11/22/2023 0 Comments Crumb rubber mulchHowever, no known published studies have investigated lead levels in the other types of rubber surfacing used in playgrounds in the United States, and playground lead exposures remain in question. ![]() Lead oxide has since been replaced by zinc oxide as the primary vulcanizing agent, but studies demonstrate that this alternative still contains lead contamination. Historically, lead oxide was used as a vulcanizing agent in the manufacturing process to make tire rubber more elastic. Some investigations also found harmful levels of lead in crumb rubber and turf fiber samples from synthetic turf fields, sometimes exceeding the 400 μg/g federal limit for lead in soil in play areas. Limited research thus far has found that crumb rubber sometimes contains harmful polyaromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates, and benzothiazole. There is growing public concern about the toxicity of recycled tire rubber materials used as infill in synthetic turf athletic fields. Roughly 300 million auto tires are disposed of in the United States every year, and are often restricted from landfills to reduce the potential for tire fires and mosquito breeding habitats. In addition to its shock-absorbent qualities, rubber surfacing is also a useful and environmentally sustainable application for recycled waste tires. Several types of playground surfaces are constructed from tire rubber: rubber tiles, poured-in-place rubber, bonded rubber, loose-fill rubber mulch, and synthetic turf. From 2005 to 2015, the amount of ground tire manufactured for playground use rose from 19,000 to approximately 225,000 tons. Rubber surfacing has become more widespread in playground design due to its potential injury prevention benefits. Our finding of lower concentrations of lead in sand and mulch compared to rubber and soil should be used to inform playground design to optimize children’s health, alongside other chemical and safety considerations. Average lead levels were 65.7 μg/g for soil, 22.0 μg/g for rubber, 8.5 μg/g for sand, and 9.0 μg/g for mulch. To evaluate the association between material type and lead concentrations, we conducted a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures and built a linear regression model controlling for distance to major roadway, neighborhood-level status as an environmental justice area, peeling paint on the playground, and rubber condition. We examined levels of lead in poured-in-place rubber and compared them to levels in soil, sand, and wood mulch materials from 28 randomly selected playgrounds in Boston, MA, USA using X-ray fluorescence. Potential lead contamination from vulcanizing agents used in rubber surfacing are a possible concern however this has not been researched. Available research on chemicals in recycled rubber has focused on synthetic turf applications, but is limited for playground rubber surfacing. Rubber surfacing is often used in playgrounds due to its potential injury prevention benefits and as a way to recycle waste tires.
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