Rubber abrasion in climbing halls: Air quality ensures health risk!
Rubber abrasion in climbing halls: Air quality ensures health risk!
Climbing is considered healthy sport, but the air quality in climbing halls raises new health concerns. A study carried out together by the University of Vienna and the Epfl Lausanne shows alarming results that indicate invisible risks. According to the researchers, the concentrations of rubber abrasion in the air are sometimes higher than on heavily used streets of large cities. This is dealt with in detail in the study, published in the magazine "Environmental Science and Technology Air". Thilo Hofmann, Professor of Environmental Essentials at the University of Vienna, leads the research work, which shows that a higher rubber pub concentration was found primarily in lively climbing halls.The examination refers to the special rubber compounds from which climbing shoes are made. This similarity to car tires means that chemical substances are released in the abrasion. Rubber dust that is whipped when wiping and tapping shoes can be inhaled. When analyzing 30 different climbing shoe pairs, 15 different additives were identified, which also occur in the road abrasion, including the harmful rubber stabilizer 6ppd.
health risks and solutions
The health consequences of the inhalation of these chemical compounds have so far been little researched, but Thilo Hofmann emphasizes that these substances do not belong in the air we breathe. Children and sensitive groups of people in particular are at risk. The study recommends targeted measures to improve air quality in climbing halls. This includes better ventilation concepts, targeted cleaning measures and avoiding peak times.
The researchers, which also include the climbing Sherman, drawn attention to the chemical additives that are used in the materials of the climbing shoes. In an exchange with Thibault, Masset from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, they decided to examine the rubber of the climbing shoes in more detail. Her study results show that air pollution in climbing halls is often higher than suspected and is one of the highest worldwide documented values. The data also comes from air and dust samples in Boulderhallen not only in Vienna, but also in other European countries such as France and Spain.
meaning for the climbing community
In the United States, around 6.36 million people took part in climbing in 2023, which underlines the relevance of this study. The operators of the examined climbing halls are interested in improvements in air quality, since the health effects of the chemicals are still unclear. However, it is also recommended to further examine the influence of these particles on the staff in shoe production.
Overall, the study makes it clear that climbing also carries invisible risks. Measures to avoid health damage must be taken in the near future to make the climbing experience safer.
summarized, research is an important basis for taking concrete steps. The goal is to create a healthy and carefree climbing environment for all activists. Dolomitenstadt reports that ... rudolphina explains that ... Nau emphasizes that ...
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Ort | Wien, Österreich |
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