Rubber waste, in the form of granules of styrene butadiene rubber and ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer with a particle size of 0.5 to 4 mm, is broadly used for the construction of synthetic surfaces of sport fields. This method of recycling may be significantly limited due to the restrictions on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) content in rubber granules in the European Union since 2022. This also applies to the recommendations of the European Chemicals Agency in relation to the identification of other hazardous chemicals in this waste, including metal elements. The scope of the research included the identification of organotin compounds, PAHs content and 18 elements leached from recycled rubber granules in terms of substances harmful to human health and to natural environment. The research covered 84 samples of rubber granules collected from the surface of football pitches or supplied by recyclers in Poland. The test results showed an over-standard content of PAHs in rubber granules. This result confirms the need to develop alternative directions of rubber granules application: construction and hydro construction, reinforcing soil and roadsides, asphalt pavements, making retaining walls, anti-shock and anti-vibration slabs, soundproofing and damping screens, paving stones and landscaping elements.
Toys emitting sounds are classified as significant sources of noise found in the children environment. Impulse and continuous noise emitted by toys, used in close to the child's ear, acting directly on the organ of hearing, can lead to serious adverse health effects. This is especially true for children under the age of three, in which the state of the hearing organ determines their intellectual development.The current level of safety of sound emitting toys intended for children in this age group is insufficient. This is confirmed by the reports from the control of market surveillance authorities.A new approach to the assessment of children's exposure to noise generated by toys, included in EN 71-1:2011 + A2:2013 Standard, based on the permissible values applicable to the workplaces, requires further tests and verification.The paper presents the results of the research work and assesses the level of sound emitted by toys in the light of current standard requirements, carried out using the author's methodology. Toys intended for children under the age of 3 years, commercialized on the European market by Polish manufacturers and importers were tested. The results of the tests allowed us to determine the impact of duration of the sound pressure level measurement on the final result.
Baby carriers used for carrying babies and toddlers belong to the articles which can cause injuries, including serious ones resulting from a child's fall from a height. This fact has been confirmed by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission-CPSC as well as by notification of the European Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products-RAPEX.The strength of a baby carrier structure, including dynamic strength, associated with a vertical movement of a carrier loaded with a child's mass, attached to the torso of moving carer, is a parameter determining its safe use.The results of the research project on testing the strength of soft carriers, using the author's testing procedure, are presented. Baby carriers commercialized on the Polish market within the years 2012-2018 were the testing objects. The tests enabled an identification of types of damages to the carriers for children that may occur during their use as well as to point at those design parameters which should be changed.
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