On the other hand, I am a pale person and having people tell me to go outside all the time is a pain because it is semi-tropical here and I sometimes burn within 15 minutes of being outside. I can understand if parents want to protect their kids and sunscreen can sweat off and has problems of its own, like some of them contain unhealthy ingredients.

But even inside, parents could play games with their kids or read to them. I think parents need to play inside with their kids as well as take them for hikes. Computers and TV not only lead to less exercise but also can slow the intellect if the right things aren’t watched. I can see kids getting a lot more out of computers and TV if their parents choose problems that encourage learning and then talk to them about the shows, as opposed to letting them watch The Hills.

Overall, I think parents just need to spend more quality time with their kids, which can be hard for people with busy schedule, but it has to be done. Parents also need to let their kids go outside by themselves after a certain age, so they can explore. My parents let me go outside and walk in the woods behind my house. I am glad I had that childhood.

Benzene Carcinogen, Developmental Toxicant, Reproductive Toxicant

Phtalates Suspected Developmental Toxicant, Endocrine Toxicant, Reproductive Toxicant

PAHs Suspected Cardiovascular or Blood Toxicant, Gastrointestinal or Liver Toxicant, Reproductive Toxicant ,Respiratory Toxicant,

Maganese Gastrointestinal or liver toxicants

Carbon Black Carcinogen

Latex Causes allergic reactions in some people

As well the Connecticut Agricultural Stations found the chemicals below in the ground-up rubber tires they tested. That report can be found at: http://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/fact_sheets/examinationofcrumbrubberac005.pdf

Benzothiazole: Skin and eye irritation, harmful if swallowed. There is no available data on cancer, mutagenic toxicity, teratogenic toxicity, or developmental toxicity.

Butylated hydroxyanisole: Recognized carcinogen, suspected endocrine toxicant, gastrointestinal toxicant, immunotoxicant (adverse effects on the immune system), neurotoxicant (adverse effects on the nervous system), skin and sense-organ toxicant. There is no available data on cancer, mutagenic toxicity, teratogenic toxicity, or developmental toxicity.

n-hexadecane: Severe irritant based on human and animal studies. There is no available data on cancer, mutagenic toxicity, teratogenic toxicity, or developmental toxicity.

4-(t-octyl) phenol: Corrosive and destructive to mucous membranes. There is no available data on cancer, mutagenic toxicity, teratogenic toxicity, or developmental toxicity.

Zinc: There is a very large amount of zinc that is added in the manufacturing of tires and therefore there is a great deal of zinc.

Until the US EPA, and California’s Senate Bill 1277 force the removal of these toxic fields, our children are being sent onto refuse piles to play. for more information and ways to stop the use of children playgrounds as dumping grounds for synthetic tires, please refer to synturf.org. Many thanks for your interest in our nation’s children.

Mary Swan Bell, MS
Speech, Language and Hearing Specialist