The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation who provide more than 800 athletic fields for recreation for New Yorkers, 90 of which are made up of crumb rubber infill, have commissioned a study into the safety of these parks. The aim of the study, prompted by a recent DOHMH report entitled “A Review of the Potential health and Safety Risks from Synthetic Turf Fields Containing Crumb Rubber Infill” was…

…was to ascertain the quality of the air above (three feet) the synthetic fields. The initial fear was that chemical gasses given off from the fields during periods of hot weather, and small particles of matter and metal that become dislodged and airborne during play may be harmful to children.

Two tests were made over synthetic parks located in Harlem and the Bronx, and similarly one on the natural grass Mullaly Park for direct comparison. Air samplers were placed up and down wind of the test area and collected air under simulated playing conditions, at the hottest time of the day.

The results found only three unique contaminants in the air over the synthetic fields, these were not found up wind of the test zone or at Mullaly Park. However there ‘was no consistent pattern to indicate they were associated with the synthetic turf’. The overall results concluded that no measurements were found to be at a level that is likely to cause adverse health risks over a long period of time.

For closer information please see NYC Air Quality Survey of Synthetic Turf Fields containing Crumb Rubber Infill.pdf

Literatry Source: Scrap Tire News May 2009 - page 9.