The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has welcomed the findings of a recent study by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), which stated that crumb rubber infill made from recycled tyres and used in synthetic turf fields is unlikely to pose a significant health risk to users
A few weeks ago, we shared news about the OEHHA study, which examined 35 synthetic turf fields across California, analysing more than 100 chemicals that could potentially be present in crumb rubber. The study also incorporated observational data from over 1,000 football players between the ages of 7 and 71.
According to the OEHHA study, available data do not indicate a meaningful increase in the risk of cancer or other health problems for athletes, coaches, referees, spectators or children who use synthetic turf fields containing crumb rubber infill. The assessment examined potential exposure through skin contact, inhalation and incidental ingestion and concluded that such exposure under typical playing conditions does not present an acute health risk.
TIA said the findings reinforce conclusions from a number of previous studies that have assessed the safety of recycled tyre materials in sports surfaces. “This is great news and reinforces what the industry has demonstrated for years,” said Dick Gust, CEO of the TIA. “We hope this comprehensive California study helps put lingering concerns to rest and allows more communities to benefit from this safe, sustainable use of recycled tyres.”
While the study focused on health risk, TIA noted that “crumb rubber applications in synthetic turf support responsible waste tyre management and contribute to a circular economy by keeping end-of-life tyres out of landfills.”
In 2023, the European Union introduced a ban on crumb rubber, with a transition period until October 2031. Even though the recent study stated that the risk is minimal, it is worth noting that many other studies have found the opposite.
For example, a 2021 study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials examined chemicals present in recycled tyre crumb rubber used in sports fields and found polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), many of which are carcinogenic, metals such as zinc at high concentrations and identified volatile organic compounds (VOCs), plasticisers, and PCBs. The study also found that crumb rubber can release chemicals into the surrounding environment, with potential contaminants identified as PAHs, heavy metals, phthalates, plasticisers and BPA.
In 2019, the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) conducted laboratory studies to see if chemicals released from crumb rubber could affect human cells. The study found that extracts from crumb rubber showed cytotoxic effects in cultured human lung and skin cells.
The OEHHA study adds to the ongoing discussions surrounding the safety of crumb rubber in synthetic turf. As research continues, policymakers, industry groups and public health experts are likely to monitor the evidence closely while weighing the environmental benefits of tyre recycling against potential health and environmental concerns. Therefore, the use of synthetic turf remains an area of active scientific study and public debate.
Image credit: PickPik
