lay lL Safe and PealLhy:

Arnhc|a| and Natura|

Surface -
I|e|ds and |aygrounds
Kathleen Michels, PhD
Safe Healthy Playing Fields Coalition
A speclal Lhanks Lo:
Ioe| Iorman, MD
AssoclaLe rofessor of edlaLrlcs and
CommunlLy and revenuve Medlclne
MounL Slnal School of Medlclne
Gary G|nsberg, 1oxlcologlsL, C1 uepL ubllc PealLh
?Cu - Lhe arenLs, coaches, players,
physlclans, sclenusLs and oLhers here and
around Lhe counLry supporung safe, healLhy
play areas for chlldren.
ulsclosure
I have no relevant financial relationship
with the manufacturer of any commercial
product and/or provider of commercial
services discussed in this presentation.
WE ALL WANT SAFE, HEALTHY,
DURABLE FIELDS AND PLAYGROUNDS
FOR OUR CHILDREN-
Problem: poorly installed, poorly
or difficult to maintain grass fields
(or concrete in urban areas).
What are the options?
BETTER GRASS FIELDS
SYNTHETIC OPTIONS
How can we make BOTH safer
and healthier?
SynLheuc 1urf PlsLory
! 1sL Cenerauon AsLro1urf (aL
carpeL llke) - 1960s
! Moses 8rown - rov, 8l
! PousLon AsLrodome
! 2nd Cenerauon 1urf ( long ber
'blades' and 'lnll' ure crumb) -
1990s
! CuLdoor lnsLallauon - Look o
abouL 2000 wlLh mosL lnsLalled
slnce 2004.
! Deter|oranon and rep|acement
acce|eranng (oote llelJ1otf soloq
soppllet ovet lofetlot plosuc oo
lostolleJ felJs ovet yeots- poollty
coottol ?- bow coo veoJots eosote
leoJ-ftee ?)
Modern SynLheuc 1urf ueslgn
http://www.soccerworldsystems.com/Products.asp
lasuc (nylon, L)
'blades' ln ureLhane
backlng
Crumb rubber, coaLed
sand, or oLher lnll
AsphalL, gravel wlLh
dralnage
8lalr PS lleld lnsLallauon
Plastic rug rolling out on
deep layer of rocks
Heat on Blair field before
tire crumb infill added-
air temp 86 deg F
Aruclal 1urf, naLural 1urf & ubllc PealLh:
The incidence of some cancers, including some most
common among children, is increasing for unexplained
reasons.
..current methods.fail to take into account harmful
effects that may occur only at very low doses. Further,
chemicals typically are administered when laboratory
animals are in their adolescence, a methodology that fails
to assess the impact of in utero, childhood, and lifelong
exposures. In addition, agents are tested singly rather
than in combination.
REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL CANCER RISK
What We Can Do Now- Presidents Cancer Commission
2009. http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/annualReports/pcp08-09rpt/PCP_Report_08-09_508.pdf
8lade Composluon and Colorlng
Nylon (older fields)- lead
chromate some very high-
thousands of older fields
may have high lead levels
see recent EHP review Van
Ulirsch G et al. 2010
Polyethylene (Newer fields)-
lower lead or lead-free?
Variable:
No pre-consumer testing
required buyer is
responsible for testing.
Blades can be any color!
Lighter colors are cooler!
Lead concern increases as
synthetic fields age
Expert Review: review of all the available analyses (including the
CPSC study often cited) the authors of this peer-reviewed 2010
article in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives conclude
that:
" synthetic turf can deteriorate to form dust containing
lead at levels that may pose a risk to children and
" all current fields should be tested for lead content
and then routinely tested for surface lead if lead over
limit for childrens toys is found in the blades.
Evaluating and Regulating Lead in Synthetic Turf.
Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) 118(10): Oct 2010
Van Ulirsch G, Gleason K, Gerstenberger S, Moffett DB, Pulliam G, et al.
http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action;jsessionid=329B79696CEF833977FD20963FAB6
3BF?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1002239
Larly lleld 1emperaLure uaLa
! unlverslLy of Mlssourl 8esearch - Brad Fresenburg. University of
Missouri
! AmblenL Lemp - 98 degrees
! Arnhc|a| 1urf Surface 1emperature - 173
! naLural Crass 1emperaLure - 103
! Pead Level Alr 1emperaLure - 138
! 8?u lleld sLudy 2002 : Wllllams and ulley, 8rlgham ?oung unlverslLy
! Cne of Lhe Lralners recelved bllsLers Lhrough hls Lralnlng shoes (whlch
has also been reporLed by local coaches and players)
! Arnhc|a| 1urf Avg. 117, h|gh of 1S7
! naLural Crass Avg. 78, hlgh of 88.3
PLA1
1he lndusLry's
soluuon
Nk |n NC- 86 deg I day- 160 deg I on the he|d-
chlldren drlpplng ln sweaL and wllung.
k|ck Doy|e, pres|dent of the Synthenc 1urf Counc||:
"l don'L Lhlnk anyone ln our lndusLry would suggesL
lL's a good ldea Lo play on a surface LhaL's LhaL hoL."...
"Iust as coaches have to reschedu|e games due
to ra|n when they p|ay on grass he|ds, so too
they need to reschedu|e or cons|der an
a|ternanve surface to p|ay on when |t's hot and
sunny." hup://www.npr.org/LemplaLes/sLory/sLory.php?sLoryld=93364730
Samples of Coach's LamenLs on
Aruclal 1urf
Lyneue Scamdl- Coach, Mom-
2 ellLe mlddle school players,
player - MonLgomery CounLy,
Mu (see auached noLes)
Chrls Pummer- Soccer Coach,
CoordlnaLor, [ournallsL, player,
lalrfax, vA (see auached noLes)
Lacrosse Coach , SL.Mary's
College, Mu (see auached noLes)
PeaL Soluuons for A1
uevelop guldellnes uslng Amerlcan Academy
of edlaLrlcs PeaL SLress guldance Lo declde
when Lo Lake/keep klds o Lhe eld
uSL LlCP1L8 CCLC8S Cl 1PL LAS1lC!
lnllLL C1lCnS
ulverlzed used 1l8LS- (conLaln known and
unknown neuroLoxlns, carclnogens)
vlrgln 8ubber (no assoclaLed carbon black or
vulcanlzauon compounds buL laLex may be
allergenlc )
8ubber CoaLed Sand
1hermoplasuc LlasLomer (1L) lnll (hlghly
recyclable)
Cork and CoconuL Pusk (blodegradable)
lnll opuon: u|ver|zed Used 1|res
(20-40,000 ures- 120-230 Lons per
eld)
RUBBER- Natural latex or Synthetic
Styrene and Butadiene (30% or more)
Carbon Black (30% or more)- (10-100 nm ultrafine
nanoparticles- see note)
OTHER (For vulcanization, heat, wear, strength)
*Recipe variable with different tire products*
lead, copper, chromium, zinc, cadmium, arsenic,
others
Phthalates, phenols
Volatile aromatic compounds (VOCs)
Poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
OtherWILL NEVER KNOW ALL. SECRET,
VARIABLE
Aruclal 1urf, naLural 1urf & ubllc PealLh:
The incidence of some cancers, including some most
common among children, is increasing for unexplained
reasons.
..current methods.fail to take into account harmful
effects that may occur only at very low doses. Further,
chemicals typically are administered when laboratory
animals are in their adolescence, a methodology that fails
to assess the impact of in utero, childhood, and lifelong
exposures. In addition, agents are tested singly rather
than in combination.
REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL CANCER RISK
What We Can Do Now- Presidents Cancer Commission
2009. http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/annualReports/pcp08-09rpt/PCP_Report_08-09_508.pdf
REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL CANCER RISK
What We Can Do Now- Presidents Cancer Commission
Regulation of Environmental Contaminants:
The prevailing regulatory approach in the United States is
reactionary rather than precautionary. That is, instead of
taking preventive action when uncertainty exists about the
potential harm a chemical or other environmental
contaminant may cause, a hazard must be incontrovertibly
demonstrated before action to ameliorate it is initiated.
Moreover, instead of requiring industry or other
proponents of specific chemicals, devices, or activities
to prove their safety, the public bears the burden of
proving that a given environmental exposure is
harmful. Only a few hundred of the more than 80,000
chemicals in use in the United States have been tested for
safety.
REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL CANCER RISK
What We Can Do Now- Presidents Cancer Commission
U.S. regulation of environmental contaminants is rendered
ineffective by five major problems:
(1)inadequate funding and insufficient staffing,
(2)fragmented and overlapping authorities coupled with
uneven and decentralized enforcement,
(3)excessive regulatory complexity,
(4)weak laws and regulations, and
(5)undue industry influence. Too often, these factors, either
singly or in combination, result in agency dysfunction and a
lack of will to identify and remove hazards.
oLenual Adverse PealLh LecLs
! Lxposures to 1ox|ns:
! zlnc, lead, copper,
chromlum, cadmlum, APs,
phLhalaLes, phenols, carbon
black
! koutes of exposure and
concern:
! 8reaLhlng
! ConLacL - Skln or Mucous
Membrane lrrlLauon and
absorpuon
! lngesuon - Pand Lo MouLh
! Excessive Heat
! Burns
! Dehydration
! Injuries?
! Increased turf
burns-
! Infection Risk ?
nanoparucles ln 1lres
1) Carbon black is a large component of
tires and consists of the smallest
nanoparticles.
2) Toxic Potential of Materials at the
Nanolevel, Andre et al.
Engineered nanomaterials (NM) are already
being used in tires,
It is possible that the release of nanotubes
from an intended commercial use product
such as car tires could become airborne.
WHAT IS GOOD FOR
TIRES IS BAD FOR
CHILDREN
What |s good for nres |s a|so bad for the
hea|th of our streams and r|vers- Zlnc ln
parucular ls Loxlc Lo aquauc organlsms.
A|ternanve |nh||s or (organ|ca||y) ma|nta|ned
natura| grass he|ds are the so|unon.
SLaLed 8eneLs of SynLheuc 1urf?
! uecreased malnLenance requlremenL?
! All weaLher play (bot oeeJ qolJelloes fot excesslve beot)
! CreaLer avallablllLy
! no need for pesucldes and ferullzers (bot cootolos toxlos)
! 8esource conservauon (fossll foel ooJ wotet- bot oeeJs
qtoomloq, teplocemeot, cleooloq, coolloq)
! Lower long Lerm cosLs (Not lf yoo foctot lo teplocemeot ooJ
Jlsposol costs)
! AesLheucs (olwoys tbe some sbloy qteeo- bot tbot oeeJs to be
bolooceJ oqolost coolloq)
! A use for used ures (bot metely Jeloys tbe ttlp to tbe looJfll of
20,000 to 40,000 utes ftom oootbet stote ot eveo oootbet
coootty)
SynLheuc Lurf 8alanclng AcL
! lleld use (bot beot?)
! WaLer Conservauon (bot
cleooloq ooJ beot
teJocuoo)?
! use for used 1ltes (bot
tbeo tbey qo to locol
looJfll )
! Less malnLenance?
Benefits Risks
! Local Heat Effects and health
risk
! Toxic Exposures on Fields
! Toxins Disbursed from Field
! Environmental Heat Effects
! High Cost
! Ecosystem Impact (runoff)
! Unsustainable- dispose
repeatedly in landfills)
unlque vulnerablllues of Chlldren
! Chlldren consume more food, drlnk
more waLer, and breaLhe fasLer Lhan
adulLs
7 umes mote wotet pet kq pet Joy
! Chlldren have unlque behavlors, dleLs,
and are closer Lo Lhe ground
booJ to mootb bebovlots
! ?oung chlldren have unlque wlndows
of helghLened blologlcal vulnerablllLy
tbollJomlJe, u5, fetol olcobol
syoJtome, Mloomoto, leoJ
! Chlldren develop rooLs of adulL healLh
and dlsease ( see eecLs years laLer)
coocet, cotJlovoscolot Jlseose, Jlobetes,
lmmooe JlsotJets
Larly SLudles on 1oxln 8elease
! 8uLgers - 2006
! n?C samples
! APs leached from
synLheuc Lurf rubber
pelleLs aL levels 3x whaL
ls allowed ln
conLamlnaLed soll
! used solvenLs and nlLrlc
acld
! EHHI (CT - 8/07)
! Demonstrated volatilization of
phenols and PAHs at 118
degrees F
! Zinc, Selenium, Lead,
Cadmium were found in distilled
water leachate after 7 weeks
! Higher amounts when acidified
water used
The lab conditions used may not have accurately
reflected real world conditions- but intent to
simulate digestion.
ln[urles
! 5-year Prospective Comparison of Injuries on
Natural Grass and FieldTurf. (mostly new articial
elds compared with older, probably compacted
natural elds ) (Meyers et al. 2004; 32; 1626Am. J. Sports Med.)
! Injury patterns differed:
"Higher incidences of non-contact injuries,
surface/epidermal injuries, muscle-related trauma, and
injuries during higher temperatures were reported on
FieldTurf.
"Higher incidences of head and neural trauma, and
ligament injuries were reported on natural grass.
"Recent studies show higher rates of ACL injuries on
articial turf.
LA Scoplng SLudy 2009
key hnd|ngs:
Substanna| var|ab|||ty |n:
MaLerlals used ln Lhe lnll
ConcenLrauon of conLamlnanLs even aL a slngle slLe
Increased M10 and meta|s at p|ayground s|te w|th h|gh acnv|ty
Above background levels
8elow nAACS levels
LA Conc|us|on: Cn average, concenLrauons of componenLs monlLored ln Lhls
sLudy were below levels of concern
LA D|sc|a|mer:
L|m|ted nature of th|s study
||m|ted number of components mon|tored, samp|es s|tes, and samp|es
taken at each s|te
W|de d|vers|ty of nre crumb mater|a|
LA Conc|us|on:
More comprehens|ve conc|us|ons not poss|b|e
w|thout the cons|deranon of add|nona| data.
C1 DL Leachate and Storm Water
Study 2010 (one of a group of stud|es)
80 of leachaLe acuLely Loxlc Lo aquauc llfe for Cu
and !" and 20 for Cd, Mn, b
8uno samples from raln evenLs:
Zn ma[or meLal ln runo
3 of 8 runo sampllng evenLs were acuLely Loxlc Lo
aquauc llfe
Concluslon:
oLenual rlsk Lo surface waLers and aquauc organlsms
lrom whole eMuenL
lrom Zlnc
N State DLC 2009
2|nc and a few oLher compounds had Lhe potenna| to be
re|eased above groundwaLer sLandards or guldance
values
vCCs and SvCCs noL slgnlcanLly elevaLed ln alr
M daLa deemed parLly unrellable buL dld nd elevaLed
M levels durlng play and downwlnd
Surface temps were MUCn n|gher (~ 3S - 4S degrees)
Approx|mate|y 70 of the measurement dates at both he|ds
warranted some type of gu|dance for exerc|s|ng ch||dren and
ado|escents based on Amer|can Academy of ed|atr|cs (AA)
gu|de||nes (eveo tbooqb ombleot temps wete ooly lo tbe low
80s)
L|m|tanons:
M||d amb|ent temperatures on|y stud|ed (|ow 80's)
#$ &'()$"*+ ,$"-.$(-"/ 01(-"/ &+*23
Callfornla CLPPA SLudy lall 2010
arncu|ate mauer 2.S and 10 - noL lncreased (uL18A llnLS nC1
MCnl1C8Lu, nC L8SCnAL MCnl1C8lnC).
VCCs - A few deLecLed
Levels hlgher Lhan naLural Lurf comparlsons (buL levels were
noneLheless deemed below healLh based screenlng levels).
Abras|ons: found 2 - 3 fo|d h|gher for co||ege soccer p|ayers |n
study
1he CuC clusLer sLudles ldenued Lhe locker room as a key
source of M8SA (Lowels, whlrlpool baLhs, eLc.) 1hus more
abraslons could be slgnlcanL - needs more sLudy. 1he lower
bacLerlal counLs on Lhe eld may noL be germane- SClL PAS
8LnLllClAL as well as paLhogenlc organlsms- hence lLs
deLoxlcauon of conLamlnanLs (see oxygen sLudy)
Callfornla CLPPA SLudy lall 2010 -llmltouoos
L|m|tanons:
aruculaLe monlLorlng helghL 4 -above chlld breaLhlng
zone. no personal monlLorlng or monlLorlng for
nanoparucles
Var|ab|||ty:
of lnll source maLerlal, age, Lype of processlng, amblenL
LemperaLures- lnablllLy Lo know Lhe full composluon of ure
crumb lnll.
CuLdoor vs. lndoor
Abraslon raLes may vary- by sporL, age, eld, Lemp
8acLerlal presence on eld may vary by season and
LemperaLure.
1esung noL done aL hlgh heaL buL Surface Lemps were sull
clearly much houer Lhan grass -16-39 degrees hlgher aL
mlld alr LemperaLures.
CLher Concerns noL Well SLudled
8|ack Carbon and Carbon Nanotubes (see notes)
Carbon black ls 30 or more of ure: Added Lo ures Lo
glve sLrengLh and color
ConducLs heaL away from Lread and lncreases ure llfe
Lxposure?: Makes k|ds' sk|n b|ack aher p|ay|ng
- a|rborne nanoparnc|es? (see notes)
nea|th concerns of carbon b|ack and eng|neered
carbon nanotubes(from other semngs):
Cancer (mesoLhelloma?)
LlevaLed 8 ln adulLs
neurodevelopmenLal lmpacL
Costs Not Cons|dered for synthenc
turf
! 8roomlng", vacuumlng or raklng- (lncreases
for heavlly used elds)
! Croomlng Lo loosen lnll and keep blades
sLandlgn uprlghL (more oen for more heavlly
used elds)
! 8epalrlng loose seams or burns
! 8LLACLMLn1 and dlsposal cosLs
! oLenual envlronmenLal cleanup cosLs
! CosL varlance by Lype of eld (soccer vs
baseball)
AlLernauves
A|ternanve Inh||:
8ubber CoaLed Sand
1hermoplasuc LlasLomer (1L) lnll
new 8ubber - LLhylene ropylene ulene
Monomer rubber (LuM)
Cork and CoconuL Pusk
A|ternanve surfaces and groundwork
naLural Crass- nauve soll, englneered soll,
sand based, sand capped eLc.
roblems: SynLheuc lerullzers and esucldes.
Soluuons- use lM and organlc malnLenance
AlLernauve naLural Crass SysLems
naLural Crass SysLems evolvlng- leaLures:
! Selecung Lhe rlghL grass (prevalllng
weaLher)
! uralnage SysLem
!erforaLed plpe sysLem
!ea Cravel or Sand
! 8ooL Zone Mlx
! Crass Seed or Sod
! lewer or no synLheuc lnpuLs: lM and
organlc malnLenance
Brad Fresenburg. University of Missouri
Cpuons- 8euer Crass llelds
! uramauc rlse ln research on grass varleues for
elds ln Lhe 1990s(uSuA, unlverslues)
! lmproved: wear Lolerance, shooL denslLy and
rooL depLh, sLrengLh of recovery, shade and
heaL Lolerance
! Lnglneered solls, dralnage sysLems equlvalenL
Lo Lhe rock base for synLheuc Lurf- plos soll
fltets cootomlooots beuet
! SLormwaLer recapLure and reuse for lrrlgauon
- (tepolteJ lo llo, 5w. 5t. Motys colleqe oses).
! lewer synLheuc lnpuLs: organlc and lM pesL
conLrol - focus on lmprovlng soll
Summary-|ay|ng I|e|d Cho|ces
! Compelllng need for lncreased sporLs eld access
buL.
! need Lo carefully evaluaLe how much SynLheuc
1urf really lncreases access (PeaL lssues) over well
consLrucLed naLural Lurf.
! new Lechnlques for beuer deslgned and
malnLalned naLural elds boLh lncrease access and
geL around healLh problems
! ln shade or lndoors - SynLheuc needed buL check
ouL alLernauves Lo ure crumb lnll wlLh fewer
known and unknown healLh lssues
Summary lssues -synLheuc Lurf
! lasuc Lurf heat lssues very well demonsLraLed- llghLer color
plasuc may help buL noL full answer.
! Chem|ca| and tox|n exposure from recycled ure lnll are noL
adequaLely lnvesugaLed and can never fully be known
! new lssues llke 8|ack Carbon and eng|neered nanoparnc|es
are Lroubllng (whaL else don'L we know LhaL we need Lo
know?)
! CosL calculauons need Lo lnclude rep|acement and d|sposa|
of aruclal Lurf
! lncreased abraslons may lead Lo more lnfecuon
! A|ternanve |nh|| may e||m|nate some concerns as a
comprom|se (shade, |ndoors) and be more precaunonary
1lps for safer use of plasuc Lurf elds:
! uo noL use Lhe Lurf elds on exLremely hoL days.
! 8e sure Lo clean and monlLor any Lurf burns"
obLalned whlle playlng.
! AuempL Lo remove all pelleLs from shoes and cloLhes
prlor Lo leavlng Lhe elds.
! AL home, shake ouL your chlldren's equlpmenL and
cloLhes ln Lhe garage or over Lhe garbage.
! Pave your chlld shower and wash Lhoroughly aer
playlng on Lhe eld.
Natura| 1urf see ootes
Ior more |nformanon about beuer natura| turf p|ease v|s|t the ||nks
be|ow (and see auached notes):
8ranford, C1 where arks D|rector A|ex a||uzzl malnLalns dozens
of durable and long lasung grass aLhleuc elds
organlcally: <hup://www.beyondpesucldes.org/lawn/acuvlsL/8ranfordC1
pollcy.pdf> and see Lhe recenL follow up:
<hup://www.beyondpesucldes.org/dallynewsblog/?p=1099> llelds are
used (and renLed) from March Lo november 7 days per week (all day on
SaLurdays and Sundays) for muluple sporLs. lor more lnformauon conLacL
apalluzzl[branford-cL.gov, phone: 203-488-8304.
kev|n Mercer's St. Mary's Co||ege, Mary|and (ksmercerQsmcm.edu,
phone:(240)-89S-323S )- responslble for: ! 23 acres of groomed lawn !
! 12 acres of sporLs elds ! 100 acres of common lawns
<hup://www.smcm.edu/rlvergazeue/archlves/dec[an09/uec!anSpread0
9new.pdf > low cosL, durable, low chemlcal lnpuL, organlc
1urfgrass kesearch- durablllLy, beauLy,
envlronmenLal fooLprlnL
kev|n Morr|s -USDA , Lxecuuve ulrecLor, nauonal 1urfgrass
Lvaluauon rogram (hone 301-304-3123 kevln.Morrls[A8S.uSuA.CCv)
8esearch on new grasses and englneerlng beuer solls
for aLhleuc elds
hup://www.ars.usda.gov/ls/A8/archlve/nov10/gardens1110.hLm>
narvard's w||d|y successfu| durab|e organ|c
turfgrass : 1he Grass Is Greener at narvard: organ|c care
w|thstands the pound|ng of thousands of feet
da||y "<hup://www.beyondpesucldes.org/dallynewsblog/?p=2330>
<hup://www.nyumes.com/2009/09/24/garden/24garden.hLml?emc=eLa1>
1urfgrass research coouooeJ
Dr 8rad Iresenburg (U. M|ssour|):
eld and 1urfgrass experL
conducung ongolng LesLs wlLh boLh aruclal and
naLural Lurf : "SynLheuc 1urf laylng llelds resenL
unlque uangers" <hup://cafnr.mlssourl.edu/research/Lurfgrass.php> .
1urfgrass uebaLe vldeo feaLurlng !erad Mlnnlck and 8rad
Iresenburg: <mms://eLcs.exL.mlssourl.edu/LurfgrassdebaLe.wmv>
SuggesLs nanclng opuons for malnLenance
< hup://cafnr.mlssourl.edu/research/Lurfgrass-cosLs.php >
as recenLly also advocaLed by Soccer Wlre's Chrls Pummer <
hup://www.poLomacsoccerwlre.com/news/3322/12633 >
1hank ?ou
Cuesuons?