I mentioned that playground mulch that some parents are wanting reviewed or removed with an Internet petition. I mentioned my chief gripe that shredded tires end up in my house after my grandsons have been playing on it. I’d probably complain if it was sand, which it sometimes is or something else.
I’ve not seen this television report on the stuff replayed on Perfect Duluth Day which my buddy alerted me to.
I’m not inclined to be steamrolled into authorizing a different surface as it will no doubt cost a chunk of change. I assume that its composition was considered closely before we fill up our playgrounds with the stuff. The Superintendent sent out a response to all concerned in his email. This is what he wrote:
Dear Chair Seliga-Punyko and Members of the Board:
As you know, there is an online petition asking for removal of rubber mulch on playgrounds and replacing it with wood chips.
The petition expresses concern for potential toxicity and talks about rubber mulch being a nuisance. We have been in communication with the parent associated with the petition several times over the past school year to discuss their concerns.
The safety and health of our students is our highest priority. We appreciate hearing from parents and share their desire that our playgrounds be safe and healthy places to play.
There are many studies regarding the use of shredded rubber or rubber products, results ranging from low or no health risk to some potential risk of exposure to contaminants.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission continues to accept shredded rubber mulch as a loose fill surfacing material. They state that manufacturers should provide test data on toxicity. The latest version of the CPSC Playground Safety Handbook includes shredded rubber.
Environmental Protection Agency studies found the components tested to be below the level of concern and are allowing rubber materials to be used. They do say that the studies were limited and are being challenged.
The Playground Safety Handbook mentions the safety benefits of shredded rubber mulch. Roughly 70% of playground injuries are due to falls on unsafe surfaces and rubber mulch does an excellent job of helping prevent such injuries.
Other benefits:
· No impalements/slivers (as with engineered wood fibers)
· Doesn’t compress, losing the ability to cushion falls
· Doesn’t degrade/rot like wood products
· Inhibits mold and fungi growth
· Doesn’t wash out (float away) with heavy rains
· Not slippery on interior floors ( such as pea gravel)
We continue to seek out and review any new, definitive studies or national/state recommendations that become available regarding playground infill. Please feel free to contact Kerry Leider if you have questions.Sincerely,
Bill
My grade school playground was covered with a white pea gravel that I presume was mined locally. I remember it fondly because it had nice chunks of fools gold in it before too many little hands sifted it out. If I fallen off a swing or a jungle gym onto it I know it would have been considerably more painful than falling on old tire mulch. It didn’t stink on a hot day but I don’t recall it stinking all that much after taking my grandsons on it.
For now the verdict is out on the stuff but there are a lot of folks clamoring for our attention. They have mine.
