IS PLAYGROUND MULCH SAFE? FYI

[uncle paulie]

There has been quite a bit of news lately about whether or not recycled rubber products are safe to be in contact with. Evidently a number of soccer goalies are beginning to exhibit a few forms of cancer which many are attributing to exposure to the material which is in artificial turf products. The incidents of these cancers are apparently far in excess of the norm and are being attributed to the goalies frequent proximity to the ground.

It would seem to me that if this is the case, we may not want to use the material in our pellet traps as when our pellets impact the material, it is further pulverized and there may be excessive outgassing of the suspected carcinogens. Much like lead dust which is emitted when we strike lead projectiles against solid surfaces without soft "trapping material".

pv

[DavidS]

There has been quite a bit of news lately about whether or not recycled rubber products are safe to be in contact with. Evidently a number of soccer goalies are beginning to exhibit a few forms of cancer which many are attributing to exposure to the material which is in artificial turf products. The incidents of these cancers are apparently far in excess of the norm and are being attributed to the goalies frequent proximity to the ground.

It would seem to me that if this is the case, we may not want to use the material in our pellet traps as when our pellets impact the material, it is further pulverized and there may be excessive outgassing of the suspected carcinogens. Much like lead dust which is emitted when we strike lead projectiles against solid surfaces without soft "trapping material".

pv

I take any explanation with a grain of salt.   They say the same thing about just handling lead, though yet there is no increased rate for AirGunners.

Also I would not worry about it, it does not get into the air, and we do not handle it much.

[uncle paulie]

 I'm soon to be 66. Spent most of my life with either a pellet or split shot in my mouth at one time or another and generally am not concerned about the lead that I do not ingest. I am, however, a bit more cautious about the stuff which can be inhaled. It's just not as easy to control.  I just thought I'd throw this out there as there I would think there are more than a few who would rather err on the side of caution, same as for lead dust, formaldehyde and other airborne toxins. JMO.

pv

[Sfttailrdr46]

I'm soon to be 66. Spent most of my life with either a pellet or split shot in my mouth at one time or another and generally am not concerned about the lead that I do not ingest. I am, however, a bit more cautious about the stuff which can be inhaled. It's just not as easy to control.  I just thought I'd throw this out there as there I would think there are more than a few who would rather err on the side of caution, same as for lead dust, formaldehyde and other airborne toxins. JMO.

pv

Paulie I would be more concerned about tobacco smoke and 2nd hand smoke as well .(Disclaimer I am an ex smoker and have worked around cars asbestos brake linings and other carcinogens my entire life) I think that at our ages our age is our worst health threat JMHO

[daveb50]

 I recently made a lightweight silent pellet trap by putting a couple of old bed pillows in a cardboard box, four layers from front to back. After a couple hundred rounds of .22 and .177, I  cut the tape and opened the box to see how it was doing, no pellet had penetrated more than two layers of the pillows.

[Tater]

Not happy to hear this but thanks for the post Paul. I was planning on making a trap out some soon too. Might have to rethink that. I wonder why it hasn't been reported more as effecting children at playgrounds?

[haertig]

I believe I will probably die from coffee, red meat, a car wreck, or one of many other things long before I have to worry that being near a piece of rubber will do me in.  The way many media organizations report studies is quite alarmist.  They will say, "Studies show you are TWICE as likely to die from being around rubber than not being around it."  This will cause mathematically challenged people will cringe in fear and shun rubber.  Me, I'd probably say, "Gee, my chances of croaking are one in a million if I shun rubber, and two in a million if I don't".  Then I would ignore the stupid alarmist media reporting because there are other things of more concern than two in a million.

[JMJ in NC]

I read an article to which I think the OP is referring - google search: soccer goalies, cancer, rubber pellets.

Playground rubber mulch is composed of much bigger pieces than the rubber pellets used in artificial sports fields. The rubber pellets offer a much higher surface area, increasing the potential for release of any harmful constituents. Additionally, the pellets are continually being exposed to UV light, speeding degradation. The rubber in your trap is protected from UV exposure, decreasing the rate of material breakdown.

Furthermore, kids don't generally roll around in playground mulch, but soccer goalies are more likely to expose their skin to the sports-field rubber pellets (diving onto the ground), so the higher surface area of the pellets & the higher likelihood of pellet/skin contact is the basis for the claims of higher risk of contaminant exposure.

That said, I think rubber mulch pellet traps are safe to use and handle.

JMJ

[Oldgringo]

Everybody is gonna' die of something.  The more fortunate ones will die doing what they like to do where they like to do it.  That said, there's not much future in rushing the event by taking unnecessary risks.

[Gresh24]

Is there any reputable link or reference to this information?  There is a ton of artificial turf out there and a ton of athletes spending more time on it than soccer goalies...

[JMJ in NC]

Is there any reputable link or reference to this information?  There is a ton of artificial turf out there and a ton of athletes spending more time on it than soccer goalies...

http://www.wncn.com/story/26750342/rubber-pellets-in-sports-fields-raise-cancer-concerns

Jmj

[Paul68]

I've been wondering somewhat about the wisdom in shooting high speed lead into pieces of rubber myself.

[Dockey 454]

There has been quite a bit of news lately about whether or not recycled rubber products are safe to be in contact with. Evidently a number of soccer goalies are beginning to exhibit a few forms of cancer which many are attributing to exposure to the material which is in artificial turf products. The incidents of these cancers are apparently far in excess of the norm and are being attributed to the goalies frequent proximity to the ground.

It would seem to me that if this is the case, we may not want to use the material in our pellet traps as when our pellets impact the material, it is further pulverized and there may be excessive outgassing of the suspected carcinogens. Much like lead dust which is emitted when we strike lead projectiles against solid surfaces without soft "trapping material".

pv

     Ok Paul you made up my mind for me. I was going to have the whole 3 1/2 acres covered in astroturf. Looks like I will have to concrete it, and paint it green. I'll have to trade the mowers in on a parking lot sweeper.
       Tom

[StevenG]

See my pellet trap, storage tote full of old clothes, ain't me being cheap, just health conscious!

[Cgchad]

Isn't the easy solution to be far enough away from the pellet trap that any off gassing that may occur wouldn't be an issue?
I mean, the goalies in this kind of thing are pretty much in direct contact with it for several hours per week if you count practice time.
So get the muzzle off the target, and move back a few feet, and you should be ok. (Partial sarcasm)

Honestly, I did a lot to get my health in order,  quit smoking, lost 60 pounds, got my cholesterol under control, and my doctor was thrilled.... Then I got bit by a Brown recluse spider, had an allergic reaction to medication and after almost dying in the ER followed by a week in ICU.... I'm not to worried about rubber gas.

[Sfttailrdr46]

Isn't the easy solution to be far enough away from the pellet trap that any off gassing that may occur wouldn't be an issue?
I mean, the goalies in this kind of thing are pretty much in direct contact with it for several hours per week if you count practice time.
So get the muzzle off the target, and move back a few feet, and you should be ok. (Partial sarcasm)

Honestly, I did a lot to get my health in order,  quit smoking, lost 60 pounds, got my cholesterol under control, and my doctor was thrilled.... Then I got bit by a Brown recluse spider, had an allergic reaction to medication and after almost dying in the ER followed by a week in ICU.... I'm not to worried about rubber gas.

I think in your situation the expression " If it wasn't for bad luck you would have no luck at all " That sounds like a real bummer. That's why at 68yo I don't let the small stuff worry me there were many of times the things should have killed me and didn't  so when it is m time I just hope it is fast 

[Cgchad]

That's kind of the point.  Spending time worrying about what to avoid, one would have to live in a bubble.
Things we were told were bad for us are now good for us.  (Sodium comes to mind).  Things that were good for us are now harmful.  Seriously, did you know that people were given mercury as a medicine?

It's not worth worrying about what is going to kill you.  Doing so, you will die without having ever lived.

[longhunter]

That's kind of the point.  Spending time worrying about what to avoid, one would have to live in a bubble.
Things we were told were bad for us are now good for us.  (Sodium comes to mind).  Things that were good for us are now harmful.  Seriously, did you know that people were given mercury as a medicine?

It's not worth worrying about what is going to kill you.  Doing so, you will die without having ever lived.

amen.

[Korak-again]

Saliva may cause death. However, only when swallowed in small amounts for a long period of time.

[Bigdog1090]

My current pellet trap is a cardboard box full of old rags/clothes.  Pretty effective and nothing comes out.
Thinking about trying some "Monkey &^^&" in a steel pellet trap.

I'll pass on the rubber......