The U.S. Turf University
Educating the World on Synthetic Turf Products:
Review of the scientific literature about these new fields found that similar concerns had been raised in other states and in other countries. In addition, health data from workers in rubber fabrication industries and the rubber reclamation industries showed the presence of volatile organic hydrocarbons, semi-volatile hydrocarbons and harmful particulates in the air.
Occupational studies revealed that there were health effects ranging from severe skin and eye irritation and respiratory irritation to three forms of cancer.
Based on these studies, EHHI decided to initiate an exploratory study with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station to examine whether the rubber tire "crumbs" out-gassed harmful chemicals into the air or were capable of leaching into ground water.
The four compounds found in the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station study, conclusively identified with confirmatory tests, were: benzothiazole; butylated hydroxyanisole; n-hexadecane; and 4-(t-octyl) phenol. Approximately two dozen other chemicals were indicated at lower levels. Chemicals are tested for their potential as cancer-causing agents (carcinogens), their capability of causing mutations (mutagenicity), and their capability of producing fetal malformation (teratogenicity). The four chemicals found have the following reported actions:
Benzothiazole: Skin and eye irritation, harmful if swallowed. There is no available data on cancer, mutagenic toxicity, teratogenic toxicity, or developmental toxicity.
Butylated hydroxyanisole: Recognized carcinogen, suspected endocrine toxicant, gastrointestinal toxicant, immunotoxicant (adverse effects on the immune system), neurotoxicant (adverse effects on the nervous system), skin and sense-organ toxicant. There is no available data on cancer, mutagenic toxicity, teratogenic toxicity, or developmental toxicity.