Are there any health hazards associated with breathing in dust and synthetic fibres?
Some horsemen are concerned, and rightfully so, that their equine athletes will be exposed to harmful dust and debris from the kickback created on synthetic surfaces. Tapeta™ however has minimal kickback and no respirable dust . This was confirmed by an industrial hygiene survey conducted by Atlantic Environmental Incorporated (AEI). Their team of certified hygienists spent two days taking samples by attaching air testing devices to the horses bridles. The samples were then sent to certified government labs for analysis. Their report found the following: AEI collected various air samples for respirable fibers, resirable dust, total dust and free silica. The respirable dust samples were collected on two tracks—one track covered with Tapeta™ Footings’ artificial track surfacing material and the second track covered with traditional track materials of dirt and sand. . . Each respirable fiber sample taken on the Tapeta Footings’ practice track was below the laboratory limit of detection. .
