other infill materials
Formed STC Task Force to Advocate Against SB47 in California Submitted statement and attachments in opposition
Testified in opposition to VA bill. Bill defeated.
Monitor Google Alerts daily and respond to buyer and owner concerns about safety. In many cases confidence in the safety of synthetic turf with CRI is restored
Post info on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook re safety, research, trends, and legislative & regulatory updates
STC Positions Crumb rubber is the infill in 98% of all synthetic turf
sports fields. In defending the human health and environmental safety of crumb rubber, the STC is defending against a threat to the entire industry.
The STC believes that independent, science-based information should be the foundation of any discussion regarding the safety of synthetic turf with crumb rubber infill.
More than 50 studies have been conducted in the past 20 years, which review the health and environmental effects of crumb rubber. These have analyzed the risks from inhalation, dermal contact, and ingestion, as well as cancer.
Not one study has warned against a serious elevated human health or environmental risk – not a single one.
There will never be one study that definitely proves the absolute safety of anything. So we must look at the preponderance of evidence from independent, science-based research.
The STC supports any future opportunities for new scientific research.
LEAD “Young children are not at risk from exposure to lead in
these fields.” CPSC, 7-30-08 The synthetic turf voluntarily removed the insoluble lead
chromate from synthetic turf pigments in 2009. BENEFITS OF SYNTHETIC TURF AND CRUMB RUBBER Synthetic turf allows millions of children and people of all
ages the opportunity to be active year-round in virtually all weather conditions.
Synthetic turf with crumb rubber infill is an environmental success story. Every year: it diverts about 30 million used car and truck tires from landfills Conserves billions of gallons of water by reducing the need to
irrigate Avoids the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.
NEVERTHELESS… Federal and state guidance is inconsistent and confusing,
e.g., EPA and CDC Some environmental groups continue to promote
misinformation and ignore the science causing great confusion in the marketplace
We Can Continue to Make a Difference Promote science-based health & environmental safety of
CRI and synthetic turf. Promote environmental benefits of CRI and synthetic
turf. Educate Federal, State, and local government officials,
regulators & legislators. Respond immediately to misinformation about CRI and
synthetic turf in the marketplace. Response must be factual and based on science.
Produce CRI of consistently high quality. STC minimum quality guidelines and European DIN standards.
Thank you!
Synthetic Turf Council 400 Galleria Parkway, Suite 1500
Atlanta, Georgia 30339 Phone: 678.385.6720
www.syntheticturfcouncil.org [email protected]