Emerging Health Risks of Crumb Rubber: Inhalation of Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals via Saliva During Artificial Turf Activities

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03278
• Publication Date: 2023-12-04T18:21:35Z
• Authors: Qian’en Huang; Jianqun Wang; Jianping Wang; Dongmei Yu; Yuanbo Zhan; Ze Liu
• Keywords: Inhalation exposure; Crumb rubber

Crumb rubber (CR) is a commonly used infill material in artificial turf worldwide. However, the potential health risk associated with exposure to CR containing environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) remains under investigation. Herein, we observed widespread presence of particles range 2.8-51.4 μg/m3 and EPFRs exceeding 6 × 1015 spins/g ambient air surrounding fields. Notably, abundance these tended increase number operating years playing Furthermore, by analyzing saliva samples from 200 participants, established for first time that EPFR-carrying could be found specimens, suggesting inhaling them through oral cavity their human body. After 40 min exercise on turf, detected substantial EPFRs, reaching as high (1.15 ± 1.00) 1016 spins EPFR per 10 mL saliva. Moreover, considerably increased oxidative CR, leading inactivation Ca2+, redox reactions, changes spatial binding α-1,4-chain salivary amylase all which influence health. Our study provides insights into new pathway infill, indicating an exposure.