Are Recycled Rubber Mats Unhealthy

The rubber employed in recycled rubber mats emanates from tires, that incorporate a number of dangerous chemicals. In this article, read about the latest research with regards to the safety of recycled rubber mats.

Many individuals have expressed concern about the usage of recycled rubber. Recycled rubber arises from used tires, which many fear could harbor lead or any other toxins. Concerns kicked into high gear last year after the environmental advocacy group PEER (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility) uncovered internal communications from the EPA that stated the agency couldn't vouch for the protection of recycled rubber because there had not been enough studies done then.
So are recycled rubber mats unhealthy? Let's examine the facts.
Recycled rubber mats



eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'brighthub_com-box-1']));


are made of used tires that would otherwise end up in the waste stream. Used tires can sit in the landfill for centuries without breaking down. There, the tires can catch fire, causing massive creation of toxic smoke. Tire fires are difficult to extinguish, and tires can smolder inside stacks for years at a time. In open dumps, they turned into a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which spread disease.
Recycling tires into materials like playground mulch and rubber mats cuts down on number of tires that end up in landfills by up to 90%.
Rubber mats and mulch on playgrounds bring about significant reductions in injuries when compared with wood mulch or concrete. According to one study, injuries were two times as common on wood mulch surfaces and half a dozen times as common on concrete.
The utilization of recycled rubber raises justifiable concerns. The laundry list of volatile chemicals used it tires is alarming: benzene, toulene, arsenic, acetone or anything else, plus heavy metals that include nickel, copper and cadmium. Older tires may contain lead, too. Under lab conditions, scientists observed that these chemicals leached from recycled tires. However, you'll find important differences relating to the circumstances of the studies and exactly how recycled rubber reacts during actual use:
In a reaction to the concerns raised by earlier hardwood flooring Peabody MA recycled rubber studies, a number of new numerous studies have been conducted specifically addressing recycled rubber employed in playgrounds. These studies replicate field results, that may be dramatically distinctive from results obtained in lab conditions. In these studies, recycled rubber mats have been discovered safe.
The most recent is a two year long study created by four state agencies in Connecticut published in August of 2010. The studies measured leaching and off-gassing of chemicals during normal playground usage, during periods of heavy rain, and also in lab settings. While some volatile chemicals were found being present in the air above the play surfaces, specifically in indoor play spaces where there is less air circulations, the amount were low. Their studies figured that, while levels of volatile chemicals were slightly more than what are known as background levels, they were not high enough to become considered a health risk. The only chemical that leached out of the fields in a level higher than what is considered acceptable was zinc, which is not considered dangerous to humans unless excess amounts are ingested.
While the degree of chemicals off-gassing from indoor play spaces was considered below the threshold the place that the chemicals are harmful, it really is worth noting that indoor play spaces showed around ten times the maximum amount of volatile chemicals in the environment. If you want to err assisting caution, you might consider refraining while using recycled rubber mats indoors, where there is often a minuscule but present danger that could deem recycled rubber mats unhealthy.
In outdoor playing conditions, however, field research has revealed that you can breathe easy knowing that your kids are safer with all the mats absolutely nothing.
Environment and Human Health:
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection:
USA Today:
Environmental Protection Agency:
Photo Credit: