Mom issues eerie warning after spotting 'secret killer' lurking in playground at grandma's house
The distraught mother explained in a recent Reddit post that she, her husband, and young daughter went to visit her parents 'in another country' last month.
She said her mom had gotten a new, expensive playground for her toddler to enjoy during the two week trip.
Her mom covered the ground below the playground with shredded car tires in an attempt to stop the youngster from falling and skinning any knees.
But unfortunately, the Reddit user explained that what her mom believed was a harmless and soft object to put on the ground is actually something that could pose a serious threat to her toddler.
'My husband and I are visiting our parents for two weeks, they are living in another country and my mom got so excited to see her granddaughter she got her a huge expensive playground,' she wrote in the post, which was shared last month.
'Unfortunately, she installed it over the pressed rubber mulch surface, which I'm avoiding for my toddler. There's no returning the playground or moving it anywhere else.
'I know rubber mulch is made of recycled tires and who knows what else and is linked to cancer, so it's the last thing I want my toddler to play on all day, every day for two weeks.'
She then begged the internet for help, asking: 'Is there any way to cover it that makes it safe, or am I destined to play the most ungrateful daughter and the most evil fun-hating Grinch of a mother for the duration of these two weeks?'
The mom was right to be concerned, as rubber mulch has been said to have a potential to release hazardous chemicals, per Barefoot Lawn Care.
This includes heavy metals like lead, zinc, mercury, and more.
The Environmental Protection Agency has found that the release of chemicals can happen under heat and UV exposure, causing a risk for children who play on it.
A 2024 study found that it 'supported the conclusion that although chemicals are present (as expected) in the tire crumb rubber and exposures can occur, they are likely limited.'
The woman's post sparked a heated conversation about hidden dangers, and people in the comments had a mixed reaction to the mother's concern.
One user suggested: 'Just watch your baby so they aren't eating it. Your baby doesn't live there, so two weeks of exposure isn't that bad. Wash baby's hands before eating.'
'It's two weeks out of her long life. I say it's fine. Agree with washing hands after playing and try not to eat it,' someone else wrote.
Another asked, 'Would you be open to paying to replace the mulch?'
Others weren't as sympathetic to her worry, with a user writing, 'The truth is there's only so much you can control.
'What if your daughter's school has rubber mulch and she wants to play with her friends? You have [to] let some things go.'
'I think the risk of harm that this may cause your relationship with your mom by making a big deal out of it is far greater than the risk of harm to your daughter playing on rubber mulch,' another comment read.
'What a generous gift! Let your daughter play and don't give it a second of your worry.'
Due to the dangers of shredded tires, one family in the UK was forced to flee their home following renovations on a local playground.
Zoe Rowntree, 43, and her 16-year-old son, who both have a latex allergy, were left struggling to breathe when rubber safety matting was ripped out of the old playground opposite their home.
The reaction led to Zoe, her husband, Keith, and both her sons having to leave their three-bedroom home last weekend before work started to install a new surface made from shredded tires.
The family has been given emergency accommodation, but fear they will never be able to return home because of the risk of Zoe and her son suffering even more serious reactions to the new mulch.
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