Safety of shredded tires on playgrounds questioned
The federal government says those shredded tires that make playgrounds across the country nice and cushy for the little ones may not be safe afterall.
The Environmental Protection Agency has said the recycled tires were safe, but scientists now say there were gaps in the data and they don't know if children are at risk from inhaling toxic chemincal found in the tires.
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility says the government has endorsed use of recycled tires since 1991 and now millions of pounds of ground rubber are put on playgrounds every year.
But the group said neither the EPA nor the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has investigated the potential harm from arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury or hydrocarbons. PEER wants EPA to revoke its endorsement of tire crumb until more research is done.
Some limited studies are planned, according to an Associated Press story.
Do your kids play with recycled tires or on tire crumb?
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed Kirschbaum of the Recycled Tire Playground in Patapsco Valley State Park near Catonsville.
