Tire recyclers combat health hazard accusations

VANCOUVER (Scrap Monster): The North American tire recyclers, who attended the recently held 2015 ISRI Convention & Exposition at Vancouver, refuted the allegations that crumb rubber, used as an additive to sports playing field surfaces, cause a special type of blood cell cancer. According to them, such claims are not substantiated by scientific facts, but are often circulated in the media, thereby creating confusion among public.

Earlier in October 2014, NBC News had broadcast a report featuring a theory formulated by Amy Griffin , soccer coach at the University of Washington. According to Giffin, crumb rubber often used as shock absorber or as filling material on synthetic turf fields causes lymphoma. The report clearly stated that no research was carried out to link crumb rubber to cancer. The investigations carried out by NBC also had failed to conclude that artificial turfs are a cause to lymphoma observed in soccer players.

According to tire recyclers, extensive studies were carried out before crumb rubber was used in playgrounds. The United States Environmental Protection Agency had carried out a detailed study on the subject matter in 2000 itself. All studies conducted later on indicated insignificant and undetectable content of lead or other harmful substances.

Baseless allegations were raised several times before. The NBC report has been reproduced in various articles often without the disclaimer that there is no research linking crumb rubber to cancer. The tire recyclers urged the California state administration to postpone the proposed moratorium on use of crumb rubber in artificial turfs. The unsubstantiated allegations pose a big threat to the whole synthetic turf industry, they added.