detailed citation - record # 5915
- Title
- Literature Review: Preliminary Assessment of the Toxicity from Exposure to Crumb Rubber: its use in Playgrounds and Artificial Turf Playing Fields
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- Web Document or Associated Web Site
- http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/research/#humanhealth
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- Abstract
- Crumb rubber consists of recycled, destructively chipped/pulverized, used automobile tires. This material is produced by a variety of methods such as grinding, chipping, softening with various agents, freezing, then shredding, chipping, etc. As a result of these
processes and various post-production processes, various amounts of the additives/components used in the original production of the tire, besides rubber, occur in the crumb rubber. Crumb rubber has been used in playgrounds because of its ability to minimize impact falls better than wood mulches of various kinds. As may be imagined, there are significant differences in quality and sizes varying from producer to producer depending on the method of production. Various producers make claims that their product is 95% steel free, non-toxic, fade resistant, stable, will
not blow away, etc. Many of the claims made for various products containing crumb rubber lack independent substantiation. In addition, some commercial mulch and potting soil products that contain crumb rubber do not mention this ingredient on the label and reportedly there are no requirements for them to do so. Fractured rubber from tires is high in leachable zinc, a known phytotoxic element that can kill ornamental plants and prevent crops such as peanuts from growing. Rufus Chaney (2005) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture following the research for 20 years says that the majority of research leads to the conclusion that for the zinc factor alone, ground or chipped rubber should never be used in gardens or composts. While phytotoxicity to ornamental plants and crops from high zinc content is known (Chaney, 1993), some producers advertise this fact as an advantage for their product, in that it inhibits weed growth.
- Author
- Ledoux, Thomas
- Publisher
- Division of Science, Research and Technology of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)
- Publication Date
- 2007/06/01
- Publication Place
- P.O. Box 409, Trenton, New Jersey, 08625
- Supplemental Information
- 2 p.
- Primary Theme Keyword
- human health, chemicals, toxins
- Theme Keywords
- rubber, crumb rubber, playgrounds, zinc, leachable zinc
- Primary Place Keyword
- New Jersey
- Type of Document
- Report/study
- Document Location
- NJER 07-202
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