Children playing with synthetic rubber bits. Image by Vic Edgerton used with permission.

There is lead — according to four DC agencies, reaching “actionable levels” — on the surfaces of at least 17 DC playgrounds. This, understandably, has alarmed many parents and residents already concerned about reports about lead on play surfaces that come from rubber. It’s unfortunately also difficult to find clear science telling us exactly how much of a danger this poses to children.

The city says it vacuumed and power-washed those sites to remove the sources of lead. However, it doesn’t have a clear sense of the severity of the problem and is trying to figure out a long-term solution.

How dangerous is this anyway?

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no safe blood level for lead in children. Enough exposure can lead to serious damage to a child’s brain and nervous system, and can result in slowed growth and development as well as learning and behavior problems.

Lead naturally occurs in soils in concentrations ranging from 10 to 50 parts per million (ppm), but years of environmental contamination from widespread use of materials such as lead-based paint and leaded gasoline have elevated its presence in urban soils in cities worldwide (not to mention our water supply). The Environmental Protection Agency rates soils in play areas with over 400 ppm of lead as unsafe for children.

To add to the confusion, government agencies have differing standards concerning lead. The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC)standard for the amount of lead permissible in children’s toys is very different from the EPA’s standard for soil in play areas—the CPSC mandates that all toys have under 90 ppm of lead.

A recent study conducted by the DC Department of General Services (DGS) found that the remainder of the District’s playgrounds and artificial turf fields had lead levels at or below 400 ppm, but many residents remain unconvinced of their safety. They say lead is present in the very material used to surface the District’s playgrounds and turf fields, a synthetic rubber material commonly known as “PIP,” or “poured-in-place.”

PIP is often used to surface public playgrounds and parks since it’s forgiving to falls. It’s often advertised as being compliant with the regulations set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) since it makes playgrounds and parks accessible to people with disabilities. (There are alternatives that are ADA-compliant, like some types of engineered wood fiber.)

Councilmember Robert White, who presided over a recent public meeting held at the DC Council concerning playground surfacing materials, said that his family is also concerned about possible lead exposure. His daughter was one of the many children who had played on one of the 17 sites found to have elevated levels of lead, so White says he’s particularly vested in the issue.

Athletic turf comprised of rubber bits. Image by Vic Edgerton used with permission.

When broken into tiny flecks, the synthetic rubber from PIP bears resemblance to Oreo cookie crumbs, and some children have taken to eating it. The material gets into their shoes, attaches itself their clothes, and sticks to their arms, hands, and legs.

As Vic Edgerton, a Ward 1 father to two children, explained to the councilmember during a public roundtable discussion at the DC Council on October 3, “it [the bits of rubber] sticks to the sweaty skin around their faces when they try to eat it when I’m not looking. And I wish I could say that it were only disgusting, but it’s toxic [too].”

Edgerton, who has a Master of Public Health in environmental epidemiology, said that his work has enabled him to study “the links between exposures to environmental contaminants and chronic diseases.” In his view, the substances used in PIP contain not just lead, but other toxic materials that can be hazardous to children.

Other concerns about PIP

In Europe, the debate over PIP surfacing materials has centered on the presence of polcyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are linked to health risks such as cancer. The issue has prompted the European Commission to propose a limit on the concentration of PAHs allowed in the rubber materials used in playgrounds and athletic fields.

According to testimony from various parents and advocacy groups, the PIP material is not just toxic, it’s also a major contributor to the District’s urban heat island effect.

Molly Rauch, a Ward 4 resident with three children, serves as the Public Health Policy Director for Moms Clean Air Force, a national organization “that works to protect children from air pollution, climate change and harmful toxic chemicals.”

During her testimony, Rauch called upon the District to “install heat friendly infrastructure that does not exacerbate the effects of climate change.” Synthetic materials like PIP, she explained, intensify the surface temperatures of public spaces and contribute to DC’s urban heat island effect.

Surface temperature of a playground, taken this summer. Image by Vic Edgerton used with permission.

Surface temperature compared to air temperature. Image by Vic Edgerton used with permission.

So where do we go from here?

At the meeting, there was no clear alternative to replacing PIP throughout the city. Grass and soil are unforgiving to children who fall on them. While many parents advocated for the use of engineered wood, a contractor with experience in installing such playground surfaces stated at the hearing that this would be difficult because it would require daily instead of periodic maintenance.

White said he’s wary of rushing to endorse or advocate for an alternative substance without having first studied the issue at-length. The District government, he said, has a habit of making things worse when they rush forward with new solutions. White said in a statement to GGWash that he and his wife are still deliberating about what to do. In the meantime, he wants to ensure that caregivers are informed about what’s going on.

“There is important info that we and other parents need from DGS, including the actual current lead levels at each playground in order to make an informed decision,” White said. “I have been clear with DGS that their timeline extending into next year to get us this and other information is unnecessarily long. This is critical health and safety information, so I have requested an accelerated turnaround.”