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·        In 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 1277 (Maldonado, R-Santa Maria), which required the CIWMB, in concert with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and the Department of Public Health, to conduct a study that "compares the effects of synthetic turf and natural turf on the environment and the public health."

The study—given to OEHHA—will cost up to $200,000, drawn from the Tire Recycling Management Fund.  It is supposed to be completed and posted on the Board's website by September 1, 2010.

The first part of the study was dated July 2009, but just released last month.  It contains the long and convoluted title:  "Chemicals and Particulates in the Air Above the New Generation of Artificial Turf Playing Fields, and Artificial Turf as a Risk Factor for Infection by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).  Literature Review and Data Gap Analysis."

A CIWMB summary of this research (as well as a link to the entire 55-page report) can be found at  http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Tires/products/bizassist/health/turfstudy/litreview.htm

The report had OEHHA doing a literature search on the safety of synthetic fields in two areas:

1) Whether the fields emit levels of chemicals or particulates into the air that cause illness when inhaled (from the crumb rubber infill).

2) Whether these fields are likely to spread the dangerous bacterium called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

OEHHA focused primarily on two studies:  1) a 2006 report which focused on indoor fields; and 2) two 2009 studies conducted in New York City for outdoor fields.

As far as off-gassing of chemicals from crumb rubber, the New York City studies concluded that the fields did not constitute a serious public health concern, "since cancer or non-cancer health effects were unlikely to result from these low-level exposures."

OEHHA also recreated the 2006 study, which focused on off-gassing of crumb rubber infill, to determine the exposure and health risks of an athlete playing on an indoor artificial field from age 5 until age 55 for 100 chemicals.  The results of this test showed an exposure to five chemicals with a lifetime cancer risk above 1 in one million.  The highest risk was 9 in a million.  OEHHA explains that "these estimated risks are low compared to many common human activities," and that using the data from indoor turf "overestimates outdoor risks."  This is presumably because the emissions from the crumb rubber don't disperse in indoor environments as they would outdoors.

When discussing "risk," OEHHA reports that while 1 in a million is considered "negligible," the 9 in a million is relatively insignificant.  Such everyday human activities as breathing California air (from a 2000 study), they reported, constitutes a risk of 540 in one million due to diesel particulates.

OEHHA also noted that in the tests conducted in New York, many of the chemicals detected above the synthetic playing fields "occurred at similar concentrations in the air sampled upwind of the field," which would seem to suggest that the source of the chemicals was not from the turf.

On the issue of spreading MRSA, OEHHA found that one study of high school football players demonstrated more "surface/epidermal injuries for games played on the new generation of artificial turf compared to natural turf."  However, it concluded, "It seems unlikely that the new generation of artificial turf is itself a source of MRSA, since MRSA has not been detected in any artificial turf field."  According to a synthetic turf industry source, that conclusion is consistent with the findings of a Penn State University study conducted in 2009 (sponsored by the Synthetic Turf Council) on the lifespan of staph on grass and synthetic turf.

While the OEHHA testing was conducted in an indoor setting, the report noted a number of data gaps in the literature and discussed several projects in its "Work in Progress."  It said that OEHHA will "sample air from above the new generation of artificial turf fields in outdoor settings and measure concentrations of potentially hazardous chemicals and particulates."  While these tests were recently conducted, the results won't be released until next summer.

In an investigative report by CBS 5 KPIX-TV in San Francisco, reporter Jeffrey Schaub interviewed OEHHA lead scientist, Dr. Charles Vidair.  When Dr. Vidair was asked about the importance of testing synthetic turf during hot weather, reporter Schaub said that he got a "jaw-dropping admission."  Dr. Vidair responded that the state budget crisis prevented OEHHA from hiring contractors in time to perform airborne tests during the hot summer months.

Earlier, Dr. Vidair said that the "worst case scenario for release of gases from an artificial turf field would probably be during the hottest weather."  When asked whether because the studies were delayed that OEHHA couldn’t get a complete "read on how hot weather affects this stuff," Dr. Vidair admitted, "You are right.  Unless we measure under these different temperatures we'll never know the exact relationship between temperature and volatilization of chemicals."

The report and video can be found at  http://cbs5.com/environment/artificial.turf.study.2.1294974.html

That video interview didn't set well with Senator Abel Maldonado, author of the study bill.  The Senator said that "we have an incomplete study that is not going to be acceptable."  According to reporter Schaub, "Because of our report, Maldonado is firing off letters to (OEHHA and the CIWMB) responsible for the yet unfinished study."

Senator Maldonado said, "I want answers."

He may not get the answers soon.  There apparently have been no letters sent out since the piece ran on November 5, and Senator Maldonado may have other priorities since he has been selected to fill the Lt. Governor's vacancy.

Whether or the CIWMB receives a letter, Board staff has indicated that it will respond to the issue, and that the final report will have a comprehensive analysis of outdoor crumb rubber emissions.

The above is a recent issue of the California Tire Report.  To receive complete stories via fax or e-mail twice weekly, click subscription information.

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