If you grew up in America in the last few decades, you’ve likely played on synthetic turf. The black beads you see on these fields are called crumb rubber. Made from old tires, crumb rubber has often been promoted as a green solution. Yet, studies have shown mixed results about its safety. Some say it’s harmless, while others warn it may pose health risks.
Recent research from Northeastern University sheds new light on this issue. Scientists found that crumb rubber breaks down in sunlight, producing hundreds of chemicals. Some of these substances may be harmful to humans. Zhenyu Tian, an assistant professor involved in the study, explained that tire rubber creates dangerous chemicals as it decays. The transformation occurs due to elements like sunlight and rain.
In earlier work, Tian studied a harmful chemical found in tires called 6PPD, which reacts with ozone to form 6PPD-quinone. This chemical is highly toxic to coho salmon, a fish that faces significant risk from polluted waters. Even a tiny dose can be lethal to young salmon in under an hour. Research indicates that toxic runoff has drastically reduced salmon populations in certain areas, killing up to 90% of them before spawning. For more on this impact, see The New York Times report.
Tian stressed that while we’re not yet clear on how these chemicals affect human health, many known hazards are still present in crumb rubber. The team aimed to explore how the breakdown of tires affects both people and the environment.
In their latest experiment, scientists exposed crumb rubber to simulated sunlight, discovering over 572 new chemicals that formed as it decayed. This work involved collaboration among multiple research groups, showcasing the benefits of teamwork in science.
Among the new chemicals was 4-HDPA, an endocrine disruptor linked to breast cancer, and 1,3-DMBA, which mimics stimulant effects. A 2019 EPA report suggested that the risk posed by these chemicals might be lower during normal use of artificial turf, but Tian is cautious. He highlights that the crumb rubber is not inert; it continues to react and change in the environment. The process can take years, but many fields are replaced quicker than that.
As Tian concluded, while communities may see crumb rubber as recycled, it’s still highly reactive and poses unknown risks, both environmentally and health-wise. The ongoing transformations in these materials mean we might be dealing with bigger issues down the line.
For more in-depth information, check out reports from trusted sources such as the EPA and relevant studies contributing to our understanding of these materials.
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