More than 11,000 playgrounds and athletic fields across the country employ pulverized tires — sprinkled between the blades of artificial grass — to create a surface that feels soft and natural. There are dozens of such fields at Los Angeles schools, parks and colleges.
Synthetic turf manufacturers say more than 60 studies over the past two decades have shown no elevated health risks associated with their products, but not everyone is convinced.
Environmental health advocates worry about a complex brew of chemicals, metals and suspected carcinogens that may be found in crumb rubber. They characterize past research as incomplete.
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