Universities, sports groups, and other organzations have used artificial turf fields, instead of grass, because of their lower costs, durability, and easy maintenance. However, some have expressed their concerns, mostly from parents, that prompted an investigation by the U.S. federal agencies to check on the safety of this industry practice.
Tech Times says that the initiative stems from a newly joint partnership of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The technical team tasked to do the study is composed of 50 federal employees and will cost $2 million.
Supporting them is a study made by a University of Washington soccer coach whose research showed that about 153 athletes contracted cancer because of time spent on the artificial turd fields. The fields are made of elements from recycled tire materials like crumb rubber, which tends to stick on the athletes' faces, uniforms, and other parts of the body.
A related Reuters report says that several Washington senators have referred to the soccer coach's research to urge the Obama administration to further dig into the health hazards of playing on artificial turf fields. In their joint statement, Senators Bill Nelson and Richard Blumenthal said, "Unfortunately, recent reports indicate that these surfaces may pose serious health risks, including cancer, to individuals who come into frequent contact with them."
In its own report, the United States Environmental Protectiion Agency gave details on how they will approach the case. It will analyze and evaluate the elements and use of recycled tire crumbs, check into existing information and fill possible existing gaps, and then study how these materials and their presence on the artificial turf fields affect the people who regularly have contact with them, such as athletes and sport performers.
The report notes that the agency already has an existing report that touches on the subject: the Crumb and Synthetic Turf Field Literature and Report which was published in November 2015. The agency describes this report as "extensive" but "exhuaustive"; this November 2015 report said that playing with fields made out of crumb tire did not indicate high level of health risks.
The agency promises that it will release the new report publishing its findings by late 2016.
