Playground safety is a critical concern for parents and caregivers. Falls are the leading cause of playground-related injuries. Having safe playground surfaces allows kids to explore while preventing injuries.
One widely used playground surfacing material is crumb rubber made from recycled tires. The material offers several benefits, but there has been some debate about long term health risks and chemical exposure. In this article, we’ll cover different types of playground surfacing and the crumb rubber debate.
How Playground Surfaces Affect Safety
Playground surfacing creates a softer landing area to minimize injury risks. Hard surfaces (concrete, asphalt, compacted dirt) offer little to no shock absorption, meaning there’s an increased likelihood of severe injuries from playground falls. Materials that absorb impact, such as engineered wood fiber, rubber mulch, and poured-in-place rubber help disperse the force of a fall.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) set guidelines for impact attenuation, or how well a surface absorbs sock. Playgrounds should meet minimum safety standards to reduce injury risks.
There a variety of options with pros and cons – here’s a brief overview of the main choices. Wood chips and engineered wood fiber offer good shock absorption but they can become compacted over time. These options need regular raking and replenishing. Sand provides some cushion, but it shifts easily and can become hard-packed. Rubber mulch/crumb rubber has excellent impact absorption and lasts for a long time, but there are concerns about potential chemical exposures. Poured-in-place rubber offers high shock absorption and a seamless surface. It’s also low maintenance and durable, but it’s expensive to install and may degrade in extreme weather conditions. Grass or turf offers poor impact absorption unless it’s combined with padding and needs regular maintenance.
Crumb Rubber Benefits and Controversies
Crumb rubber reduces the risk of serious injuries from falls due to excellent impact attenuation. It’s also a durable, low maintenance, and long-lasting solution. Repurposing old tires reduces landfill waste by repurposing old tires.
Despite the benefits, crumb rubber has caused some debates related to potential health and environmental impacts. The US government launched the Federal Research Action Plan (FRAP) was launched in 2016 as a collaboration between EPA, CDC, and CPSC to evaluate potential risks associated with recycled tire materials.
The first phase of the study, completed in 2019, found heavy metals like lead, zinc, and cadmium present in crumb rubber samples from different turf fields and playgrounds. It also found polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which have potential carcinogenic properties. Volatile organic compound and semi-volatile organic compounds can be released into the air, particularly during hot weather. However, despite these findings, the study noted that the concentration of most of the identified chemicals was relatively low and within existing safety standards.
The second phase, completed in 2024, assessed human exposure risks. Results suggest that the levels of exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals is relatively low in real-world scenarios. However, long-term health effects still require further study.
What Parents & Caregivers Should Know
The CPSC has not issued a ban on crumb rubber playground surfaces, but advises parents and caregivers to be aware of ongoing research. It also recommends general playground safety measures such as ensuring all surfaces are properly maintained and washing hands after playing on the playground. Avoid crumb rubber play areas on excessively hot days due to heat retention.
Keeping Playgrounds Safe
Safe and well-maintained playgrounds are important. Stay informed by following playground safety research updates from CPSC, EPA, and CDC.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact the Schuerman Law office today. Schuerman Law has been working with personal injury claims for over 40 years. John Schuerman will compassionately advocate for injured individuals as well as their families while fighting for full compensation of their claims. Schuerman Law offers evening and weekend appointments in addition to home and hospital visits. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1-800-274-0045.
