A controversial type of artificial turf made of pulverized tires will no longer be used in a $25 million city school playground construction project because of concerns about possible health hazards.
The Trust for Public Land has used "crumb rubber infill" turf at 18 city playgrounds, but will switch to a different turf at the next seven it builds.
"We're moving away from the crumb rubber," the group's Troy Farmer told the Daily News. "There's really no firm evidence that there's anything to be frightened of, but as long as people are concerned, better safe than sorry."
The move puts new pressure on the Parks Department, which insists the turf is safe despite growing concern from parents and health advocates that the true risks are unknown. A bill in Albany would put a six-month moratorium on its use.
Crumb rubber infill turf uses tiny bits of recycled tires to cushion the spaces between blades of green artificial grass, with tens of thousands of pounds being used in an average field.
"There are millions of these [tiny bits]," said critic Geoffrey Croft of NYC Park Advocates. "They are flying up in people's faces. People are eating them. They wind up in the wash."
The tires contain heavy metals like lead and cadmium as well as volatile organic compounds and other chemicals, but there is no consensus about whether they are unsafe.
The city Health Department contends that "health risks are unlikely from exposure to the levels of chemicals found in the turf," but is sponsoring a review of scientific studies about it. The $100,000 report, paid for by the New York Community Trust, is expected to be released in the spring.
Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe has repeatedly said the department has no plans to stop using crumb rubber infill turf, citing the Health Department's position.
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, who unsuccessfully pushed Benepe last year for a scientific analysis of the groundup tires, said the city needs to change course.
"Even as evidence began to suggest that artificial turf may pose health risks, the Parks Department continued to make plans to install dozens more artificial turf fields," Gotbaum said. "The city has a responsibility to protect children from harm."
At Thomas Jefferson Park in East Harlem Wednesday, a group of 13-year-olds playing football said they had no idea they were tackling each other on groundup tires.
"That makes me not want to play here anymore," said Michael Valentin.
Not everyone was as concerned at Brooklyn's Cadman Plaza, though, where several parents said the turf was better than the ripped-up grass it replaced.
"I have no problem with my kids playing here," said Andrew Cribb, 50, who was playing soccer with 13-year-old Esme and 6-year-old Vivian. "It's a great improvement over the mud puddle it used to be."
With Amanda Coleman and Lindsay Greene
