European tyre recycling group supports crumb rubber use in sports fields

The European Tyre Recycling Association (ETRA) is calling for all parties involved in the artificial turf sector to come together to combat the allegations that the use of crumb rubber at sports fields has had a negative impact on the health of the players.

The ETRA says a number of studies has found no connection between the crumb rubber used in sports fields and elevated levels of cancer. With the lack of evidence against the use, the ETRA is calling on all parties involved in the tyre recycling sector to come together to refute the allegations about the impact of tyre rubber granulate used in sports fields.

In recent years, according to the ETRA, a host of unfounded claims have been made that recycled tyre rubber has a harmful effect on athletes who come into contacts with the rubber infill.

However, despite two decades of research on the subject that has been funded by industry, the government and public interest groups, there is no empirical research that links tyre rubber to cancer.

Further, the ETRA notes that the United States Environmental Protection Agency lists around 41 independent projects, none of which find any harmful effects of using tyre rubber in sports infill. The Synthetic Turf Association lists another 10 such reports that refute the elevated cancer claims. The 2007 ETRA ‘Artificial Turf Compendium’ cites more than 50 studies on the issue.

ETRA’s Dr. Ettore Musacchi reports that in an investigation carried out by the city of Turin, Italy, comparative tests showed no significant difference between the levels of potential contaminants from sports fields and those sampled in the local urban area or on heavily trafficked streets.

Musacchi pointed out that this was a complex situation and it needed addressing by all those involved. There needed to be a wide cooperation to resolve the issues around rubber infill. ETRA is looking into this alongside the European Rubber Chemicals Association and other bodies.

The European Commission has written to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) requesting that their Risk Management Unit review the available evidence and scientific literature on crumb rubber and to closely follow the U.S. inquiries on crumb rubber and California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment) and analyse their findings.