Mulch Mania; Lead in Children’s Public Playground Surfaces
A recent Harvard study discovered that 28 playgrounds around
Boston may be exposing children to unsafe levels of lead. The researchers also
looked at the soil around the rubber surface and found high levels of lead in
the surrounding mulch and sand.
Each playground tested had two forms of surface material; soil and
rubber. On average the team found 66 micrograms of lead per gram of soil and 22
micrograms per gram of rubber. One soil sample "exceeded the 400-microgram
limit set by the Environmental Protection Agency for play areas" and
"nine playgrounds had a soil sample greater than 80 micrograms of lead per
gram" of surface material. The team collected 85 samples
Rubber surfaces on playgrounds have been used in recent years to
prevent injury. The mulch is seen as a way to use scrap tires and increase
recycling rates. Rubber mulch is also
washable and sanitation is a selling point as well. But this new research raising concerns about
rubber mulch needs to be taken seriously.
Families need to learn more about the potential risks of rubber
mulch to their children and more studies need to be done to help validate these
results in other communities. Both
public and residential spaces could have exposure to rubber mulch so the scope
of the concern could be large. Most
importantly, we need to start holding our businesses and manufacturers accountable
to know the risk of their products and not put families in harm’s way.
To see our source, click here: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-playgrounds-rubber/rubber-playground-surfaces-may-contain-high-lead-levels-idUSKCN1SD20Z
For the actual research paper, click here: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0216156
For the CLPPP 2016 report:
