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While crumb rubber has been a long time staple of all-weather field construction, since its initial use, there have been non-scientific reports linking crumb rubber exposure, through inhalation, skin contact and ingestion, to cancer. To address this concern, a number of state's including California, the U. S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and industry groups have conducted extensive testing of the material and to staffs knowledge, there has not been any study that supports this link. However, these reports have commonly indicated that further study is necessary to fully address the matter. Silica sand is a known carcinogen according to the EPA and is known to cause silicosis and as such, fields in California that use this material are required to post a Prop 65 warning notice. However, there has not be any real concern regarding the use of silica sand as the exposure level from artificial turf fields is significantly less than those determined to be a health risk. Further, the size and weight of the silica granules make them too heavy to create the type of silica sand dust that creates health issues. Nevertheless, as a result of its inclusion, fields are still required to post Proposition 65 warnings in prominent locations at the park. Notwithstanding the lack of scientific evidence supporting health concerns related to crumb rubber, concerns remain and these were heighten recently through an NBC Nightly News broadcast that included reports from individuals who developed cancer, which they maintain was from frequent contact with the crumb rubber. (As a note, the health concerns stem from the hazardous material used in the tires not in the crumb rubber manufacturing process.) In response to this report, the issue has again gained national concern and interest groups, parents/users, and governmental agencies are either contemplating or conducting further examination. In California, Sen. Jerry Hill, D- San Mateo, recently introduced SB47 (Attachment 6) which would require California to study at least 20 turf fields and playgrounds and halt the installation of new ones from being constructed with the material for two years until research is complete. Included as Attachment 7 are two recent documents addressing the crumb rubber issue with one being a San Francisco Chronicle story outlining that the EPA recently issued a statement indicating it no longer fully supportd the use of crumb rubber without further study and the other being notice of recent test results indicating no health risks with crumb rubber. While major turf manufacturers continue to support crumb rubber as a safe and effective infill product, they are all currently providing alternate materials that are intended to, in large part, address the public's concern with SBR. These alternatives range from the use of ground up tennis shoes (Nike Grind), encapsulated crumb rubber, cork, ground rock or zeofill, coconut husks and virgin plastic referred to as TPE to name a few. Unfortunately, none of these alternative infills have been fully tested over time and therefore their long term sustainability and overall effectiveness is somewhat in question. Considering the increased concern with the crumb rubber, staff conducted its RFP in such a way that participants were asked to submit pricing for a "base" project that included high quality turf with a crumb rubber and silica sand infill and an "optional" submission including their recommendation for an unspecified infill other than crumb Page 6 of 9