Crumb rubber, also known as ground tire rubber, or GTR , is made from ground-up shredded tires. Here is a photo of the crumb rubber that was shaken out of a coach’s shoes after being on the field during one game. As a coach, not a player. The crumb rubber and artificial 'blades' are in a ~6-1/2-inch-wide baggie. This person coaches children, age about 11-13.
~6-1/2-inch-wide clear plastic bag containing 1. crumb rubber (the small black objects that are scattered to the right and left within the bag); and 2. artificial 'grass blades' stitched together and held together by a black strip of artificial material, in the center of the bag
Remember how I told you that the artificial turf industry worked so hard, and paid lobbyists tens of thousands of dollars to make sure artificial turf is not categorized as a ‘children’s product?’ This is why. Because any amount of lead is dangerous. And if a product is classified by the U.S. government as a ‘child’s product,’ it must be tested and its lead level revealed. Gee, why wouldn’t manufacturers of such a safe product want their product tested? Hmm…maybe because it’s not so safe after all.
So, here goes folks, in another of those discussions about, what is it made of really?
Crumb Rubber
According to a private manufacturer of tire shredders,
“Crumb Rubber is the name given to any material resulting from granulating scrap tires or other rubber into uniform granules with the steel, fiber, dust, glass, and rock removed.FieldTurfTarkett states on its website that the method used by their shredders is cryogenic.
Crumb rubber production is accomplished by grinding techniques generally known as ambient or cryogenic. Ambient means grinding at room temperature. Cryogenic means grinding at very low temperatures. Other methods exist such as proprietary wet-grinding.”
Shredded scrap tire is placed in liquid nitrogen and is frozen and becomes brittle. Next, it is shattered and sorted by size. And voila! 'cryogenic' crumb rubber.
And here's what the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has to say about artificial turf and crumb rubber. Oh, and lead. (bold color text my own)
Q: What chemicals can be found in the synthetic turf crumb rubber?
A: The crumb rubber used in synthetic turf is mainly composed of recycled tires, which contain man-made and natural rubber. Based on the review of research studies and reports, certain chemicals have been identified in crumb rubber. These include small amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals such as zinc, iron, manganese and lead.
Q: Can people be exposed to the chemicals found in crumb rubber?
A: Although the potential for significant exposure to the chemicals in crumb rubber is very low, there are three possible ways for people to have contact with these chemicals on artificial turf fields:
Accidentally ingesting small amounts of crumb rubber by putting fingers in the mouth or not washing hands before eating after playing on the fields.
Breathing in dust and vapors while playing on the fields. Crumb rubber may become dust as it wears and the rubber may give off some vapors.
Direct skin contact with the crumb rubber.
But not to worry, folks! Our elected officials at the Montgomery County (Maryland) Public School Board of Education, led by Shirley Brandman; and Phil Andrews, Valerie Ervin and the other county council members who enthusiastically voted 'YES!' when it comes to having your children play on these artificial fields, aren't worried, so why should you be? Just remember to make sure your child follows the simple directions as above:
- Don't breath.
- Don't have skin contact with the field.
- Always wash hands after you play on the fields, before you eat.
How Much?
How much crumb rubber is in a football field? This link helps you figure out how many pounds of crumb rubber you need for a football field. Try it! It's fun! Unfortunately there is no comparable site out there that tells you how many pounds will be washed into the Chesapeake Bay. Too bad.
The question that I have for who ever gather this item and took this photo is what is it. The photo needs to have better lighting so one can see what's actually in the bag. Can you do that post a clear photo so we can see what's in this photo?
ReplyDeletegrahamhayes, thanks for the comment. I took the photo (at home) and will take a better one if possible and post. (disclaimer: I am not a professional photographer, although I guess that is obvious)
ReplyDeleteThis is what's in the photo:
a plastic baggie that measures ~6.5 inches wide and inside the baggie are:
1. tire crumbs (the small roundish black objects that are scattered; and
2. the artificial 'grass blades' that are stitched together with black linear backing.
hope this helps.
This represents one coach's gametime on the field during one game, that the coach shook out of their shoes.
that is what money will buy you when a company can pay the lobbyist to get what they want. It is only common sense that ground up tires is cheap, toxic and releases carcinogins into the environment. Field Turf will stoop to whatever level to intimidate and get what they want. I will tell you one thing is that the GEN-5 system is by far superior and much more safe than the junk that is on a lot of fields. Oh by the way the GEN-5 system is less expensive too because there is no greed just quality and consumer awareness that the GEN-5 provides. Good luck with all that rubber that all landfills will not take when that cheap field fails in about 4 years or less. Go figure Coach Gro
ReplyDeletefreestategal- YOu are amazing. Finally someone who actually cares about the athletes and the environment and not their political friends back. It seems like Fieldturf and their dirty rubber is having to buy-off the politicians, for now. They will soon run out of that money to cover their polluting. We as concerned parents of athletes and children and the environment know that the American Public is much,much smarter than that and will not put up with this for long. It usually, in time, will result in scandal and conspiracy. Situations like this never work out for the crooks and polluters.
ReplyDeleteCheck out the Gen-5 System that Coach Gro Mentioned. I found it at a company called "The U.S. Turf Company". http://www.usturfco.com/
This company is on the right track. I could see this company completely taking over the industry. There stuff is amazing. I even called them and their people were more than willing to help me understand their products and system. They are even sending me a complimentary Power Point Information CD. Its worth a look.
JT
JT Parent - In Montgomery County, no competitive bids are taken. There is no comparison of products, no RFPs are put out. There are no public hearings, no public discussion by elected officials of these issues.
ReplyDeleteHere, one person goes out and buys what he/she wants. The elected officials rubber stamp the transaction without discussion.
Maybe you live in a democracy? We have heard such places exist. Send a postcard and let us know what it is like.
JT...Ask your amazing US Turf company what the SRI Solar Reflectivity Index of their product is...ALL artificial turf raises the ambient temperatures of the surrounding area contributing to the Urban Heat Island Effect. Try drought resistant natural turf with an underground watering system...see my blog at www.dnassociates.com/blog for more info on the green posers.
ReplyDeleteJT, it is the parents of the high school athletes that are pushing the artificial turf. They don't care about the health risks to their children, to our children, or to the environment. They don't care.
ReplyDelete