Ice Skating Rink — Resurfacing Chemical Exposure and Refrigerant Leak Hazards in Indoor Arenas — outdoor safety profile
Moderate riskIndoor ice skating rinks present two distinct chemical exposure hazards: combustion emissions from ice resurfacing machines (Zambonis) and refrigerant leaks from the ice-making plant.
What is this product?
Indoor ice skating rinks present two distinct chemical exposure hazards: combustion emissions from ice resurfacing machines (Zambonis) and refrigerant leaks from the ice-making plant. Propane and gasoline-powered Zamboni machines produce carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and fine particulate matter during resurfacing cycles — typically 10-15 times per day in busy rinks. In poorly ventilated indoor arenas, CO levels can exceed 50 ppm (exceeding the OSHA 8-hour PEL of 50 ppm) and NO2 can reach 1-5 ppm (exceeding the EPA NAAQS of 0.1 ppm annual average) within minutes of resurfacing. Multiple documented mass exposure events at ice rinks have caused hospitalization of dozens of skaters and spectators — a 2018 incident in Pennsylvania sent 30 people to the hospital from CO exposure during a hockey tournament. Children are disproportionately affected because CO and NO2 are denser than air and concentrate in the breathing zone at ice level (3-4 feet). The refrigerant system uses anhydrous ammonia (NH3) in older rinks or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in newer systems — ammonia leaks have caused evacuations and respiratory injuries at rinks worldwide, as ammonia is an acute respiratory toxicant at concentrations above 25 ppm.
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Combustion Emission
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