Parents Gymnasts & Exposure to Flame Retardants

[gymbeam]

*Hoping there is no cause for concern, but still good enough reason to always require a shower right after practice! My 9-year-old often goes straight to bed after late practices on school nights, but I think I'll just play it safe and add a quick bath on those nights. I found this article while googling for environmental risks for gymnasts after reading about a new concern that artificial turfs could possibly be linked to cancer in soccer goalies...



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Researchers find elevated flame retardant exposure among U.S. gymnasts
By Sara Mishamandani
January 2014


Gymnasts may be ingesting or inhaling dust created by foam blocks that contain hormone-disrupting flame retardant chemicals, according to a new study from the Boston University (BU) School of Public Health, supported in part by NIEHS.

“Our results suggest that the study gymnasts are highly exposed, but it’s unclear what health risks, if any, they would face as a result of this exposure,” said Courtney Carignan, Ph.D., lead author of the study published online Dec. 3 in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

The study detected 4-6.5 times more flame retardants in the blood of collegiate gymnasts than in the general U.S. population.

Measuring exposure to flame retardants

NIEHS-funded researchers affiliated with the BU and Duke University Superfund Research Program (SRP) Centers collected blood and samples wiped from hands of 11 female gymnasts, aged 18-22, who were training at a collegiate gym in the eastern United States. Each participant filled out a questionnaire about her personal characteristics, gymnastics history, gym use, and habits, including hand washing, transportation, and diet. All participants reported practicing gymnastics for at least 12 years and averaging 19 hours a week in the gym at the time of the study.

The gymnasts’ blood contained the compound bromodiphenyl ether (BDE)-153, a component of the flame retardant PentaBDE, at levels comparable to groups with high occupational exposure, such as U.S. foam recyclers and carpet installers.

PentaBDE, which was widely used in polyurethane foam for furniture, was voluntarily phased out by U.S. manufacturers in 2005, and is now banned in 172 countries. However, PentaBDE, which can accumulate in living organisms, is a long-lasting chemical in the environment and is still present in U.S. products manufactured before 2005.

Previous studies showed that PentaBDE can disrupt endocrine activity and affect thyroid regulation and brain development. Early exposure to PentaBDE has been linked to low birth weight, lowered IQ, and impaired motor and behavioral development in children.

Getting to the source of exposure

Most gyms contain a large pit filled with hundreds of foam polyurethane blocks, which provide a soft landing for gymnasts learning new acrobatic moves. Samples of dust and foam taken from the study participants’ gym, as well as two other U.S. gyms, suggest that the foam blocks, some of which were up to 20 years old, were the likely source of exposure. Handwipe samples from the gymnasts after practice contained 2-3 times more flame retardants than before practice.

To reduce exposure, Carignan recommends washing hands after touching equipment at the gym and showering after leaving the gym. Carignan also started the Gymnast Flame Retardant Collaborative, which provides information about flame retardants and gymnastics through a website.

The study was funded by NIEHS individual research grants and an NIEHS training grant. SRP grantees Wendy Heiger-Bernays, Ph.D., Heather Stapleton, Ph.D., Thomas Webster, Sc.D., and Michael McClean, Sc.D., are principal researchers on the grants and study authors.

Citation: Carignan CC, Heiger-Bernays W, McClean MD, Roberts SC, Stapleton HM, Sjödin A, Webster TF. 2013. Flame retardant exposure among collegiate United States gymnasts. Environ Sci Technol 47(23):13848-13856.

(Sara Mishamandani is a research and communication specialist for MDB Inc., a contractor for the NIEHS Superfund Research Program and Division of Extramural Research and Training.)​

 

[Seeker]

Sigh.

 

[skschlag]

I do have to ask if gyms really keep their foam that long? I know our gym, in the 7 years we have been there, have re-foamed the pits completely once, and partially just this summer. That stuff gets nasty! Not to mention what is found on the bottom (pretty sure my son's ring grip is down there now!) Maybe we are abnormal, but after reading this article, I am glad our owners do change the foam semi-regularly!

 

[gymbeam]

You're right that most gyms have probably phased out foam manufactured prior to 2005 by this point.

What confuses me, though, is that they tested the hands of collegiate athletes ...surely the colleges would be changing out foam regularly. I guess in this case they did not? I dunno. Kind of confused about that.

 

[Seeker]

Yeah, I was confused by that too. DD's gym re-foamed the pits this summer.

 

[skschlag]

They would have been exposed a lot more considering they were 18-22, and it was just phased out in 2005. So that means there probably is some out there.

 

[SurpriseGymMom]

Our gym definitely has re-foamed a few times since 2005. Interesting article, and food for thought. Likely won't make me change anything about our daily routine though, and yeah, sometimes that daily routine does NOT involve a shower after gym. Gymmie is 10, not to the point of BO yet and several evenings we don't get home until after her actual bedtime...

 

[UpsideDown]

Our gym just replaced all the foam this summer. They seem to replace every couple of years

 

[mommyof1]

Yuck. Another reason (in addition to MRSA) to make my gymmie shower after every practice. I have always been worried about all the chemicals in the gym equipment (phthalates and lead in the vinyl covering the mats, flame retardants in the foam, who knows what else). The pit foam at my daughter's gym looks to be about as old as I am. She frequently comes out of the pit with foam dust stuck in her hair.

They never clean out the pit, either. The scariest thing the girls have found in there so far was a snakeskin, just a couple of weeks ago. That's what happens when you have no air conditioning and leave the big garage doors open all the time.

 

[profmom]

They never clean out the pit, either. The scariest thing the girls have found in there so far was a snakeskin, just a couple of weeks ago. That's what happens when you have no air conditioning and leave the big garage doors open all the time.

Sooooo wrong, but I am thinking of Samuel L. Jackson at this moment . . . "enough is enough! I have had it with these . . . snakes in this . . . pit!"

 

[twinmomma]

My gymmie showers after every workout. Between the regular things kids can pass around, there are all sorts of other things that get passed around in close quarters like that such as scabies, MRSA, lice, etc... The thought of having her in bed covered in the ick from the gym skeeves me out. But I'm a self proclaimed germaphobe so take it for what it's worth.

 

[NoDramaMama]

Yikes! My dd showers after every practice. She's barely 7 yo, but won't go to sleep if she smells like sweat!

 

[Quadqueen]

Shower after every practice - I don't care if it's late!

 

[Firefly]

Mine have to shower or bathe, but not necessarily wash hair, after every practice. Too much grossness up in there.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

You're right that most gyms have probably phased out foam manufactured prior to 2005 by this point.

What confuses me, though, is that they tested the hands of collegiate athletes ...surely the colleges would be changing out foam regularly. I guess in this case they did not? I dunno. Kind of confused about that.

you called? the chemicals researched in the article have been removed from our foam for over 7 years. the foam tested with those college athletes in their gym either had foam that was over 7 years old OR they could have been sold foam that they should not have been sold.

regardless, probably a good idea to wash your hands after practice. not certain a shower would be better or necessary.

 

[skschlag]

regardless, probably a good idea to wash your hands after practice. not certain a shower would be better or necessary.

The shower for us is because he is a preteen boy and the stench is overwhelming at times

 

[Seeker]

We have made it a standard practice to stop in the bathroom on our way out of the gym to wash hands. Dd eats in the car on the way home, so hands need to be clean and we also want to avoid bringing gym germs with us. Guess it would work for this too, if it really is an issue.

 

[Dr Maleficent]

Showering after practice is sensible hygienic practice but just generally in order to remove sweat, not necessarily because of particular germs that might lurk - germs are everywhere and excessive avoidance of them may well contribute to immune problems and allergies. If older foam is toxic, then it is reasonable to request new foam though, and as for the snakeskin - yeek!

 

[mimi]

A similar article was going around on Facebook about soccer players and their exposure to chemicals in artificial turf. Disturbing! Seems like the chemicals are everywhere nowadays. In our food, air, and now our sports! It will make me think twice when letting dd skip the shower though...

 

[sce]

The shower for us is because he is a preteen boy and the stench is overwhelming at times

This, totally.