FAQ 03 The Risks of Rubber

More in this section

• Teamwork
• ESG Criteria
• Safe Grounds
• Ecological Transition
• Benefit Activities
• FAQ 01 Issues in Fields
• FAQ 02 Player Safety
• FAQ 03 The Risks of Rubber
• FAQ 04 Zinc in Rubber
• FAQ 05 Advice to Players
• FAQ 06 How does POWERgrass solve?
• FAQ 07 Sports Fields Standards
• FAQ 08 Hours of play per week
• FAQ 09 Cost-Benefit Analysis
• FAQ 10 Regular vs Extraordinary
• FAQ 11 The Challenges of Sports Fields
• FAQ 12 Environmental standards and the field
• FAQ 13 Meaning of Sustainable Fields
• FAQ 14 Fields and Greenwashing

What are the potentially harmful chemicals that can be contained in recycled rubber used as infill in synthetic turf fields?

The recycled rubber used as infill in synthetic turf fields, often obtained from used tires, can contain various potentially harmful chemicals. These include:

1. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH): These compounds are known to be carcinogenic, with health effects that can include skin and eye irritation, breathing difficulties and damage to the immune system.
2. Heavy metals: These include lead, mercury, cadmium, and nickel. Each of these metals has specific toxic effects on the human body, including damage to the nervous, renal, and endocrine systems.
3. Phthalates: These chemical compounds are known endocrine disruptors, which can interfere with the normal hormonal function in the body.
4. Benzene and toluene: These hydrocarbons can have harmful effects on the central nervous system, kidneys, liver, and immune system.
5. Styrene: This chemical compound is known to be a possible human carcinogen.
6. Vinyl Chloride: It is a synthetic gas that is a known potential carcinogen.

It is important to note that while these chemicals can be present in recycled rubber, exposure to them can vary depending on numerous factors, including weather conditions, the intensity of use of the field and the field maintenance practices.

Finally, research on the health effects of these chemicals in synthetic turf fields is still ongoing, and not all studies have reached the same conclusions. Therefore, it is important to consider all available information when making decisions about the use of these types of fields.